Participants in the scholarship program are supported on their way to obtaining their Abitur (German secondary school diploma qualifying for university admission). Students in the German states of Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony-Anhalt, and Schleswig-Holstein are eligible to apply. In addition to providing financial aid, the scholarship also offers a wide variety of educational opportunities (seminars, study days, summer academies, etc.), as well as mentoring for the recipients. All activities are designed to enhance the individual development of participants - academically and personally. Students are selected for the program based on their academic potential, dedication to academic and/or extracurricular activities, and their family’s socio-economic background. The program aims to provide educational opportunity to talented students and helps them realize their full potential. The deadline for applications is March/April of each year, with the program beginning on September 1st. The scholarship program was initiated in 2011 by the Joachim Herz Stiftung and the Robert Bosch Stiftung. Both foundations support the current scholarship holders until 2023. Since 2018, the Joachim Herz Stiftung awards the scholarship alone.