DAAD Prize for International Students Stephanie Tanus: “I’m proud to have been a student at TU Braunschweig”

Stephanie Tanus from Indonesia studied Integrated Social Sciences at TU Braunschweig. For her commitment and academic accomplishments, she is now being awarded the DAAD Prize for outstanding achievements of international students studying at German universities. The prize is endowed with 1,000 Euros.

After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree from TU Braunschweig in April 2021, Tanus continued her studies at the University of Cologne to pursue her Master’s degree. Looking back at her time in Braunschweig, she says: “I am proud to have been a student at TU Braunschweig.” For many people in her home country Indonesia, studying in Germany, and specifically at on the of TU9 universities, comes with a lot of prestige: “I knew that studying in Germany would be vary challenging. Not everything was easy, especially in the first two semesters. But it was worth it.” While still at school, Tanus started to learn German, and then attended the Studienkolleg in Hanover in 2015. In 2017, she eventually began her studies at TU Braunschweig.

Stephanie Tanus has received the DAAD Award for Outstanding Achievement by International Students at German Universities, which is endowed with 1,000 Euros. Photo credit: Stephanie Tanus/TU Braunschweig

Despite all the preparations, the language presented a challenge at the beginning of her studies. Her fluency in German today is also due to the support she received from fellow students and staff at TU Braunschweig: In the relatively small Integrated Social Sciences programme (between 70 and 90 students usually begin their studies here each winter semester), she was one of just a few international students and thus quickly made friends with German students.

Tanus emphasises that during her studies, she was always focused on not “just studying”. She completed internships at Deutsche Welle, the Indonesian Consulate in Hamburg and international companies. In addition, she is involved in various student body organisations all over Germany, especially in the field of interculturality and internationalisation.

“Ms. Tanus does not shy away from difficult topics”

Professor Anja P. Jakobi, Head of the Institute for International Relations at the Department of Social Sciences, took this commitment as an opportunity to nominate Stephanie Tanus for the DAAD Prize. In her laudatory speech, which was shown during the Welcome Reception for international students on 21 October, Professor Jakobi specifically praised Stephanie Tanus for using her own international background to build bridges between Germany and Indonesia. She added that during her time in Braunschweig, Tanus had made a special contribution both in her studies and beyond. “I am delighted that her work has been recognised with the DAAD Prize and I think the award is very well deserved,” Jakobi said.

Text: Daniel Götjen / International House