The selection of scholarship recipients is based on the selection criteria prescribed in the scholarship program law. Primarily, scholarships are awarded for outstanding school performance/ academic achievements. In addition, special achievements, professional activities, internships, volunteer work and unusual personal and family circumstances are taken into account. These include, for example, disabilities or chronic diseases, studying with children or taking care of relatives, a migrant background, or similar circumstances.

The legal basis for awarding the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship is the law establishing a national scholarship program (Stipendienprogramm- Gesetz – StipG) of July 21, 2010 (BGBl. I S. 957) amended on  December 21, 2010 (BGBl. I S. 2204) in connection with the regulation implementing the Deutschlandstipendien scholarship program law (Stipendienprogramm-Verordnung – StipV) on December 20, 2010 (BGBl. I, S. 2197). Awarding Deutschlandstipendium scholarships at Freie Universität Berlin is based on the executive board’s directive issued on August 29, 2011.

The selection committee, chaired by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, consists of at least one university lecturer or a professor from each of the following four subject groups

1. Science,

2. Life Sciences,

3. Humanities,

4. Socio-economic sciences and law

and at least one academic staff member and one student.

The Commission decides on the awarding of scholarships in reference to the legally prescribed selection criteria (s. § 2 paragraph 2 scholarship program regulation) on basis of the information provided by the candidates in their application. Based on the Commission's decision the executive board authorizes the scholarship allocation.

There is no legal entitlement to funding under the scholarship program law.