The 2026 DAAD Prize Goes to Kseniia Gorokhovska

“Actually, I hadn’t planned on studying in Germany at all,” Kseniia explains. However, the events in her home country led her to come to Germany with her mother in 2022 at the age of 16. Since her Ukrainian Abitur wasn’t given recognition here, she had to attend a Studienkolleg before starting her degree program. “Attending the Studienkolleg helped me choose the right degree program,” says the now 21-year-old. “At the Studienkolleg, I had to choose a subject track and took a business course. For me, that was the perfect mix of theory and practice. By the end of the Studienkolleg, I knew I wanted to study business administration.”

While searching for the right higher education institution, the student came across the University of Mannheim. She chose it for several reasons: “I’d heard and read a lot of positive things about the university, especially regarding the business administration subject area. For me, the built-in semester abroad was also a huge plus, as was the communication throughout the application process. I haven’t regretted my decision to this day.” She came to particularly appreciate the international focus of her degree program during her time as a student, as she was able to take many courses in English. Her semester abroad at the University of Florida also left a lasting impression on her: “My time there shaped my personality.”

From the very beginning of her degree program, Kseniia was involved in several student organizations supporting people in and from Ukraine—for example, a youth center for Ukrainian teenagers in Mannheim. “When you arrive in Germany and don’t know anyone, it’s very hard to make connections. Our goal was to help these young people find friends through the organization and integrate better into society,” explains the 21-year-old. She also volunteered online to support people in Ukraine, collecting and distributing humanitarian donations. In doing so, she served as a central point of contact for people in Ukraine who needed help and was able to refer them to the appropriate aid organizations.

In addition to her outstanding achievements in her degree program, it was above all her social commitment that convinced the admissions committee to award the DAAD Prize to Kseniia. “Kseniia has shown that neither one’s background nor the circumstances under which one comes to Germany determine the contribution one can make to our society. Through her commitment to refugees, she has become an important source of support for others and a role model for how solidarity is passed on,” says Angela Dörflinger of the International Office, explaining the rationale behind the award.

The 21-year-old is now nearing the completion of her bachelor’s degree and plans to pursue a master’s program in finance. In her personal life, too, she has been exploring finance for some time and is already investing in stocks and ETFs. She does not yet know exactly where her academic career will take her next. For now, she has planned a gap year during which she hopes to complete internships at various companies and gain practical experience. “I’m very grateful to have this opportunity—especially since many universities require internships as part of the application process. I think this is a good decision.”

DAAD Prize 

The DAAD prize is worth EUR 1,000. Each year, the prize is awarded to an international degree-seeking student at the University of Mannheim. By awarding the prize, a selection committee consisting of the International Office and the schools honors the excellent academic achievements and the volunteer work of the laureate. 

This text was translated from German by DeepL.

Text: Tamara Gminsky / July 2026