The Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes takes in about 2,500 new scholarship holders each year. Traditionally, students were vorgeschlagen, nominated, by their school. Since 2010 every first-year student can also apply directly by taking a test. The foundation said that the new route ergänzt das bisherige Vorschlagssystem, supplements the existing nomination system. More than half of those who registered for the first test came from non-academic and needy families.