Educational Equity
Educational equity is particularly important at universities and is a key component of equal opportunities. The University of Bonn is therefore committed to breaking down barriers and supporting all students and doctoral candidates in realizing their individual potential. The focus is on measures to improve access to the university—during studies or doctoral studies and through to career entry.
Language brings people together | The MitSprache project promotes integration
Bild © Universität Bonn / YouTube
What is educational equity?
Educational equity means that everyone has the same opportunities for education and a successful educational path that is as free of obstacles as possible, regardless of their background or socioeconomic resources. However, personal background still has too much influence on individual educational biographies. Classism, a form of discrimination that disadvantages people based on their social status, is also widespread in universities and often leads to significant stress.
To promote educational equality the University of Bonn supports underrepresented students and doctoral candidates who face particular challenges in a variety of ways. This includes, for example, people who are the first in their family to study (“first-generation academics”) or who have a refugee or immigrant background. In many cases, a lack of role models in the family or challenges in financing a degree or doctoral program can make their educational path more difficult.
The University of Bonn is committed to educational equity through scholarship programs, counseling and support services as well as empowerment and awareness-raising measures.
What we are doing to promote educational equality
Financing
Transparency and coordination regarding scholarships and study financing
Support
Expansion of support for first generation academics
Integration
Focus on integration of international students and doctoral candidates
Pathways to Research
Pathways to Research is a program designed to support young people and early-career researchers with a refugee or immigrant background.
Our offers
Scholarships
Besides BAföG, scholarships are a key component of student finance. Here you will find information about various scholarships and their application requirements.
International Office
The International Office provides support to university members in all matters relating to international mobility.
Youth University of Bonn
At the Youth University, children and young people aged 8 and older can discover the University of Bonn and make their first contacts.
Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service
The Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service advises students on all matters before and during their studies.
Further offers on the topic of educational equity
Here you can find various offers from the University of Bonn on the topic of educational equity.
Offers for students
Since the 2025/2026 winter semester the University of Bonn has offered its first structured study support program. The program supports students in all phases of their studies by helping them find their bearings, strengthen their personal resources and develop technical and methodological skills.
Are you enrolled at the University of Bonn? Are you about to apply for internships, a part-time job or even your first job after graduating? Are you thinking about what you would like to do after university?
The aim of the state-wide DiversiTeach project is to raise awareness among students about issues and challenges relating to migration education in schools and classrooms and to support students with a migration background on their path to becoming teachers.
NRWege Preparation for University is a program directed at refugees who wish to pursue a degree at the University of Bonn. It offers a free German course as structured preparation for the German Language Proficiency Test for Admission to Higher Education (DSH) as well as advice and support for future study at the University of Bonn.
Are you thinking about your career plans once your studies are done? Are you keen to find an internship or job in Germany while you are studying? Would you like to start building your network of fellow international students and graduates that may prove invaluable down the road? — With our iStart project, we would like to help you along this journey.
The International Student Office and the AStA offer peer counseling and organize various events for international students.
The MitSprache service learning module is aimed at students in Bonn who would like to qualify as volunteer language mentors, as well as at recent immigrants who are interested in studying or training in Germany.
Offers for researchers and teachers
Offers for researchers at risk
The University of Bonn is actively committed to helping researchers who are at risk and can no longer work in their home countries due to persecution or violence. This page provides an overview of the various support options available to researchers at risk.
Offers for Ukrainian researchers
The University of Bonn supports researchers who have fled to Germany due to the war in Ukraine. Both the Welcome Center and the Research Funding Department can advise you on scholarships and other funding opportunities.
Cologne/Bonn Academy in Exile (CBA)
The goal of the Cologne/Bonn Academy in Exile is to support renowned scientists who have been forced to flee due to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. In addition to researchers from Ukraine, this may also include researchers from Russia and Belarus who are being persecuted for their opposition to the war.
DFG positions for refugee researchers
The German Research Foundation (DFG) supports scientists who have fled their home countries by facilitating their participation in research projects and their application to the Walter Benjamin Program.
The Argelander Program offers comprehensive support for students, doctoral candidates, postdocs, and researchers in planning their careers within or outside academia.
The Center for Diversity Research in Teaching (ZeDiL) is a central academic institution at the University of Bonn dedicated to researching diversity in higher education teaching.
Contact
Annabelle Krause-Pilatus (she/her)
Dechenstraße 3-11
53115 Bonn
Daina Hues (she/her)
Dechenstraße 3-11
53115 Bonn
Read also
Diversity Strategy
Here you can find an overview of the University of Bonn’s diversity strategy until 2030.