DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Masters Scholarships

The DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Program (known for Public Policy and Good Governance) supports future leaders from developing countries (see country list) who are committed to promoting democracy and social justice in their home countries.

Funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, the program offers the opportunity to earn a master’s degree in specific master’s programs crucial for the social, political, and economic development in the students’ home countries. In line with the principles of good governance, highly qualified graduates with a first academic degree in political science, law, economics, and administration are educated and prepared to take on future leadership positions in their home countries. Through the Helmut Schmidt Program, the DAAD strives earnestly to contribute to the enhancement of good governance and civil society structures in developing and emerging countries.

DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Masters Scholarships

• Offers master’s courses for future leaders in fields critical to social, political, and economic development.
• Prepares them through a practice-oriented training course to assume responsible positions in their home regions or acting on their behalf, contributing to the establishment of economic and social institutions with a democratic orientation designed to overcome social inequality.

What can be funded at DAAD Helmut-Schmidt ?

Academic education in one of the master’s courses listed below, selected by DAAD, will take place from September/October 2024. These courses have an international focus and are primarily conducted in English. Throughout their study period, all Helmut Schmidt Programme scholarship holders benefit from accompanying support services provided by program coordinators at the respective study locations.

Scholarship holders enjoy specially organized events and seminars tailored for them, in addition to close exchange with other international scholarship holders. Planning also includes participation in various networking events.

DAAD Helmut-Schmidt scholarship holders are exempt from paying tuition fees. The benefits that scholarship holders will receive include:

• Scholarships (currently 934 euros per month) for master’s courses at German higher education institutions.
• Health insurance coverage in Germany.
• Appropriate travel allowance for transportation between Germany and the concerned developing and emerging countries.
• Study and research allowance.
• Rent subsidies and family allowances, as applicable.
• A preparatory German language course in Germany, lasting up to 6 months; participation is mandatory.

An exception applies concerning the financing benefits for the “Social Protection” master’s course, due to its special blended learning concept: an additional amount of 500 euros per month is paid in the fourth semester (mandatory online semester in the student’s home country or another developing/emerging country).

Application Process for the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt program

All applications must be submitted in English or German. Please clearly indicate that you are applying for the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Program (Master’s Scholarships in Public Policy and Good Governance).

Please carefully read the DAAD selection criteria included in our checklist. Mark the checklist and complete our criteria list with your original signature (do not insert a scanned signature), indicating the place and date.

Please complete the DAAD application form Application for a Research Grant/Study Scholarship only once, indicating the master’s course or courses you have chosen. In the latter case, clearly specify your first and second preference.

If you are applying for two master’s courses: Please arrange the courses in order of preference in your motivation letter, i.e., why your first choice is your top preference and why your second choice is your next option. For each course option, provide clear reasons that make you believe it will advance your academic and professional progress. You should submit the same motivation letter for both courses you are applying for.

Please submit the application form to your chosen master’s course(s) (maximum of two), along with the required documents .

Selection Process

Scholarship applications must be submitted directly to the respective master’s courses. The selection will be carried out by a selection committee in October/November 2023, comprising professors from the participating master’s courses and representatives of the DAAD.

Next Steps: Proposed scholarship candidates will be contacted by the DAAD and asked to upload complete documents to the DAAD portal. Please do not upload any application documents unless you have been nominated by the DAAD.

Important: Ensure that you have a complete set of your application documents in PDF format. Submit the original documents only if explicitly requested to do so by the master’s course. This marks the end of the selection process.

All applicants will be informed in writing after the selection process has been completed, which is expected to be by mid to late December 2023.

Selection Criteria:

The key selection criteria are as follows:

A comprehensive evaluation of your academic, professional, and personal performance, as well as your motivation to study in Germany, and your choice and prioritization of master’s courses.

Practical experience related to the program, such as professional experience, internships, political activities, or service to your community (volunteer work, participation in charitable associations, non-governmental organizations, etc.).

Having obtained your first higher education degree with a high grade point average (within the top third of the rankings).

Official Requirements :

Candidates who already hold a master’s degree must provide convincing justifications for the need to fund another graduate degree.

The date of the candidates’ most recent university degree should not be so old as to exceed six years (the issuance date should not be before January 1, 2017).

Candidates who have spent more than 15 months in a country not listed on the DAC list are not eligible to apply.

