Deadline: 31 July 2023

Registration for the Master's Scholarships from the Helmut-Schmidt Programme for Public Policy and Good Governance 2024 are now open. The DAAD's Helmut-Schmidt Programme (known as Public Policy and Good Governance) supports future leaders from developing countries who want to promote democracy and social justice in their home countries.

The programme, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, offers the opportunity to acquire a master's degree in master's programmes of particular relevance to social, political and economic development in the students' home countries. In light of the principles of Good Governance, highly qualified graduates with a first academic degree are being trained in political science, law, economics and administration and prepared for future leadership positions in their home countries.

Value

Scholarship holders will receive:

• Scholarships (currently €934 per month) for master's programmes at German higher education institutions.
• Health insurance cover in Germany.
• Appropriate travel allowances for journeys between Germany and the respective developing and emerging countries.
• A study and research grant.
• Rent subsidies and family supplements, as applicable.
• Previous German course in Germany, lasting up to 6 months; participation is compulsory.

Due to its blended learning concept, the following deviation from the funding benefits applies to the "Social Protection" master's programme: An extra fee of €500 per month is payable in the 4th semester (compulsory online semester in the student's home country or another developing/emerging country).

Eligibility

Open to graduates from developing and emerging countries (bachelor's degree or equivalent):

• with a well-qualified first university degree and above-average grades (top third) in Social and Political Sciences, Law, Economics, Public Policy and Administration;
• willing to actively contribute to the social, political and economic development of their countries/regions of origin;
• who have already acquired practical experience relevant to the programme (work experience, internships, political/social commitment).

Application

The necessary registration documents are:

• Marked checklist and list of criteria, signed by hand (do not insert digitised signature), indicating place and date of issue.
• The DAAD application form "Application for a research/study grant" (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 a precise account of your academic, professional and personal reasons for wishing to participate in the Helmut Schmidt Programme, as well as a specific explanation of your choice of master's course(s), narrowing down why your first choice of master's course is your first choice, why your second choice is your second choice and how they will promote you academically and professionally, maximum two pages. You must provide the same motivation letter for both courses you are applying for.
• A curriculum vitae in reverse chronological order, without unexplained gaps (format: europass) with exact information about your studies and practical experience, including issue data.
• Copies of your degree certificates. Provide a sworn translation if the original is not in German or English and make sure they are clearly legible.
• A copy of your complete set of transcript of records, including an explanation of the grading system. Provide a sworn translation if the original is not in German or English and make sure they are clearly legible.
• Confirmation of professional experience or relevant events and/or proof of relevant political activities or service to your community, such as volunteering or working for charities or NGOs, on letterhead, including an original certified digital signature (not digitised) or encoded, the issue data and a stamp. If necessary, provide a sworn translation.
• English language test.
• A current written reference from your current employer or from a university professor if you are currently a student, on letterhead, including an original digital signature (not digitised) or certified by code, an issue data and a stamp. If necessary, provide a sworn translation.

Send your application documents for the master's course(s) and the DAAD scholarship to the master's course(s) of your choice, not to the DAAD.

For more information, visit Helmut-Schmidt-Programme Master's Scholarships