Zis Foundation - Travel grant to a foreign country

Go on the journey of your life 

Are you young and curious about life? Do you want to discover the world in your own way? Do you have clear travel ideas, but not enough cash? Then you’re in the same boat as many of our scholarship holders, whose wishes we have helped fulfil. Because no matter who you are or what drives you, our foundation will help you plan your at least 4 week long research trip.

Every year we award approximately 60 new scholarships to young people so that they can gain new impressions and deepen their interests and talents outside of the mainstream. Where you want to go and what you want to research is up to you!

Start the journey of your life!

The special conditions of a zis travel grant enable the participants to research a self-chosen topic away from the paths of mass tourism. They get a realistic impression of the daily life abroad and gain deep insights into a different society. They return with a better understanding of a formerly strange culture. At the same time, all zis participants learn about themselves and their own roots.

The zis grant is more than money. Intensive preparation and documentation before and after travelling ensures success, safety and commitment. Every participant has a personal adviser who helps organize the trip via e-mail. Most of these volunteers are former participants and have expertise in the topics or destinations they take care of. A jury evaluates the project reports so that qualified feedback is guaranteed.

You can choose all German-speaking countries for your travel destination: Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Young people who are not German citizens and who are not residents of Germany are welcome to travel to Germany and apply for a zis Travel Grant.

Your application: what you need to know

Apply online for your zis scholarship! Before you start, we’ll briefly explain how the online application works.

1. Registration and login: If you haven’t already, please register an account with us first. You just need to enter your e-mail address and password. After confirming your e-mail address, you can log in to your zis account and start filling out your online application. The online application process is available from November onwards. Just sign up to our application newsletter and you’ll receive a reminder for the application process in autumn. Unfortunately the newsletter is only available in german currently. But sign up anyway to receive the reminder.
2. Completing the application: The application has to be completed in several steps. In the first step we’ll ask you for your personal information. You also have to give your permission for us to store your information and use it to process your application. After that, you can complete the other steps in any order. Mandatory fields are marked with *. You can enter your journey idea both in the designated text boxes and by uploading it as a document. You can save your application at any time and continue completing the application later. 
3. Submission: When all required fields have been completed, you can review your entries one last time and save them for your own records. Then submit the application. You will subsequently receive a consent form for your parents to complete. So that they are informed about your travel plans, we request the consent of your parents even if you have reached the age of majority. Please print the consent form and send us the signed document by e-mail or post. Your application cannot be changed after you have submitted it. Only your personal information can be edited at any time. This is important should your address or phone number change. Please check regularly that your personal information is still up-to-date. The application deadline is 15 February 2020. Only applications that have been received in full by this date, including the parental consent form, will be considered in the selection process. Please keep in mind that server congestion could occur on the day of the deadline. We therefore recommend that you complete your application as early as possible. Applications are only possible online. Unfortunately, we cannot accept applications by post or e-mail. If you have any questions or problems you can always contact us. For questions on the content please contact the zis office, for technical questions please contact the webteam.

What happens after submitting the application?

Every year in March, the zis team meets to select the most promising applications. The journey concept does not have to be perfect, but your motivation and your idea have to be convincing. There are also formal criteria that must be met. You can find out about this under "Your journey".

You will find out by the beginning of April at the latest whether your application has been accepted and you have been shortlisted. All applicants who enter this next stage will be supported by the zis team in their preparations until the final approval. A mentor will give you advice, answer your questions and, ultimately, approve your scholarship as soon as your journey concept has matured.

And now: have fun and good luck with your application!