How twin sisters chased a shared dream to win a scholarship at TUM

Twins wearing the same clothes, going to the same school, taking the same class is a familiar case in Bangladesh. That is how we usually perceive twins around us. However, Tasmia Tazrian Ilma and Tasnuva Tazrian Iqra carried this shared journey far beyond the usual. 

Their journey began in the first grade when they were admitted to Viqarunnisa Noon School and College—passing the admission test with flying colors. They completed their HSC from the same institution and went on to sit for multiple university admission exams. Despite the competition, they ended up securing the same subject, in the same section, at a public university—Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP).

That's not all. After graduation, they worked in the same institution for almost three years. Their dedication and perseverance finally paid off when they were awarded a fully funded Deutschlandstipendium Scholarship at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). 

Where it all started

In Tasmia's words, "Our journey doesn't make sense unless you understand one thing: it was built on belief. Not hope, but conviction—the kind that drives you forward even when it looks unrealistic to others. If our choices seem risky or absurd, that's because they were fueled by belief, not convenience."

For the twins, Germany was always the destination for higher studies. "It wasn't glamorous; it was the most logical dream we could afford," Tasmia said. They didn't consider alternatives. "We were so focused on Germany that other options quietly faded away. It wasn't a rebellion against practicality, it just happened." Warnings from others such as "Try somewhere else," "Don't focus on just one country" never unsettled them.

Despite being twins, obviously, they had to apply and qualify independently. "I don't know if it's a coincidence or a twin thing, but we never had to plan moving in the same direction," Tasnuva said. Their process, whether research or applications, was shared naturally. 

Tasmia explained, "We have an unspoken equation: if I take care of one task, she takes care of another. Sometimes we split tasks, sometimes we work together. Researching countries, shortlisting universities, cross-checking, debating—it was all done individually and finalised together."

They approached applications similarly. "We learned procedures side by side, mapped every step, and applied almost simultaneously. Everything was broken into small, manageable tasks," Tasmia said. When they started in 2024, they had only their birth certificates—no NIDs, no passports. Navigating the Bangladeshi administrative system was chaotic, with countless small tasks requiring them to work in parallel.

Applying to TUM and the waiting period

"As we all know, Germany has a long and infamous waiting period. By the book, we shouldn't be at TUM now," Tasmia said. They began preparing in April 2024, submitted applications by June, and received an offer in August. At the time, the German embassy's appointment wait in Dhaka was 19 months, initially scheduled for December–January 2026—making the semester start impossible. TUM allowed them to defer to the Winter Semester of 2025.

By April 2025, the wait had extended to two and a half years, and the embassy warned new applicants it could take 40 years. "It felt like everything was crashing down, but a small announcement online couldn't shake a plan built on faith. Logic didn't explain it, but somehow, it worked," Tasmia said.

Critical to their acceptance was a strong profile and solid academics. "TUM evaluates subject-specific scores. Our Science background from Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, combined with our first-year BBA results from BUP, made us eligible. That extra year of undergraduate study in Bangladesh wasn't optional—it was essential for German universities," Tasmia explained.

Scholarships in Germany

Tasnuva highlighted a common misconception: "Many don't realise scholarships exist in Germany, especially for bachelor's degrees. Most students rely on tuition-free education and wait for visas. But waiting wasn't an option for us, so we searched relentlessly for scholarships."

Their faith and their mother's support gave them courage. "We officially began our journey on 1 April 2024, knowing waiting wasn't possible. Despite increasing waiting periods—from 19 to 27 months, then to 40 years—we didn't let faith waver," Tasnuva said. 

"Our journey doesn't make sense unless you understand one thing: it was built on belief. Not hope, but conviction—the kind that drives you forward even when it looks unrealistic to others. If our choices seem risky or absurd, that's because they were fueled by belief, not convenience."

Tasmia Tazrian Ilma

They found a scholarship open to bachelor's students that allowed application before enrollment. Using the Consular Service Portal (typically for master's candidates), they processed visas online without interviews or embassy visits. Documents were handled through VFS Global, and they received visas in a week. "Waiting 19, 27, or 40 months was never an option," she said.

The Deutschlandstipendium Scholarship they received evaluates candidates on academics (60%), social involvement (20%), and personal circumstances (20%). Despite nearly identical profiles, the twins never checked each other's applications. "We only ensured documents were submitted on time. Not reviewing each other's applications may have helped keep them unique," Tasnuva said.

They cautioned applicants, "Avoid AI-generated content, copying others, scattered information, irrelevant achievements, or pretending to be someone else. Authenticity matters most."

The twin factor

Tasmia reflected on how selection committees view twins. "We weren't sure if being twins would be an advantage, a coincidence, or irrelevant. Our positive outcomes reassured us that applications were assessed individually. However, our identical names caused document mix-ups with both TUM and the scholarship committee, creating logistical confusion but not affecting results."

The risk of one sibling receiving a scholarship while the other did not was real. "We never planned for that scenario. Instead, we relied on faith, perseverance, and belief in God," Tasmia said. Tasnuva added, "Fear and doubts will creep in, but keep faith over fear. Believing in God's power made the impossible possible for us." 

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