DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Masters Scholarship for Developing Countries 2024

The DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme (known as Public Policy and Good Governance) supports future leaders from developing countries (see list of countries), who want to promote democracy and social justice in their home countries. The programme, which is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, offers the chance to acquire a Master’s degree in Master programmes of particular relevance for the social, political and economic development in the students’ countries of origin. In the light of the principles of Good Governance, highly qualified graduates with a first academic degree are being educated in political science, law, economics and administration and prepared for future leading positions in their home countries.

About German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

DAAD scholarship in Germany is a private, federally funded and state-funded, self governing national agency of the institutions of higher education in Germany, representing 365 German higher education institutions (100 universities and technical universities, 162 general universities of applied sciences, and 52 colleges of music and art) [2003]. The DAAD itself does not offer programs of study or courses, but awards competitive, merit-based grants for use toward study and/or research in Germany at any of the accredited German institutions of higher education. It also awards grants to German...... continue reading

Helmut-Schmidt Masters Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Helmut-Schmidt Masters Scholarship

• Scholarships (of currently € 934 per month) for master’s courses at German higher education institutions.
• Health insurance cover in Germany
• Appropriate travel allowances for travel between Germany and the respective developing countries
• A study and research grant
• Rent subsidies and family supplements, as applicable
• Preceding German language course in Germany, lasting up to 6 months. Participation is mandatory

Requirements for Helmut-Schmidt Masters Scholarship Qualification

• Candidates who already hold a master’s degree must make a wellargued case as to why they should be funded for another postgraduate degree.
• The candidates’ last university degree should not date back more than six years (date of issue not before 1 January 2018).
• Candidates who have spent more than the past 15 months in a country not listed on the DAC list are not eligible.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Helmut-Schmidt Masters Scholarship

Selection Criteria

• The selection will be made by a selection committee in October/November 2024.
• The committee comprises professors from the participating master’s courses and representatives of the DAAD. Next step: The candidates that were proposed for a scholarship are contacted by the DAAD and asked to upload their full documents to the DAAD portal.
• Please do not upload any application documents unless you are nominated (by email) by the DAAD. Important: Please make sure that you have a full set of copies of your application documents in PDF format. Please submit original documents, only if you are explicitly asked to do so by the master’s course. Thus, the selection process is finalised. All applicants are informed in writing after the end of the selection process, expected in December 2024/January 2025.

Documents Required for Application

• A ticked off checklist and list of criteria, signed by hand (print it out, sign it by hand, scan it and include it in your documents), indicating place and date of issue
• The DAAD application form “Application for a research/study scholarship” (please type your answers or make sure they are clearly legible)
• A single letter of motivation (even when applying for two master’s courses) including the date of issue and a precise account of your academic, professional and personal reasons for wishing to participate in the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme, as well as a detailed explanation of your choice of master’s course(s), indicating why your first choice of master’s course is your first choice, why your second choice is your second choice and how they will advance you academically and professionally, max. two pages long. You must provide the same letter of motivation to both courses you are applying for.
• A curriculum vitae in reverse chronological order including the date of issue (format: europass, please note: the europass template does not include a date, please add it yourself) with exact information about your studies and practical experience; gaps of three months or more must be explained
• 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.
• A copy of your full set of transcript of records including an explanation of the grading system. Please provide a certified translation if the original is not in German or English and make sure these are clearly legible.
• Confirmations of relevant professional experience or internships and/or proof of relevant political activities or service to your community, such as volunteering or work for charities or NGOs, on headed paper, including an original (not scanned) or code certified digital signature, the date of issue and a 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 only if you are a student at present, on headed paper, including an original (not scanned) or code certified digital signture, the date of issue and a stamp. If necessary, please provide a certified translation

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, visit DAAD Helmut-Schmidt website