How to Apply

In your letter of motivation, please indicate your degree program of choice and your sport, and explain the reasons why you are locally bound to Mannheim with respect to your athletic activity (Ortsbindung). The following question can help you when preparing your statement: why would you like to receive a sports scholarship, and what would you like to achieve in your future sports career?

Please include a detailed, current curriculum vitae and a document describing your sports career.

Please prove your affiliation to one of the following kader by a signed proof from the federation/club:

• Olympiakader (athletes qualifying for the Olympic Games, formerly A-Kader),
• Perspektivkader (athletes with high chances of qualifying for the Olympic Games in the near future, formerly B-Kader),
• Nachwuchskader 1 (emerging young top-athletes on a national level, formerly C-Kader),
• Nachwuchskader 2 (emerging young top-athletes transitioning from the regional to the national level, formerly DC-Kader) or
• national sports team.

In exceptional cases, applications from athletes who do not belong to a Kader may still be accepted. Possible reasons include injury or a stay abroad.

If you cannot provide proof of belonging to a selection of top-level athletes (Kader), we ask you to submit a sports club report instead.

For example, your Abitur or an equivalent qualification.

Applicants who are already enrolled at the University of Mannheim should also submit a current Transcript of Records.

You have to submit your application in person at the office of Larissa Schilde. Please contact the advisor for elite athletes prior to the application deadline in order to schedule an appointment.

You have the opportunity to present yourself and your plans and goals both at university and in sports in a short interview. The advisors for elite athletes will examine your application documents and will let you know about any modifications that might be necessary. In exceptional cases (e.g. if the applicant is currently staying abroad), the interview can be conducted via telephone.

Scholarship holders are selected based on their performance. In addition to the potential for development in their sport and the position achieved at national and international championships (the Olympic Games, world championships, and/or European championships), another selection criteria is the likelihood of the applicants successfully completing their studies.

The University of Mannheim is aware that doing high-performance sports while attending school can impact the grades achieved for university entrance qualifications (e.g. Abitur). For this reason, applicants’ suitability is determined through a special process carried out by a selection committee.

We can only consider your application for the Elite Sports Scholarship Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region if you applied for a study place at the University of Mannheim in due time, or are already enrolled.
Information on applying to the University of Mannheim

Athletes whose training activities are based in the region may be treated preferentially in the admissions process of the University of Mannheim. This procedure is based on the so-called “Profilquote”, a quota for the selection of applicants who are locally bound due to an activity of public interest (Ortsbindung im öffentlichen Interesse). As a student athlete bound to Mannheim and the surrounding area, your chances of being awarded a study place at the University of Mannheim increase.

When applying for a study place, please provide proof of your performance in competitive sports as well as an application according to section 8 Quota for Top-Level Athletes (§ 8 Auswahl nach Ortsbindung im öffentlichen Interesse) of the Regulations on Admission and Enrollment of the University of Mannheim. Please state in your application that you are locally bound to Mannheim because of your performance as top-level athlete.