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Application Deadline: 31 July 2025
Applications are now open for the 2026 DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme Master’s Scholarships.
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.
Requirements
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)
Funding
- Academic education in one of the master’s courses, listed below and selected by the DAAD, will take place from September/October 2026. The courses have an international focus and are offered in English.
- 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.
Formal requirements:
- 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 2019).
- Candidates who have spent more than the past 15 months in a country not listed on the DAC list are not eligible.
Scholarship Worth
The scholarship holders will receive
- scholarships (of currently € 992 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
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 Procedure:
All applications must be submitted in English or German.
You may apply for up to two master’s courses listed below.
- Please read the DAAD selection criteria included in our checklist carefully and take care of every single point listed in the checklist.
- Please complete the DAAD “Application Form” only once and indicate your selected master’s course or courses.
- 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. - Please submit the application form to the master’s course(s) of your choice (max. two), along with the required documents (see below). Scholarship applications must be sent directly to the master’s courses.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme Master’s Scholarships
