DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme Scholarship

Virtual Open Day: Information Session on the DAAD Helmut Schmidt Scholarship on 30 June, 2025

If you are interested in the scholarship and planning to apply, please make use of the opportunity to participate in our Virtual Open Day on 30 June, 2025 at 14:00 (CEST).

In addition to a presentation of the scholarship and information regarding the application process by the program coordinator of the M.Sc. Social Protection, you will also have the opportunity to ask questions.

Prior registration is not required. You can simply participate via the following WebEx link:

https://h-brs.webex.com/h-brs/j.php?MTID=m3c8087e26667969056eec136857f93d2

The Scholarship

The DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Scholarship provides a monthly stipend (of currently € 992) to selected candidates.

Selected candidates will also receive

• 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
• German language course in Germany, lasting up to 4 months (participation is mandatory), from June - August before the studies start in September.

During the fourth semester, the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Scholarship provides a monthly stipend of € 500.

Further information about the DAAD call for application can be found here.

Applications for the academic year 2026/27 will be open from 1 June until 31 July 2025. 

Eligibility and selection criteria

For your scholarship application to be considered by the selection committee you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a citizen of a developing country (see list of countries)
• Have acquired a bachelor’s degree from a relevant academic field such as economics, political science, international relations/development, law or psychology. If your degree is NOT listed, the review committee will review transcripts for subjects relating to social protection that encompass a minimum of 15 credits in accordance with the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
• Have at least 5 months of practical social protection experience (paid or volunteer)
• Provide proof of English language proficiency, with a minimum level of C1 according to the common European framework. Recognized language tests can be found here or students can submit a letter from their university stating that their official language of instruction was in English. 

The DAAD has additional eligibility criteria and formal requirements. Please carefully read through all the information and documents provided here (including the "Current Announcement" and FAQ section).

Application Process

Interested applicants need to apply via our online application portal (Apollo), open from 1 June until 31 July 2025. 

Candidates will be selected on the basis of their academic qualifications, and the quality of their research proposal, recommendation letter and their motivational letter.

Short-listed candidates will be invited for a 30-minute online interview, which will be held by end of November.

Application

Applicants must fill in the online application and provide the following documents via the Apollo application portal:

• DAAD Application Form as well as DAAD Checklist (must be hand-signed). The forms are available here. (The link will redirect you to the DAAD’s official website. On the DAAD page, scroll to the bottom, where you will find the downloadable checklist and DAAD application form).
• A research proposal (maximum of 800 words), which includes your topic, research question, short overview of the relevant literature, theoretical approach, research design and methodology. The template is available to download below under "application documents." 
• Hand-signed and dated motivation letter containing a precise description of the applicants’ academic/professional and personal reasons for choosing those master's programmes and universities (addressing the selection criteria, incl. the date of issue, two pages maximum)
• A Europass curriculum vitae including information about the precise field of your studies, your political and social engagement and, if applicable, description of job experience. Formal specifications on the part of DAAD: full CV, gaps of three months or more must be explained, in reverse chronological order, incl. the date of issue (the europass template does not include a date, please add it yourself). 
• Copy of acquired Academic Degrees (certified translation if necessary, please attach an explanation of the grading system)
• Copy of the Transcript of Records (certified translation if necessary, please provide an explanation of the grading system if this is not part of the transcript)
• Proof of required English language skills

• Proof of practical Experience
  Provide written confirmation of your current and any other relevant professional experience or internships, and/or proof of your current and other relevant political activities or community service (e.g., volunteering or work with charities or NGOs). The letter must include information on the period of your employment, hours worked per week, job description, and duties as well as a company/organization mission statement. These confirmations must be on official letterhead, include an original (not scanned) or qualified electronic signature, display the date of issue, and bear the organization’s stamp.

• Current Written Reference Letter
  Provide a current reference letter from either your present employer or, if you are still studying, a university lecturer. The letter should assess your ability to conduct graduate-level work, your potential for a successful professional or academic career in the field of social protection. The reference must be printed on official letterhead, feature an original (not scanned) or qualified electronic signature, indicate the date of issue, and carry the institution’s stamp.

• Valid passport copy 

Offers of Admission

After the interview, the student secretariat will inform applicants in a timely manner about the next steps. Successful applicants will receive an informal offer of admission.

To obtain a formal offer of admission, successful applicants are required to send in certified copies of the original supporting documents by mail within two weeks after receiving the informal offer of admission.

Contact

Please send inquiries regarding the DAAD-Helmut Schmidt Scholarship to the following e-mail address: fb06.helmut-schmidt-programm@h-brs.de