Applications for the 2024 DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship will be received from June 1rst to July 31rst 2023. The program aims to further qualify future leaders in politics, law, economics and administration according to the principles of good governance and to prepare them in a practice-oriented course for their professional life.

The Scholarship program is open to candidates from developing countries holding an Undergraduate to obtain a Master’s degree in disciplines that are of special relevance to the social, political and economic development of their home countries.

Knowledge and experience acquired in Germany should enable the scholarship holders to later contribute to the establishment of democratically oriented economic and social systems aimed at overcoming social differences. With this program, DAAD intends to support the good governance and civil society structures in selected partner countries and regions.

Program Details

• Host institution: Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt, Universität Magdeburg, Hochschule Osnabrück, Universität Passau, Universität Potsdam in Germany.
• Fields of study: Master of Development and Governance, Analysis and Design of Social Protection Systems, Master of Public Policy (MPP), Peace and Conflict Studies, Management in Non-Profit Organizations, Development Studies, Master of Governance and Public Policy, Master of Public Management (MPM).
• Number of awards: Not specified.
• Duration: Up to 4 semesters.
• Eligible Countries: Please check the full list below.

DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship Benefits

Successful applicants of this scholarship program will receive the following benefits:

1. monthly stipend of € 934;
2. Health insurance cover in Germany;
3. appropriate travel allowance for travel between Germany and the respective developing and emerging countries;
4. study and research grant;
5. rent subsidies and family supplements, as applicable;
6. preceding German language course in Germany, lasting up to 6 months (Participation is mandatory);
7. a sur place rate of € 500 per month is paid in the 4th semester (mandatory online semester in the student’s country of origin or another developing country);
8. scholarship holders are offered special tutoring at their host institutions financed by DAAD;
9. furthermore, the scholars are invited to participate in different networking events;
10. DAAD-scholarship holders within the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme are exempted from tuition fees.

DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship Eligibility

The programme is designed for students with a Bachelor’s degree requiring four years of full-time study in political science, social science, law, economics, public policy and administration. Students ideally have already acquired some professional experience in administration, government or development organisations of their home countries or international organisations in order to benefit most from the MA programme. Furthermore, to apply for this government scholarship, candidate must:

• have academic degree with far above average results (upper third);
• meet language skills (every university has different language proficiency requirements);
• be willing to actively contribute to the social, political and economic development of their home countries/regions;
• have a convincing description of the subject-related and personal motivation for the study project in Germany and the expected benefit when returning to the home country;
• Most recent university degrees should be obtained in the last six years prior to the application for the scholarship (date of issue not before 1 January 2017);
• Applicants who have stayed in Germany for more than 15 months at the time of the application deadline are not considered as eligible;
• All Master’s courses have further additional requirements that must be fulfilled by the applicants in any case.

Similar opportunities

1. Kazakhstan Government Scholarship for International Students;
2. A*STAR Computing and Information Science Scholarship;
3. Canadian Government Banting Fellowships.

How to Apply for the DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship

To apply for this Europe scholarship, eligible applicants must follow steps below to submit their applications:

1. Read the DAAD selection criteria included in the checklist document. Please tick off the checklist and complete the list of criteria with your original signature (do not insert a scanned signature), indicating place and date.
2. Fill in the DAAD Application form for Research Grants and Study Scholarships only once making clear which study course id your first and second priority.
3. Write a single letter of motivation for both university courses you choose, justifying your first and second priority choice.
4. Please submit the application form to the master’s courses of your choice (no more than two), along with the required documents. Scholarship applications are only accepted via the master’s courses. Do NOT send it to DAAD.

Required Documents

The requirements for language skills and the required language certificates vary depending on the respective master’s course. The required application documents are:

1. Checklist form, signed with place and date indication.
2. DAAD Application form. Please type your answers or make sure they are easy to read).
3. A single letter of motivation, if you are applying for two master’s courses for both of them including a precise account of your academic, professional, and personal reasons for wishing to participate in the program, as well as a detailed explanation of your choice of master’s courses and prioritization, no more than two pages long.
4. A curriculum vitae in reverse chronological order without any unexplained gaps (please use the Europass template) including exact information about your studies, and practical experience.
5. Copies of your higher education degree certificates. Please provide a certified translation if the original is not in German or English, and make sure these are clearly legible.
6. Copy of your full set of the transcript of records. Please provide an explanation of the grading system if this is not part of the transcript.
7. Written confirmation for any work experience, internship, or professional experience. This must be printed on headed paper, include a signature, the date of issue and a stamp; and/or proof of any political activities or service to your community, such as volunteering or working for charities or NGOs, if possible, on headed paper, signed, dated and stamped.
8. proof of English language skills.
9. Current written reference from your current employer or from a university lecturer if you are a student at present, on headed paper, signed, dated and stamped.

Only applications including all required documents will be considered. Applications sent to the DAAD will not be forwarded to the respective master’s course(s). For more information, please send your questions to the emails provided above.

The application deadline is July 31, 2023. For more details on the DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship for International Students, please visit the official page. To be the first to see latest opportunities, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.