Deadline: 31 July 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.
Eligibility
Graduates from developing and emerging countries (bachelor or equivalent)
• with a well-qualified first university degree and above-average grades (upper 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 home countries/regions
• who have already gained practical experience relevant for the programme (professional experience, internships, political/social commitment)
Selection Criteria
The most important selection criteria are:
• a conclusive account of your academic, professional and personal motivation for the study endeavour in Germany and for choosing and prioritising the master’s courses
• this motivation should clearly relate to the goals of the Helmut Schmidt Programme
• practical experience relevant to the programme (professional experience or internships, political activities or service to your community, such as volunteering or work for charities or NGOs)
• a first higher education degree completed with above-average grades (upper third) Formal requirements:
• Candidates who already hold a master’s degree must make a well argued 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.
Scholarship benefits
The scholarship holders will receive
• 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 and emerging countries
• a study and research grant
• rent subsidies and family supplements, as applicable
• preceding German language course in Germany, lasting up to 4 months; participation is mandatory
Throughout their studies, all scholarship holders of the Helmut-SchmidtProgramme benefit from accompanying support services provided by the programme coordinators at the respective study locations. Scholarship holders benefit from events and seminars organised specifically for them, as well as close exchange with other international scholarship holders.
Eligible Programs
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.
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
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
Application Documents
The required application documents are:
• 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 signature, the date of issue and a stamp. If necessary, please provide a certified translation