DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme (Master’s Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance – PPGG), Germany

Application Deadline: 31 July 2023

Objective

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.

Who can apply?

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)

What can be funded?

Academic education in one of the master’s courses, listed below and selected by the DAAD, will take place from September/October 2024. The courses have an international focus and are mainly offered in English.
Throughout their studies, all scholarship holders of the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme 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.
Planning also provides for participation in interdisciplinary networking events.

DAAD scholarship holders are exempt from paying tuition fees.

Value

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 6
  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-placerate 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

All applications must be submitted in English or German.
Please indicate clearly that you are applying for the DAAD Helmut-SchmidtProgramme (Master’s scholarships in Public Policy and Good Governance).
You may apply for up to two master’s courses listed below.

1. Please read the DAAD selection criteria included in our checklist carefully. Please tick off the checklist and complete our list of criteria with your original signature (do not insert a scanned signature), indicating place and date.
2. Please complete the DAAD application form ‘Application for a research/study scholarship’ only once and indicate your selected master’s course or courses, in the latter case clearly indicating your first and second priority.
3. 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.
4. 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 made directly to the master’s courses.

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 also relates 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 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 2017).
• Candidates who have spent more than the past 15 months in a country not listed on the DAC list are not eligible.
  All master’s courses have their own selection criteria (degree, grades, language skills, practical experience, etc.) that must be met in addition to the DAAD’s selection criteria.

Language Skills

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

Application documents

The required application documents are:

• a ticked off checklist and list of criteria, signed by hand (do not insert a scanned signature), 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 a precise account of your academic, professional and personal reasons for wishing to participate in the HelmutSchmidt-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 without any unexplained gaps (format: europass) with exact information about your studies and practical experience, including the date of issue 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.
• confirmation 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 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.

Source / More information: Official Website HERE.