Application Deadline: July 31, 2024
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is inviting applications for its Helmut-Schmidt-Programme, where it strives to contribute to promoting good governance and civil society structures in developing and emerging countries.
The Programme
- offers future leaders master’s courses in disciplines that are of special relevance for social, political, and economic development
- 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
Benefits
- 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
Eligibility
- Candidates who already hold a master’s degree must make a wellargued case as to why they should be funded for another postgraduatedegree.
- 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.
Requirements
- 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)
Application Details
- a ticked off checklist and list of criteria, signed by hand (printed out, signed by hand, scanned and included in applicant’s documents), indicating place and date of issue
- the DAAD application form “Application for a research/study scholarship” (answers should be 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 academic, professional and personal reasons for wishing to participate in the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme, as well as a detailed explanation of choice of master’s course(s), indicating why applicant’s first choice of master’s course is the first choice, why applicant’s second choice is the second choice and how they will advance the applicant academically and professionally, (max. two pages long). Applicant must provide the same letter of motivation to both courses being applied 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 studies and practical experience; gaps of three months or
more must be explained - copies of 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 applicant’s 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 applicant’s current employer or from a university lecturer only if the applicant is a student at present, on headed paper, including an original (not scanned) or code certified digital signatures, the date of issue and a stamp. If necessary, please provide a certified translation.
Application documents for the master’s course(s) and the DAAD scholarship should be submitted to the master’s course(s) of choice, and not to the DAAD.
