WHU Startup Academy Scholarship Winner Marie Schardey

Anyone who considers applying to one of the Bachelor Programs at WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management will eventually start thinking about how to finance their studies. WHU is determined to ensure that their study programs are open to every student who is interested and qualified, regardless of their financial background. To this end, the business school offers a number of scholarships to support outstanding talents.

One of these talents is Marie Schardey. She is the recipient of the WHU Startup Academy Scholarship, which was awarded for the very first time at the beginning of this academic year. This new scholarship has been created in cooperation with the Startup Academy, a WHU student initiative that aims to provide students 10th grade and up with basic knowledge about startups and to get them interested in entrepreneurship.

In November 2022, Marie participated as a high school graduate in the two-day Startup Academy, an annual conference organized by the student club in cooperation with the German Founders Award. "A friend of mine who studies at WHU was part of the Startup Academy organizing team. She had invited me to join the event. It was a great opportunity to get to know WHU and to exchange ideas with the students. I was very impressed by what the students put together on top of their studies! The conference was organized extremely professionally, the guest speakers from the startup scene very impressive, the workshops exciting, and the overall program exceptional."

Joining the Startup Academy supported Marie’s decision to apply to WHU. "I had known WHU before attending the conference, but I wasn’t sure if it was the right fit for me. After participating in the Startup Academy, my decision was made to apply for the Bachelor in International Business Administration. The student community is exceptional. I encourage anyone who considers studying at WHU to participate in an event like the Startup Academy or join a campus tour to get a personal impression."

Her participation in the Startup Academy qualified Marie for the scholarship that amounts to 20% of the tuition fees. "All students who participate in the Startup Academy and apply to WHU the following year are eligible to apply. I recommend submitting your application as early as possible for a chance to win the scholarship", she explains.

Marie has not yet decided whether she will found her own start-up one day. "I'm still at the beginning of my studies and haven't decided on a career path yet. I’m quite interested in consulting, for example. However, participating in the Startup Academy has sparked my interest in entrepreneurship. One of the biggest takeaways from the event is that if you have an idea for a start-up, you shouldn’t wait until you have perfected your idea and know exactly how to reach your goals. You will learn a lot in the process. The important thing is to start."