A Student of Many Talents

For Zhora Hambaryan, studying in Germany is “pretty interesting and challenging”: Since starting his studies last fall, he has become more independent, as he is discovering what he can achieve on his own. With his spot in the Management and Data Science program, a dream has come true for the 19-year-old. The combination of his two main interests—a passion for business and management on the one hand, and for mathematical, analytical thinking on the other—convinced the Armenian, who was born in Vanadzor, to study at the TUM Heilbronn Campus. In addition, the program is offered in English. He also appreciates the modern facilities on the campus; the library, in particular, is an ideal place for him to study. He quickly made friends from various countries in Heilbronn, where there are numerous international students.

German Culture and Architecture

For the student, who graduated from high school in Armenia last year, this is not his first time studying abroad. During the 2023–24 school year, he already spent a year abroad at Marquette High School in Chesterfield, Missouri. Since he began studying at the TUM Heilbronn Campus, he has loved exploring German culture and architecture. When he has free time outside of his studies, Zhora Hambaryan enjoys playing sports or taking the train to cities near and far. He has visited Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg, and Ulm, and has even traveled to Cologne, Munich, Hamburg, and Lübeck. He is particularly taken with the “marzipan city”: “I love this city,” he explains enthusiastically. Next, he plans to visit Heidelberg.

Commitment and Motivation

Zhora Hambaryan was particularly happy when, shortly after starting his studies at the TUM Heilbronn Campus, he received an email confirming his acceptance for the 2025/26 Deutschlandstipendium. This will allow him to cover part of his living expenses and tuition costs. The jury’s decision may have been influenced not only by Hambaryan’s outstanding academic achievements and motivation but also by his volunteer work: In addition to his work with the Red Cross in Armenia and the U.S., he participated, for example, in the “Young European Ambassadors” initiative, which has been connecting young people from the EU and Eastern Partner Countries since 2016 and encouraging them to engage in social causes. During his exchange year in the U.S., he was also part of the Future Leaders Exchange Program and represented Armenia at the Festival of Nations. For Zhora Hambaryan, helping people and being an active member of society is a top priority. At the TUM Heilbronn Campus, he has therefore joined the Student Council, the official student body. There, he is part of the Internal Affairs Unit and organizes events such as the Christmas get-together.

Thanks to his Deutschlandstipendium, he now feels even more motivated in his studies and plans to pursue a master’s degree after completing his bachelor’s. Since there are exciting master’s programs at the TUM Heilbronn Campus, he could well imagine staying here. But more details will become clear in the coming semesters. In the near future, the student aims to secure additional internships to gain initial professional experience.

Info:

The Deutschlandstipendium supports students who demonstrate excellence in academic achievement as well as social and community engagement with 300 euros per month—half of which is funded by the federal government and the other half by companies, foundations, or private individuals. For the 2025/26 funding period, 124 students from the TUM Heilbronn Campus applied, of whom 33 were selected as scholarship recipients. Fifteen scholarship recipients are supported by the Dieter Schwarz Foundation. Contact at TUM Campus Heilbronn: Loana.Huth@tumheilbronn-ggmbh.de (Project Manager Student Services)