Supporting Young Talent with the Germany Scholarship Programme
The Uni Würzburg Alumni & Friends e.V. association has been supporting JMU students through the Germany Scholarship Programme for several years. Students who achieve good grades and are also socially engaged are selected as scholarship recipients. We would like to introduce the four current scholarship recipients – Pia Wünst, Mathias Spang, Theresa Kaiser and Vadim Blinov – in a brief profile.
Further information on the Germany Scholarship at the University of Würzburg.
Pia Wünst
What are you studying, and do you already know what you’d like to do in the future?
I’m studying to become a special needs teacher at Julius Maximilian University. My main areas of specialisation are teaching pupils with learning difficulties and teaching pupils with behavioural disorders.
My current aim, once I’ve successfully passed my state teaching qualification, is to work as a teacher in a special educational needs school or a Special Educational Needs Education and Advisory Centre (SBBZ).
What voluntary work do you do, and why?
My most extensive area of activity is probably my voluntary work with the DLRG (German Life Saving Association). In addition to the individual local groups, there are also the individual districts within the regional association.
I am active in the Freudenberg e.V. group, where I also serve on the executive committee as public relations officer. In addition to the executive committee meetings, I was an active member of the Youth Response Team (JET) until 2025. At the end of 2025, having successfully completed the required training course, I was able to move into the emergency response team. I am currently serving as a DLRG first-aider there, and further training courses are to follow.
As well as my work in the local group, I am also involved in the Frankenland e.V. district. Within this district, I am Chair of the Frankenland e.V. District Youth Group. In addition to my regular board duties, my responsibilities include planning the district youth training courses, organising the district youth camp and coordinating the delegates. It is also important to take part in district events.
I’m also involved with the Protestant District Youth Group in Adelsheim-Boxberg. There, we work together every year to organise the District Confirmation Day. This is a day when all the young people due to be confirmed that year come together. Through games, a Bible rally and a joint church service, we help the young people prepare for their confirmation.
Why do I volunteer?
I enjoy connecting with other people and helping out wherever help is needed. These days, volunteering is no longer taken for granted; people often ask, ‘And what do I get in return?’
Volunteering is about solidarity, team spirit and fun, but above all, it’s about helping and saving lives. I enjoy working together as a team, and when we achieve our goal together, the sense of fulfilment is all the greater.
What’s more, people’s gratitude is often what motivates you to carry on exactly as you are. The DLRG, for example, is a voluntary organisation at most levels, so saving lives, providing further training for young people and teaching them to swim are all part of our leisure time. I find it hard to imagine not being part of this community. It’s also important to me to pass on my knowledge to children and young people, and to encourage them to get involved too. I’d like to be a role model for others in this way.
In what way does the Deutschlandstipendium help or support you?
Receiving funding through the Deutschlandstipendium takes some of the financial pressure off me and allows me to focus more on my studies and my personal development. It also opens up valuable opportunities for support and networking that provide me with long-term support in achieving my academic and professional goals. At the same time, it recognises my achievements to date and my social commitment, and I am motivated to continue this work responsibly.
Theresa Kaiser
What are you studying, and do you already know what you’d like to do in the future?
I’m currently doing a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and would like to become a psychotherapist one day. Of course, that depends on my Bachelor’s degree, as places on the clinical Master’s in psychology (which you need for the profession) are very limited. Of course, I hope I can keep this option open to me, but there are also other areas that interest me, such as research.
What voluntary work do you do, and why?
Firstly, I served as an altar server in my parish for three years. I was also a member of the student council for many years during my school days and played an active role in shaping everyday school life. I’ve been playing the violin since I was little and have often performed at concerts organised by my music school, both in our parish and in care homes for the elderly. I was part of the school orchestra and have also played in a wide variety of concerts, both at school and outside school.
In what way does the Deutschlandstipendium help or support you?
First and foremost, the Deutschlandstipendium helps me financially. I moved to Würzburg to study and, as a result, no longer live with my parents. Living on my own is very expensive. So it’s the ‘small’ or seemingly insignificant everyday costs that are made easier for me – costs which, when added up, make a big difference (e.g. buying branded washing powder, which is more expensive but where you can really tell the difference in quality).
Vadim Blinov
What are you studying, and do you already know what you’d like to do in the future?
I’m studying for a Master’s degree in International Economic Policy, specialising in business management, communication, marketing and project management. I’m particularly interested in combining economic knowledge with practical skills in an international context. In the future, I’d first like to gain some professional experience in a global company to get a better understanding of working in an international business environment. In the long term, I can imagine developing my own start-up idea.
What voluntary work do you do, and why?
During my studies, I’ve helped organise student events and meetings with company representatives. I’ve also supported my department’s winter schools by processing applications and helping to assess project outcomes, and I’ve volunteered at international university events. I enjoy bringing people together and shaping joint projects. The positive feedback and working with others are particularly motivating for me.
In what way does the Deutschlandstipendium help or support you?
The Deutschlandstipendium is a key part of my financial support and enables me to focus more fully on my studies. At the same time, it gives me access to a network of motivated and committed students. The exchange within this community inspires me greatly and encourages a proactive lifestyle. This combination of financial support and community means a great deal to me.
Mathias Spang
What are you studying, and do you already know what you’d like to do in the future?
I’ve been studying medicine at JMU in Würzburg since the 2024/25 winter semester and am now in my fourth semester. At the moment, I haven’t yet made a final decision on a specialism. However, as I still have a few stages of my degree ahead of me, I see this as an opportunity to get to know the various departments with an open mind and find out which area suits me best.
What voluntary work do you do, and why?
After finishing my A-levels, I decided not to start my degree straight away, but to complete a voluntary social year in the ambulance service first. For me, it was important to be able to support people in acute emergency situations. At the same time, I also wanted to learn about pre-hospital care in order to gain as wide a range of experiences as possible in the medical field.
I’m no longer working in the ambulance service and am not currently involved in any other voluntary work. However, I’m determined to take up voluntary work again here in Würzburg after my first-year medical exams.
In what way does the Deutschlandstipendium help or support you?
The Deutschlandstipendium supports me primarily through the financial assistance it provides, which enables me to focus more fully on my studies and be more financially independent. In addition, the scholarship also offers the opportunity to get to know other scholarship holders who are also benefiting from this support, which I consider to be extremely valuable.