It should be noted that all master’s courses have their own selection criteria, such as academic level, grades, language skills, practical experience, etc. These criteria must be met in addition to the DAAD selection criteria. Adherence to all these standards enhances your chances of success in this highly competitive scholarship race.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

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

Application Documents at the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Masters Scholarships :

A hand-signed reference list and criteria list (do not include a scanned signature), indicating the place and date of issue.

DAAD application form Research/Study Scholarship Application (please type your responses or ensure they are clearly legible).

A single letter of motivation (even when applying for two master’s courses), including a detailed account of your academic and professional background and personal reasons for wanting to participate in the Helmut Schmidt Program.

It should also explain in detail your choice of master’s course(s), specifying why your first-choice course is your preferred option, why your second choice is your alternative, and how they will develop you academically and professionally. Maximum two pages in length. You must submit the same motivation letter for both courses you are applying for.

A curriculum vitae in reverse chronological order without any unjustified gaps , with precise information about your studies and practical experience, including the issue date.

Copies of your higher education degree certificates. Please submit a certified translation if the original is not in German or English and ensure they are clearly legible.

A copy of a complete set of your transcripts, including an explanation of the grading system. Please submit a certified translation if the originals are not in German or English and ensure they are clearly legible.

Confirmation of relevant professional experience or internships and/or evidence of activities or political services relevant to your community, such as volunteer work or work for charitable associations or NGOs, on letterheaded paper, including the original (non-scanned) or digitally certified signature, issue date, and stamp. If necessary, please provide a certified translation.

Proof of English language skills.

A current written reference from your current employer or from a university lecturer if you are currently a student, on letterheaded paper, including the original digital signature (non-scanned) or certified seal, issue date, and stamp. If necessary, please submit a certified translation.

Please ensure all documents are clearly readable and fulfill any specified criteria or requirements. The submission of these documents is crucial for the evaluation of your application and its consideration in the scholarship program.

The Helmut Schmidt Program includes a range of master’s courses in the fields of public policy and good governance, offered across various universities as follows:

1. Social Protection course at Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences:
   • Language: English
   • Duration: 4 semesters
   • Focus: The program adopts a blended learning approach, with semesters divided between university study, online learning, and practical work.
   • Contact: [email protected]
2. Development and Governance course at the University of Duisburg-Essen:
   • Language: English
   • Duration: 2 semesters
   • Contact: [email protected]
3. Public Policy course at the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt:
   • Language: English
   • Duration: 4 semesters
   • Method: Applications are to be submitted online.
   • Contact: [email protected]
4. Peace and Conflict Studies course at Magdeburg University:
   • Language: English
   • Duration: 4 semesters
   • Contact: [email protected]
5. Management in Non-Profit Organizations course at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences:
   • Language: English (subject to final confirmation)
   • Duration: 4 semesters
   • Contact: [email protected]
6. Development Studies course at the University of Passau:
   • Language: English
   • Duration: 4 semesters
   • Contact: [email protected]
7. Governance and Public Policy course at the University of Passau:
   • Language: German and English
   • Duration: 4 semesters
   • Contact: [email protected]

Each course has a specific focus and set requirements, and applicants can communicate directly with the universities via email for further information.

DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Masters Scholarships

List of eligible countries

Western, Central, South-Eastern Europe:

• Albania
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Kosovo
• Montenegro
• North Macedonia
• Serbia
• Turkey

Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and South Caucasus:

• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Georgia
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Moldova
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan

Middle East, North Africa:

• Afghanistan
• Algeria
• Egypt
• Iran
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• Libya
• Morocco
• Pakistan
• Palestinian territories
• Syria
• Tunisia
• Yemen

Africa, Sub-Saharan:

• Angola
• Benin
• Botswana
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Cape Verde
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Comoros
• Congo
• Congo, Democratic Republic
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Djibouti
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eswatini
• Ethiopia
• Gabon
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Kenya
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Rwanda
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Tanzania
• Togo
• Uganda
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Asia, Pacific:

• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Cambodia
• China
• Cook Islands
• Fiji
• India
• Indonesia
• Kiribati
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia
• Mongolia
• Myanmar
• Nauru
• Nepal
• Niue
• North Korea
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Sri Lanka
• Thailand
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu
• Vietnam

Latin America:

• Argentina
• Belize
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent & the Grenadines
• Suriname
• Venezuela

Candidates from these countries are invited to apply for the scholarship program for an opportunity to pursue Master’s studies in the fields of public policy and good governance at selected universities in Germany.

The deadline for submitting applications to all seven higher education institutions is set for the period extending from June 1 to July 31, 2023.

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