Launch of the “Studiennothilfe” (Student Emergency Fund)

Whether it’s waiting tables at a café, selling tickets in a movie theater, or checking tickets at events, many jobs students normally do have either been put on hold because of the spread of Covid-19, or they’ve been cut altogether. Many students are no longer able to make a living on their own, meaning they either have to take a break from studying or perhaps even quit entirely. In order to help students in this time of need, the University of Freiburg has partnered up with the Studierendenwerk Freiburg (Office of Student Services) to provide a new financial assistance program called “Studiennothilfe” (Student Emergency Fund).

The Studiennothilfe provides up to 300 euros per month in financial aid and can be granted for a period of up to three months. The funding does not need to be paid back. All students at the University of Freiburg who are experiencing economic hardship through no fault of their own are eligible. “We want to help our students together in these difficult times,” said Rector Prof. Dr. Hans-Jochen Schiewer, adding: “No one should have to drop out or take a long break from studying because of this pandemic emergency.”

The goal of the Student Emergency Fund is to cushion the loss of vital earnings, thereby enabling students to continue studying. Applications can be submitted to the Studierendenwerk using the designated form. Based on students’ financial hardship, the urgency of their situation, and whether they have exhausted alternative funding options for assistance and are able to explain how they intend to support themselves in the long-term after assistance has expired, the Studierendenwerk will select those students to whom it will provide the emergency financial aid. The University will not be involved in this process. “The Studiennothilfe is an addition to the measures that we ourselves, the state, and the federal government have already initiated because of the coronavirus crisis,” said Clemens Metz, Director of the Studierendenwerk.

The Studiennothilfe relies on donations. You can make a donation to the following banking account:

Landesbank Baden-Württemberg
IBAN-Nr.: DE47 6005 0101 7438 5009 55
BIC/SWIFT: SOLADEST600

In the reference line, please write: “Spende Studiennothilfe Freiburg, Projektnummer 205162310.” The University will transfer the donations to the Studierendenwerk, which is managing the Student Emergency Fund independently.

The program is also receiving funding from the University’s foundations. The Maria-Ladenburger-Stiftung (Maria Ladenburger Foundation) will be contributing 25,000 euros under the umbrella of the Freunde der Universität Freiburg e.V. (Friends of the University of Freiburg). However, because the need of students is expected to be great, this relatively large sum will likely only cover a small part of the aid ultimately needed. Further financial assistance is therefore required and is expected to come from foundations such as the Förderverein Alumni Freiburg e.V. “We have asked all of our association’s alumni in Germany to support this important initiative with a donation,” said Rudolf-Werner Dreier, Managing Director of the Association. The Neue Universitätsstiftung (New University Foundation) and the Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft Freiburg (Academic Society of Freiburg) are also appealing to their members to support this initiative.

For more information, please visit:

• Studiennothilfe (in German)
• Förderverein Alumni Freiburg e.V.
• Joint declaration (in German) of the German U15 (an association of research-oriented German universities with medical schools) and the freier zusammenschluss von student*innenschaften (Free Federation of Student Unions)