DAAD Helmut Schmidt Scholarship Programme Master’s Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance 2025

OBJECTIVE

The DAAD Helmut Schmidt Scholarships seeks to promote good governance and civil society structures in developing and emerging nations through the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme.

The Programme

• Offer future leaders of economically backward countries master’s courses that relate to social, political and economic development.
• Prepares students for responsible positions in their home regions by means of practice-oriented course and contribute to the establishment of market oriented institutions which are driven towards democratization process and overcoming social gaps.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Graduates from developing and emerging countries
(bachelor or equivalent)

• As long as they have a qualified first degree with above average performance, upper third divisions in Social and Political Sciences, Law, Economics,
  Public Policy and Administration.
• Who would like contributing actively to their societies by promoting their social, political, cultural as well as economic advancement
• Those who have already had practical experiences related to the programme (work experience/internships/social political involvement).

WHAT CAN BE FUNDED?

• Academic education in one of the master’s courses, listed below and selected by the DAAD, will take place from September/October 2025. The courses have an international focus and are mainly offered in English.
• All students who receive scholarships through this programme are entitled to benefit from accompanying services provided by program co-ordinators at their respective study places throughout their studies.
• In addition, there are events and seminars specifically organized for these students, as well as close interaction with other international scholarship holders.
• The plans include interdisciplinary networking events for the project.
• DAAD scholars do not pay tuition fees.

VALUE

The scholarship holders will get:

• scholarships (currently € 934 per month) for master’s courses offered by German higher education institutions
• Health insurance in Germany
• Appropriate travel costs between Germany and respective developing and emerging countries
• A research grant / support for studies abroad
• Housing allowances and child supplements if necessary
• Preceding German language course in Germany lasting up to four months compulsory participation required
  Regarding funding benefits, “Social Protection”’s master’s course has a different focus due to blended learning. 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/emerging country).

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

All applications should be communicated in English or German language.
Make it explicit that you are applying for the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme (Master’s scholarships in Public Policy and Good Governance).
Two master’s courses below are available to apply for.

1.  You must ensure that every checklist provided by us is adhered to while reading the DAAD selection criteria.
2. Please fill in an application form titled ‘Application for a research/study scholarship’ only once, then state your preferred master’s course or courses, stating clearly if one is more important than the other.
3. In case you have chosen two master’s programs: IN Your Motivation Letter Rank the Courses From First to Second Choices and Explain Why So? For every course choice you make please give clear reasons why you think it will benefit you academically and professionally. You must send the same motivational letter to both of them.
4. The application forms should be accompanied with necessary documents (see below) and submitted to one or two courses of your choice respectively. Scholarship applications should be sent directly to the respective masters’ program directors.

SELECTION

• The last part of your desiring to study in Germany and choose masters courses
• A good relationship between this desire and objectives of Helmut Schmidt program
• An internship or any relevant professional experience, community service including volunteering among others, political activities
• Successful completion of a first degree with higher than average scores (upper third)

SELECTION CRITERIA

• •In case you are already a masters holder, then it’s upon you to prove that you need to be funded for a postgraduate degree again.
• The applicants’ last academic qualification should not surpass six years ago (beginning from 1st January 2018 as indicated in the certificate).
• Not admitted are those applicants who stayed in countries not included into DAC list for more than 15 months consecutively.

In addition to the selection parameters set by DAAD each master’s course too has its own set of selection criteria such as grade point average, English proficiency etc..

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Language requirements and certification vary from one master’s course to another.

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

The following are the required application documents:

• A checklist with ticks and criteria, which should be signed by hand (please print it out, sign it, scan it and attach to your documents) indicating the place and date of issue.
• DAAD application form “Application for a research/study scholarship” (type in your answers or make sure they are readable).
• Just one motivational letter (even when applying for two master’s courses) including a date of writing stating your academic qualifications, professional experience as well as personal reasons why you wish to participate in Helmut-Schmidt-Programme. Furthermore, you need to explain why you chose particular master’s courses and provide details about which is your first choice among them, what makes it the best among others, what is their connection with your educational and career goals. It shall not exceed two pages. This same letter of motivation must be submitted for both courses.
• Reverse chronology CV including a date of writing (europass format: please note that there is no provision for date on this format; add yours). Details concerning studies and internships should be provided accurately while gaps greater than three months must be accounted for.
• Copies of your academic qualifications. If the original document is not in English or German, provide a certified version that is clearly readable.
• Please also submit an official transcript of records with explanation about the grading system together with its translation into German or English if necessary and make sure these documents are easily decipherable.
• Confirmations of relevant professional experience or internship records and/or evidence of connection to politics or community service such as volunteering at NGOs, charities etc., should be submitted on headed paper and an original (not scanned) or code-certified digital signature, date of issuance and stamp; otherwise a certified translation thereof will be required.
• Provide proof of proficiency in the English language.
• Submit to us a current written reference from your employer or university lecturer (for students only) until then on headed paper containing an original (not scanned) or code-certified digital signa ture, date issued and stamp wherever applicable; should it be necessary please provide a translated copy Applicants from China are requested to attach APS Certificates along with their application materials.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

The application period for all seven higher education institutions is from June 1 to July 31, 2024.

WHERE TO APPLY

Please submit your application documents for the master’s course(s) and the DAAD scholarship not to the DAAD but to the master’s course(s) of your choice.

PLEASE NOTE!

• Please pay attention that if you submit unreadable documents with your application, it may be rejected on formal grounds.
• Applications addressed to more than two higher education institutions and/or that do not include a clear and consistent prioritisation in the DAAD form and the letter of motivation, will be excluded from the selection process.
• Only those applications which contain all required documents will be taken into account. The applications sent directly to DAAD cannot be forwarded to respective master courses as such.
• These include any accompanying attachments, samples etc., which become property of DAAD without any compensation and will not be returned.
• Any deviation from this procedure will automatically lead to exclusion from participation in the selection process.

INFORMATION AND ADVISING CENTRES

For further information contact persons (see list below) have been provided by Master’s courses/contact partners. Please Download PDF

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION

The following master’s courses are part of the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme (Master’s Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance):
1. Social Protection
University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (teaching language: English, duration: 4 semesters) Blended learning concept:
1st semester at the higher education institution, 2nd semester online, in Germany or the home country/a developing country, 3rd semester, practical term in Germany/home country/third country, 4th semester online, dedicated to preparing the master’s thesis in the home country/a developing country
Email: msc-socialprotection@h-brs.de

2. Development and Governance
University of Duisburg-Essen
(teaching language: English, duration: 2 semesters)
Email: ma-devgov@uni-due.de

3. Public Policy
Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt
(teaching language: English, duration: 4 semesters)
Please apply online.
Email: admissions-mpp@uni-erfurt.de

4. Peace and Conflict Studies
University of Magdeburg
(teaching language: English, duration: 4 semesters)
Email: pacs@ovgu.de

5. Management in Nonprofit-Organisations
University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück
(teaching language: English, duration: 4 semesters)
Email: ppgg@hs-osnabrueck.de

6. Development Studies
University of Passau
(teaching language: English, duration: 4 semesters)
Email: information.ppgg@uni-passau.de

7. Governance and Public Policy
University of Passau
(teaching language: German and English, duration: 4 semesters)
Email: information.ppgg@uni-passau.de

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