Fully funded scholarship DAAD Helmut-Schmidt for developing countries 2025

Fully Funded International Scholarship DAAD Helmut-Schmidt 2025 is open. The scholarship provides an opportunity for students from developing countries to study for a Master’s degree in Germany. This scholarship is specifically for public policy and the Good Governance Program. The program offers selected seven master’s courses at German universities. Students can apply upto two courses among the selected options. Students with a university degree in Social science, Political science, Law, Economics, Public Policy and administration can apply for these courses.

If you have a background in these courses, or know someone who has a background in these degrees can apply for the scholarship. Besides the course eligibility, the program focuses on participants’ contribution to social, political, and economic development in their countries. Therefore, some of the courses require you to have relevant experience from 5 months to one year. The courses accept professional experience, internships, and other voluntary activities within your community. The Helmut Schmidt Programme involves one-year and two-year master’s courses, each with different formal and academic entry requirements.

The courses focused on public policy, good governance, international relations, public management, public administration, civil society, social protection, peace and conflict studies, development and socioeconomic policies have an international orientation and are mainly taught in English. The participants will also engage in networking events, and workshops at host universities. German courses are designed for the students in Germany for up to 6 months before starting the degree program. DAAD Helmut-Schmidt provides support during study such as work placement, and adjustment during the program.

Note- DAAD Helmut Schmidt scholarship is open. University admission dates may vary, start accepting applications starting from June and continue by the end of July.

DAAD Helmut Schmidt scholarship Benefits

For fall intake 2025, the scholarship covers all the expenses of you during studies making it possible for you to study without being worried about finances. The applicants will receive a complete package including:

Full exemption from Tuition fee
Provides monthly stipend of €934 to cover living expenses.
Health insurance
Travel allowance
Allowance for study and research projects
Allowance for accommodation and family members.
Free German Language course
One time settlement allowance of €260-€460 for students
Covers costs for language tests like TestDaF or DSH.

Besides these benefits, DAAD Helmut Schmidt scholarship benefits you through workshops, seminars and networking events. These extra activities can help you build a strong personality as well as assist you in your professional career.

Eligibility Criteria for DAAD Helmut Schmidt scholarship

The general requirements of the DAAD Helmut Schmidt scholarship are below, however, you can also find country-specific criteria on the official page. Meanwhile, you also have to fulfill university course admission criteria to be eligible for the scholarship. The requirements are below for the scholarship:

Graduates from developing and emerging countries (bachelor or equivalent)
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
Practical experience relevant for the programme (professional experience, internships, political/social commitment)
The last university degree should not date back more than six years when applying for a scholarship in the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme (date of issue not before 1 January 2018).

Documents requirement

DAAD Helmut Schmidt scholarship provides you a checklist that helps to compile your documents, and requirements of the scholarship.Here is the list of things you requires according to the checklist;

DAAD Application Form
Letter of Motivation
CV(Europass Format)
University Certificates
Transcripts
Practical experience relevant to the Helmut-SchmidtProgramme
Current reference
Proof of English language skills (if your course of instruction is English, check out with the university if they require IELTS or TOFEL or you are exempt)

Note- Confirmations of current and other relevant professional experience or internships (on headed paper, including an original (not scanned) or code certified digital signature, the date of issue and a stamp) and also sign DAAD application Form and scan to submit.

Listed courses and Details for DAAD Helmut-Schmidt

Short overview of the courses for you to make it easier before you go for application.

University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Social Protection

If you are interested in the course of Social Protection at the University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, The eligibility criteria for the courses is:

Certainly, here are the short eligibility criteria bullets:

Possession of a bachelor’s degree in fields like public policy, economics, political science, social science, international relations, business administration, public health, or psychology
If the degree is not listed, transcripts will be reviewed for subjects related to social protection, comprising a minimum of 15 credits as per the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)
Minimum of 5 months of practical experience in social protection, whether paid or voluntary
English language proficiency at a minimum level of C1 according to the common European framework. Recognized language tests are acceptable, or submission of a letter from the university affirming English as the official language of instruction.

