DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship in Germany, 2027

Eligible Countries

Applications for the 2027 Helmut-Schmidt-Programme are open to citizens of the following countries:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China (People’s Republic of), Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,

Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, etc. Please click here to see the full list.

Available Master’s Courses (Seven)

All courses are taught in English unless stated otherwise. Duration in semesters. Contact emails are provided for application submissions.

1. Social Protection – University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (4 semesters, blended learning) – [email protected]
2. Development and Governance – University of Duisburg-Essen (2 semesters) – [email protected]
3. Public Policy – Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt (4 semesters) – apply online – [email protected]
4. Peace and Conflict Studies – University of Magdeburg (4 semesters) – [email protected]
5. Management in Nonprofit-Organisations – University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück (4 semesters) – [email protected]
6. Development Studies – University of Passau (4 semesters) – [email protected]
7. Governance and Public Policy – University of Passau (4 semesters, English and German) – [email protected]

DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship Eligibility

To apply for this government scholarship, candidates must:

• Be a graduate from a developing or emerging country (as defined by the DAC list).
• Hold a first university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) with above‑average grades – upper third.
• Have studied social and political sciences, law, economics, public policy, administration, or a related field.
• Have practical experience relevant to the program (professional work, internships, or political or social commitment; varies by master’s course).
• Be willing to actively contribute to the social, political, and economic development of your home country or region.
• Your last university degree should have been issued no earlier than 1 January 2020 (not older than six years at the time of application).
• You must not have spent more than the past 15 months in a country not on the DAC list.
• Meet the specific language and other requirements of your chosen master’s course(s).

Candidates who already hold a Master’s degree must make a well‑argued case for why they need another postgraduate degree.

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. Read the DAAD selection criteria included in the checklist document. Print the checklist, sign it by hand (with place and date), and scan it.
2. Fill in the DAAD Application form once, indicating up to two master’s courses. Do not submit multiple forms.
3. Prepare your curriculum vitae in reverse chronological order, using the Europass template (add a date manually). Explain any gaps of three months or more.
4. Gather certified copies and translations (into English or German) of your degree certificates and full transcript of records (include grading system explanation).
5. Obtain proof of relevant professional experience, internships, or community/political activities – each on headed paper, with an original (not scanned) or digitally certified signature, date, and stamp.
6. Provide proof of English language skills (as required by your chosen course).
7. Get a current written reference from your employer (or from a university lecturer if you are a student) – also on headed paper, signed, dated, and stamped.
8. If you are from India or China, include your APS Certificate.
9. Send the complete application package directly to the master’s course(s) you are applying to (by email or post, as specified by the course). Do not send anything to the DAAD.

Applications that go to more than two master’s courses, lack a clear prioritization in the motivation letter, or miss any required documents will be disqualified. The DAAD will not forward misdirected applications. The selection committee meets in October/November 2026. Nominated candidates will be contacted by the DAAD to upload full documents to the DAAD portal. Do not upload anything unless you are nominated. Final decisions are expected in December 2026/January 2027. For further details, contact the master’s course coordinators directly (emails above). The DAAD will not answer questions about individual applications.

The application deadline is July 31, 2026. For more details on the DAAD Helmut Schmidt Master Scholarship for International Students, please visit the official page.