Looking for a Master's scholarship in Germany? Check out the DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship!

Are you looking for a Master's scholarship in Germany? The DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship might be perfect for you! This scholarship is available to students from all over the world and provides full funding for a Master's degree at a German university. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2023. For more information, check out the link below!

Education Jul 15, 2022 0 Add to Reading List

Looking for a Master's scholarship in Germany? Check out the DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship!

First of all, what’s the DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship? It’s an annual scholarship offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), which provides funding for international students who want to pursue their Master's studies in Germany. The scholarship was created in honor of the former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and can be applied for from October through February of each year. You can find the details about this scholarship on its official website.

About the Scholarships

Applications for the 2023 DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship will be received from June 1rst to July 31rst 2022. The program aims to further qualify future leaders in politics, law, economics, and administration according to the principles of good governance and to prepare them in a practice-oriented course for their professional life.

The Scholarship program is open to candidates from developing countries holding an Undergraduate to obtain a Master’s degree in disciplines that are of special relevance to the social, political, and economic development of their home countries.

Knowledge and experience acquired in Germany should enable the scholarship holders to later contribute to the establishment of democratically oriented economic and social systems aimed at overcoming social differences. With this program, DAAD intends to support good governance and civil society structures in selected partner countries and regions.

Program Details

Host institution: Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt, Universität Magdeburg, Hochschule Osnabrück, Universität Passau, Universität Potsdam in Germany.
Fields of study: Master of Development and Governance, Analysis and Design of Social Protection Systems, Master of Public Policy (MPP), Peace and Conflict Studies, Management in Non-Profit Organizations, Development Studies, Master of Governance and Public Policy, Master of Public Management (MPM).
Several awards: Not specified.
Duration: Up to 4 semesters.
Eligible Countries: Please check the full list below.

Successful applicants will receive the following benefits:

monthly stipend of € 931 ;
Health insurance covered in Germany;
appropriate travel allowance;
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);
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 country);
scholarship holders are offered special tutoring at their host institutions financed by DAAD;
furthermore, the scholars are invited to participate in different networking events
DAAD scholarship holders within the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme are exempted from tuition fees.

Eligible Countries

Applications for the 2023 Helmut-Schmidt-Programme (Master’s Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance) are open to citizens of the following countries:

Western, Central, South-Eastern Europe: Albania, Bosnia and, Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey.

Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and South Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

Middle East, North, Africa: Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestinian, territories, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen.

Africa, SubSaharan : Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Central African, Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Congo, Democratic, Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,

Asia: Pacific, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Niue, North Korea, Papua N. Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam.

Host Institutions, Programs, Language, and Duration

1. Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg

course: Social Protection;
language of instruction: English;
program duration: 4 semesters;
e-mail: info@ma-socialprotection.de

2. Universität Duisburg-Essen

course: Development and Governance;

DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship Eligibility

The program is designed for students with a Bachelor’s degree requiring four years of full-time study in political science, social science, law, economics, or geography. Students ideally have already acquired some professional experience in administration, government, or development organizations of their home countries or international organizations to benefit most from the MA program. Furthermore, to apply for this government scholarship, the candidate must:

have an academic degree with far above average results (upper third);
meet language skills (every university has different language proficiency requirements);
be willing to actively contribute to the social, political, and economic development of their home countries/regions;
have a convincing description of the subject-related and personal motivation for the study project in Germany and the expected benefit when returning to the home country;
Most recent university degrees should be obtained in the last six years before the application for the scholarship;
Applicants who have stayed in Germany for more than 15 months at the time of the application deadline are not considered eligible;
All Master’s courses have further additional requirements that must be fulfilled by the applicants in any case.

How to Apply for the DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship

To apply for this Europe scholarship, eligible applicants must follow the steps below to submit their applications:

1. Fill in the DAAD Application form for Research Grants and Study Scholarships only once making clear which study course is your first and second priority.
2. Write a single letter of motivation for both university courses you choose, justifying your first and second priority choice.
3. Please submit the application form to the master’s courses of your choice (no more than two), along with the required documents. Scholarship applications are only accepted via master’s courses. Do NOT send it to DAAD.

Required Documents

The requirements for language skills and the required language certificates vary depending on the respective master’s course. The required application documents are:

Checklist form, signed with place and date indication.
DAAD application form ‘Application for a research/study scholarship’ (please type your answers or make sure they are easy to read).
A single letter of motivation, if you are applying for two master’s courses for both of them including a precise account of your academic, professional, and personal reasons for wishing to participate in the program, as well as a detailed explanation of your choice of master’s courses and prioritization, no more than two pages long.
A curriculum vitae in reverse chronological order without any unexplained gaps (please use the Europass template) including exact information about your studies, and practical experience.
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 legible.
Copy your full set of the transcript of records. Please explain the grading system if this is not part of the transcript.
Written confirmation for any work experience, internship, or professional experience. This must be printed on headed paper, include a signature, the date of issue and a stamp; and/or proof of any political activities or service to your community, such as volunteering or working for charities or NGOs, if possible, on headed paper, signed, dated and stamped.

Recent language certificates (for English and/or German).
Currently written reference from your current employer or a university lecturer if you are a student at present, on headed paper, signed, dated, and stamped.

Applications must be submitted in German or English. Please indicate that you are applying for the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Program (Master’s scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance). You are allowed to submit your application for up to two master’s courses listed above. For more information, please send your questions to the emails provided above.

Final Thought

The DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship is a great opportunity for students looking to study in Germany. The scholarship covers tuition, living expenses, and travel costs, and is available to students from any country. If you're interested in applying, be sure to do so by the deadline of March 1, 2023. Good luck!

There are several requirements applicants must meet to apply for scholarships, as well as some tips for applying. Please note that applications are due on March 1st, 2023 at 5:00 pm EST - don't miss your chance!