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.
With the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme, the DAAD 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
Table of Content
Summary
- Application DeadlineJuly 31, 2026
- Study LevelMasters
- SponsorDAAD
- School to study
- Course to studyDevelopment Studies , Peace and Conflict Studies , Public Policy , Development and Governance , Governance and Public Policy , Management in Nonprofit-Organisations , Social Protection
- Eligible CountryAll Countries
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Benefits
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
- fixed travel allowances (lump sums) 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 4 th semester (mandatory online semester in the student’s country of origin or another developing/emerging country) instead of the usual scholarship rate.
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), specific requirements vary depending on the master’s courses; please see “Information about the Master's Courses”
Selection Process
The selection will be made by a selection committee in October/November 2026. The committee comprises professors from the participating master’s courses and representatives of the DAAD.
Next step: The candidates that were proposed for a scholarship are contacted by the DAAD and asked to upload their full documents to the DAAD portal. Please do not upload any application documents unless you are nominated (by email) by the DAAD.
Important: Please make sure that you have a full set of copies of your application documents in PDF format. Please submit original documents only if you are explicitly asked to do so by the master’s course. Thus, the selection process is finalised. All applicants are informed in writing after the end of the selection process, expected in December 2026/January 2027.
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 HelmutSchmidt-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 at the time of application (date of issue not before 1 January 2020).
- 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.
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
- 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.
Applicants from India and from the Peoples Republic of China are asked to submit an APS Certificate with their application documents.
Application Deadline
July 31, 2026How To Apply
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(s).
- 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.
The following master’s courses are part of the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme (Master’s Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance):
- 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
Email: [email protected]
- Development and Governance
University of Duisburg-Essen
(teaching language: English, duration: 2 semesters)
Email: [email protected]
- Public Policy
Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt
(teaching language: English, duration: 4 semesters)
Please apply online.
Email: [email protected]
- Peace and Conflict Studies
University of Magdeburg
(teaching language: English, duration: 4 semesters)
Email: [email protected]
- Management in Nonprofit-Organisations
University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück
(teaching language: English, duration: 4 semesters)
Email: [email protected]
- Development Studies
University of Passau
(teaching language: English, duration: 4 semesters)
Email: [email protected]
- Governance and Public Policy
University of Passau
(teaching language: English, duration: 4 semesters)
Email: [email protected]
For more information, kindly visit DAAD scholarship portal.
