IES-PROGRAM
International Excellence Scholarship Program (IES) is a scholarship program that enables motivated students of all fields of study from Eastern and Southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia with above-average grades to spend a semester abroad in Berlin. This program gives students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge at the best German universities (HU Berlin, FU Berlin, HWR Berlin, University of Potsdam). During the 6-month stay, the scholarship holders will actively participate in the life of the association. They will also experience German culture first-hand through the cultural events and social meetings. In addition, the scholarship holders take part in the program's accompanying and developing activities, which they help to shape intensively.
The program participants are supervised by an experienced team. In order to adapt quickly and smoothly in Berlin, the scholarship holders receive highly qualified guidance. They are also supported by our mentors during their first encounters.
Program sequence
1st Month
ADMINISTRATIVE FORMALITIES
UNIVERSITY COURSES
CULTURAL EVENT
SOCIAL VOLUNTEERING
2nd Month
INTERNSHIP SEARCH
UNIVERSITY COURSES
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR
SOCIAL VOLUNTEERING
3rd Month
INTERNSHIP SEARCH
UNIVERSITY COURSES
CULTURAL EVENT
SOCIAL VOLUNTEERING
4th Month
EXAMS PHASE
CULTURAL EVENTS
EDUCATIONAL TRIPS
SOCIAL VOLUNTEERING
5th Month
INTERNSHIP
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR
PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS
SOCIAL VOLUNTEERING
6th Month
INTERNSHIP
SOCIAL VOLUNTEERING
ADMINISTRATIVE FORMALITIES
CLOSING GALA
Scholarship
COPERNICUS BERLIN offers 3 funding opportunities under the IES program:
FULL SCHOLARSHIP, PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP PLUS, PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP
1) The FULL SCHOLARSHIP consists of the following parts:
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Pocket money is paid monthly;
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Health insurance costs are reimbursed;
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The costs for accommodation, enrollment, liability insurance, educational trips, social meetings, administration, welcome package, cultural events, international seminars, consulting, mentoring and workshops are covered directly by COPERNICUS BERLIN;
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Travel expenses are not covered
2) The PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP PLUS consists of the following parts:
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Pocket money is paid monthly;
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The costs for accommodation, enrollment, liability insurance, educational trips, social meetings, administration, welcome package, cultural events, international seminars, counseling, supervision and workshops are covered directly by COPERNICUS BERLIN;
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Travel expenses and health insurance costs are not covered.
3) The PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP consists of the following parts:
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Pocket money is paid monthly;
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The costs for enrollment, liability insurance, educational trips, social meetings, administration, welcome package, cultural events, international seminars, counseling, supervision and workshops are covered directly by COPERNICUS BERLIN;
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Travel expenses and health insurance costs are not covered;
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Accommodation costs for two months (1.650 EUR) have to be paid, the rest will be covered by COPERNICUS BERLIN.
Study at the university
The scholarship holders receive a place at the Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin School of Economics and Law or University of Potsdam. The study program is limited to only one semester. There are two semesters: winter semester (application runs from October 1 to December 30) and summer semester (application runs from April 1 to June 30).
The winter semester begins on October 1 and ends on March 31 of the following year.
The summer semester begins on April 1 and ends on September 30.
Within the framework of the scholarship program it is possible to attend several language and subject-related courses, but it is required to submit three graded transcripts from the main subject and one graded transcript from a German language course.
Internship
The internship is an important part of the IES program and is designed to provide international work experience and to develop personal and professional skills. The COPERNICUS BERLIN team will support the IES scholarship holders with advice and assistance. There will be also offered internships at COPERNICUS BERLIN. As part of the IES program, a minimum of 8 weeks of full-time internship should be completed.
Accommodation
During the International Excellence Scholarship Program, the scholarship holders will be accommodated in a Copernicus Berlin apartment in the heart of Berlin. A one- or two-bed room with desk, closet and internet connection will be provided.
What can you expect?
Unforgettable time in Germany
Improvement of German and English language skills
Personal and professional development
Intercultural communication
Support before and during the scholarship
Networking and making friends
Deepening of academic knowledge
Learning to think critically and analytically
New perspectives after the scholarship
Educational travel
Requirements
1.
To be a student in the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
2.
To be a student (Bachelor, Master, or Doctorate) at the time of starting the scholarship
3.
Not older than 28 years of age at the time of starting the scholarship
4.
All fields of study
5.
German language skills at least B1 OR English language skills at least B1
Application documents
The following documents are required for a successful application:
1) Complete chronological curriculum vitae (CV) with photo. It should be written chronologically and in German or English.
2) University transcript of records in original language is the preliminary overview of grades of all university subjects, which you receive at the end of each semester after the successful exams. ONLY the students of the first semester need to upload the enrollment certificate together with school transcript in original language as one PDF-file instead of the university transcript of records.
Please note that a language certificate for German or English is not required for the application. If the application is complete and convincing, the selection committee will assess the language skills accordingly during the interview.
Application procedure
The application procedure consists of three stages:
1) ONLINE APPLICATION VIA THE APPLICATION FORM
Application period:
October 01 - December 30 (for the following winter semester)
April 01 - June 30 (for the following summer semester). The application deadline for the 2024 summer semester has been extended to July 10, 2023.
Only successfully passed applicants will be informed about the next step
2) TASK PHASE
The selected candidates will be given certain tasks to complete including a tutorial task via our YOUTUBE channel.
Only successfully passed applicants will be informed about the next step
3) INTERVIEW PHASE
The selected candidates will be invited for Skype interview
EXPERIENCE REPORT 2022
In the summer semester of 2022, COPERNICUS BERLIN awarded further IES scholarships to talented young people so that they can deepen their academic knowledge, gain professional experience and establish international networks.