GERMANY: Helmut-Schmidt-Programme Master’s Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance 2025

Details: 18 April 2024; Hits: 11761

Master's Degrees

The call for applications for the Helmut Schmidt Programme for Master's Programmes 2025 is currently open.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is offering scholarships for preselected Master's degrees in economic development, political development, and social development at German universities through the Helmut Schmidt Programme.

The aim of the programme is to prepares students in a practice-oriented course for responsible positions in or for their home regions and contributes to establishing economic and social institutions that are democratically oriented and designed to overcome social inequalities.

More information on the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme Master’s Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance can be found at https://static.daad.de/media/daad_de/pdfs_nicht_barrierefrei/in-deutschland-studieren-forschen-lehren/daad_helmut-schmidt-programme_current_announcement.pdf

Degree Level

Master’s

Deadlines

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

All applicants will be informed in writing after the end of the selection process, expected in December 2024/January 2025.

Master's courses will begin in September/October 2025.

Fields of Study

The scholarship programme is open to graduates in the field of social sciences, political sciences, law, economics, public policy and administration.

There must be a specific focus on the following topics in the master’s degree courses: public policy, good governance, international relations, public management, public administration, civil society, social protection, peace and conflict studies, development and socioeconomic policies.

The following higher education institutions and master´s degree courses are participating in the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme (Master’s Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance):

University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück - Management in Nonprofit-Organisations

University of Duisburg-Essen - Development and Governance

University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg - Social Protection

Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg - Peace and Conflict Studies

Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt - Public Policy

University of Passau - Development Studies

University of Passau - Governance and Public Policy

Who Can Apply?

Graduates from developing and emerging countries with a Bachelor's degree or equivalent;

with a well-qualified first university degree and above-average grades in Social and Political Sciences, Law, Economics, Public Policy and Administration;
willing to actively contribute to the social, political and economic development of their home countries/regions;
who have already gained practical experience relevant for the programme (professional experience, internships or political/social commitment);
All Master´s courses have further additional requirements that must be fulfilled by the applicants.

Scholarship Offer

Tuition fees waiver;
Scholarships (of currently € 934 per month) for selected master’s courses at German higher education institutions;
Health insurance cover in Germany;
Appropriate travel allowance for travel between Germany and the respective developing and emerging countries;
Study and research grant;
Monthly rent subsidy and family supplements, where applicable;
A four-month German language course in Germany prior to the course. Participation is mandatory.

The following deviation regarding funding benefits applies for the “Social Protection” master’s course due to its blended learning concept: 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 Process

Candidates can apply for up to two preselected Master’s degrees in the scholarship programme.

Please submit your application documents for the master’s course(s) and the DAAD scholarship to the master’s course(s) of your choice, and not to the DAAD. Application procedure varies according to the university.

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

Fill in the DAAD Application form only once and make clear which study course is your first and which is your second priority.
If you are applying for two master’s courses: Please rank the courses in order of preference in your motivation letter, i.e. why your first choice of master’s course is your first choice and why your second choice is your second choice. For each choice of course, please provide clear reasons why you think it will advance you academically and professionally. You must submit the same letter of motivation to both courses you are applying for.
Send the DAAD scholarship form together with the letter of motivation and accompanying required documents to the two universities of your choice. Do NOT send it to DAAD.

Contact

The DAAD Information Centre Johannesburg can be contacted via email for support, advice and information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For further information, please contact the master's courses’ contact persons listed below:

University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg- Social Protection

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