Check further details at: Social Protection

University of Duisburg-Essen, Development and Governance

If you are looking forward to get admission at the University of Duisburg-Essen for Development and Governance, here is the requirements:

Higher education entrance qualification
Bachelor’s degree requiring four years of full-time study in political science, social science, law, economics, geography, or related discipline
Strong academic record
Minimum of one year full-time professional relevant work experience at the time of application
Very good English language proficiency: Applicants must provide a recent language certificate (TOEFL, IELTS) indicating their level of proficiency in English:
- TOEFL:
  - Paper-based test: minimum score of 550
  - Computer-based test: minimum score of 213
  - Internet-based test: minimum score of 80
- IELTS: minimum score of 6.0

Applicants may be exempted from the English proficiency requirement if they hold a bachelor’s or higher degree from an English-language college or university, provided they can demonstrate that English was the language of instruction and examination throughout their degree course.

Click here for more information.

Erfurt School of Public Policy, Public Policy

The requirements for Public Policy Program at Erfurt School of Public Policy includes:

A conclusive account of your academic, professional and personal motivation for studying MPP in Germany
Your motivation clearly relates to the goals of the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme
At least one year of professional experience relevant to the MPP
Strong analytical skills and pronounced interest in solving political problems
A first higher education degree completed with above-average grades (upper third of graduates), in the fields of Social and Political Sciences, Law, Economics, Public Policy and Administration

For more information, Click Here.

University of Magdeburg, Peace and Conflict Studies

If you are interested in Peace and conflict studies the university of Magdeburg, consider the following requirements below,

Graduates from developing countries in the field of social sciences, political sciences, law, economics, and public administration
Political & social engagement
International experience (work or study related) of at least 3 months
Convincing description of the subject-related & personal motivation

For more information, click here.

Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Management in Nonprofit Organisations

Applicants from the People’s Republic of China, Vietnam and India: APS certificate (the authenticity check of the original is carried out by our university)
Applicants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan: university degree as follows:
- 4-year BA courses are accepted
- 3-year BA courses plus 1 – 2 years of consecutive master’s courses at home or abroad are recognized
- 2-year BA courses are not recognized in combination with a consecutive MA course
- ELTS (5.5, 6.0, 6.5)
- TOEFL iBT (94–72)
- TOEFL PBT (626-543)
- TOEFL ITP Level 1 (626-543)

Click Here for more information.

University of Passau, Development Studies

Some of the important requirements of the program includes:

Applicants must hold a first (bachelor’s or equivalent) university degree in a social science discipline, such as: Economics,Anthropology,Demography,Empirical social or human geography,Sociology,Political science,Administrative science Or any other equivalent degree with a minimum of 60 ECTS credits in one or several of these disciplines.
The first degree must have been obtained through a program of study with a minimum standard duration of three years of full-time study.
Out of the 60 ECTS credits mentioned above, at least 10 ECTS credits (or a minimum of 300 hours of coursework) must be earned from empirical research methods
A general course in research methods is not sufficient and does not count towards this requirement.
The final grade of the undergraduate degree must be at least at the upper second level.

For more click here.

University of Passau, Governance and Public Policy

Applicants for this degree programme should have a good first university degree in social science, business studies, economics or a related subject with an overall result of, or equivalent to, at least 2.3 according to the German grading scale, or be ranked among the best 50% of their cohort.

You should provide proof of English language skills equivalent to level B2 CEFR.

Although, the M.A. Governance and Public Policy is officially announced as a bilingual programme, Helmut-Schmidt-Programme scholarship holders are given the opportunity to study the whole scheme in the English language.

To apply click here.

Deadline for the scholarship

The application deadline for DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Scholarship is July 31,2024. Make sure to submit your application before deadline for 2025 intake.

For complete Information about DAAD Helmut Schmidt scholarship 2025-2026 and courses, check out the official page through the link below,

DAAD official website

Eligible Countries

Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan,

Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Syrian Arab Republic, Algeria, Bhutan, Bolivia, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Eswatini, Ghana, Honduras, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tokelau, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, China (People’s Republic of), Colombia,

Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Montserrat, Namibia, Nauru, Niue, North Macedonia, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, South Africa, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank and Gaza Strip.

You can check out the video as well.