DBU(The Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt) grants scholarships for highly qualified university graduates from Central and Eastern Europe with the goal of further vocational qualification in solving environmental problems and those in the field of nature conservation in their native country. At present following countries are included:Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and the region of Kaliningrad.

Terms:

The duration of stay is from 6 to 12 months.

Purpose definition and suitability

Graduates with a maximum age of 30 from the aforementioned countries can apply. The studies must be finished with an above-average exam taken within the last 3 years. Applicants must possess the citizenship and a residence in their native country. They must have a sufficient knowledge of the German language.

Those scholarships do not apply to those, who want to write a doctoral disertation at a German university.

DBU welcomes applications from natural scientists, agrarian engineers, engineers, economists, lawyers, educationalists and others provided they make an essential contribution to environmental protection or nature conservation in their native country or European Union.

Applications must contain the following:

a. Application form (download from home page)

b. CV with description of the interests and vocational experience as well as futue plans

c. Project proposition (project idea[maximum 3 pages with description of the problem for which a solution is striven for])

d. Copies of examinations including the marks/grades

e. Written comment of a tutor from the native country

f. Confirmation of the knowledge of German

Applications(in German) are to be sent to DBU (original) and in copy to the regional coordinators.

Applications are possible once a year at the end of the respective summer terms. Exact information about the application deadline is obtainable from regional coordinators (Zaneta.Savickiene@cr.vu.lt) or on www.dbu.de/stipendien/international.

Financial backing

The monthly amount of a scolarship is 1060 euro and exempt from tax and social security contributions. Additionally, scholarship holders have insurance coverage against health, accident and liability risks. Beyond that, the DBU supports a German language courses in the native country before the beginning of the scholarship for which a corresponding request is necessary in advance.

Selection procedure

All applications are assessed by a jury. After an internal selection, pre-shortlisted applicants are invited for an interview in their native country. All applicants are timely informed about their appointments.

Staying in Germany

The practical stay is organised by the DBU in accordance with scholarship holders and the German host institution.

The scholarship holders can inform the DBU about their ideas. A range of current offers is to be found on www.dbu.de/stipendien/praktika.php .

The scholarship begins with a several days\' introductory seminar for all new scholarship holders in Osnabruck, where important organisational matters are settled. The german hosts provide the work place, arrange the accomodation and guarantee a competent tutorial. The DBU organises status seminars and final seminars where the scholarship holders can introduce their research topics and present first results. The DBU supports also own initiatives like self organised events/seminars. A special focus is given to the participation in the annual international Summer Academy of St. Marienthal/Ostritz in July and the ceremony of the German Environmental Award in October.

Duties of the scholarship holder

When accepting a scholarship, the scholarship holders commit themselves to concentrate their work  on the project like described in the application and working plan. They are neither allowed to start any employment nor an additional scholarship. If the project to stay in Germany is interrupted, changed or prematurely finished, the DBU must be informed instantaneously. The DBU reserves for itself to terminate the scholarship and requesting the repayment of the granted amount if a scholarship holder gives inaccurate statements as well as withholds important facts and alterrations, that would withdraw the prerequisite for the granting the scholarship, and if it is recognisable that a scholarship holder does not deal with his topic at the host institutions or contravenes aginst the tutor\'s instructions.

Contact

Žaneta Savickienė

Educational Advising Center

Sauletekio al.9 room 107, LT 10222 Vilnius

Tel.: +370 5 2366274 Fax.: +370 5 2699788

e-mail: Zaneta.Savickiene@cr.vu.lt

www.dbu.de/stipendien/international.php