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The grant

Young people are confronted with numerous challenges all coinciding at the same time. They achieve above-average results during their studies and participate in social engagement. The Hirschmann grant provides support to students such as this, allowing them to focus on their studies.

The key points in brief

Grant amount

The scholarship for a Master's degree is usually CHF 5'000. In very rare cases, CHF 10'000 may be awarded. Personal circumstances are taken into account in the assessment.

Target group

Prospective master's degree students, who

  • have completed their bachelor's degree studies with above-average results
  • are intending to pursue a consecutive master's degree at a federally recognised Swiss university of applied sciences – with no major interruptions during their bachelor's degree studies and
  • would like to engage themselves in a workshop and subsequent small project (cf Obligations and FAQ).

Applications are particularly welcomed from students who were originally admitted to the degree programme via vocational training.

Conditions

Receipt of a grant is contingent on the following conditions being met:

  • The master's degree programme must be pursued purposefully and with above-average effort.
  • Participation in a workshop led by foraus and the implementation of a group project: This includes a physical expert workshop (4-5h) in Bern. On the workshop evening, the scholarship holders discuss concrete socio-political problems and develop short projects based on them. In the project, the students work together to develop proposed solutions, which are then reflected in creative outputs.
  • Reference must be made to the Hirschmann grant in the event of awards or prizes received during the period of study or on qualification.
  • Participation in Hirschmann Foundation events for grant holders (every two years, next event 2025).
  • Publication of the names and a photo of the grant holders on the homepage of the Hirschmann Foundation, with personal statements on grant, study motivation, social engagement and career goals.
  • The Hirschmann Foundation must be notified of any termination of, or break in, studies.

To learn more about the work done by previous grant holders please click on the following links:

  • Spring semester

Catalyst or a competitor? AI’s influence on creativity and innovation
Revolutionising creativity: AI in graphic design
The false promise of objectivity: Examining bias in predictive policing
Let’s ask future decision makers for their visions of AI technologies

  • Autumn semester

getting started foraus blog artcle: Switzerland’s Direct Democracy under Pressure? Navigating Challenges in a Changing World
topic 1: Decrypting Technobabble – How to Make Complex Votes More Accessible to a Young Public
topic 2: Switzerland's Democratic Dilemma: How to Empower the Next Generation of Voters
Video campaign on the Instagram platform about opportunities for political participation for students without the right to vote: Instagram
Participatory concert on the topic: La démocratie directe est-elle devenue obsolète pour notre époque (PDF)?

Recall of the grant

The Grants Committee of the Hirschmann Foundation reserves the right to revoke its award of a grant

  • if the conditions cease to be met and/or
  • the studies are terminated.

In both cases, any amounts already disbursed must be reimbursed.

When applying for a grant, applicants declare in writing their agreement to these conditions.

Recourse to legal action

Recourse to the courts is excluded in respect of the awarding of grants.

Deadlines

Applications must be submitted by 15 April or 15 October. Applications in respect of master's degrees already started will be considered if you are not in the last semester on 15 April or 15 October (submission deadlines).

We recommend you submit your application two week or three before the submission deadline.

Applicants will be notified of the decision of the Grants Committee of the Hirschmann Foundation within three and a half months (31 July or 31 January). No correspondence will be entered into regarding the processing of applications.

Wir nehmen Bewerbungen auf Deutsch, Französisch, Italienisch und Englisch entgegen.
Nous acceptons les candidatures en allemand, anglais, français et italien.
We accept applications for a grant in German, French, English and Italian.
Accettiamo le applicazioni in tedesco, inglese, francese e italiano.