The DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme, officially the Master’s Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance (PPGG), pays for graduates from developing countries to take a master’s in public policy, governance, development or a related field at one of seven partner courses in Germany. It covers tuition, a monthly stipend of €992, health insurance, travel and a four-month German course before the degree starts. The DAAD funds it, the German Federal Foreign Office pays for it, and it has run since 2009.
You apply to the partner university, not to the DAAD, during a fixed window from 1 June to 31 July. The 2026 round for courses starting in 2027 closed on 31 July 2026. The deadline for the next round is 31 July 2027, for courses starting in autumn 2028, and Hochschule Osnabrück has already published that 1 June to 31 July 2027 window. Here is how the programme works, who can apply, and how to prepare, checked on DAAD partner pages on 25 October 2026.
What the Helmut-Schmidt Programme funds
The programme is named after the former German chancellor and aims to train future leaders who will work on social, political and economic development in their home countries. It funds only master’s study, only at the partner courses, and only for people from countries on the DAAD’s Helmut-Schmidt country list. Every course in the current round is taught in English, and German is not needed to apply.
- Scholarship name: DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme (Master’s Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance).
- Funded by: the German Federal Foreign Office, through the DAAD.
- Study level: master’s degree, starting in the winter semester.
- Application window: 1 June to 31 July of the year before you start.
- Where to apply: directly to up to two partner universities.
- Number of awards: not published as a total. Osnabrück, for example, admits up to ten scholars a year to its course.
Helmut-Schmidt Programme benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Exempt from tuition fees |
| Monthly stipend | €992 |
| Health insurance | Contributions to health insurance in Germany |
| Travel | Travel allowance for the journey to Germany and back |
| Study and research grant | An allowance toward books, materials and research costs |
| Family and rent | Rent subsidy, or allowances for a spouse or children, on application where applicable |
| German course | Mandatory four-month course in Germany before the master’s, roughly June to September |
The German course is compulsory and paid for by the award. Magdeburg’s page places it from June to September 2027 for the current cohort, at selected language institutes in Germany, so plan to arrive about four months before lectures start.
Partner universities and master’s courses
These seven courses took part in the 2027 round, as listed in the DAAD’s announcement and repeated on partner and university pages. Each one runs its own admission and has extra rules on top of the DAAD’s.
| University | Master’s course | Course-specific points |
|---|---|---|
| Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg | Social Protection | Check course page for its language and experience rules |
| University of Duisburg-Essen | Development and Governance | Check course page |
| University of Erfurt (Willy Brandt School) | Public Policy | Check course page |
| Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg | Peace and Conflict Studies | English C1 (for example IELTS 7.0), 3 months’ international experience, own deadline 15 July |
| Hochschule Osnabrück | Management in Nonprofit Organisations | English B2 (IELTS 5.5 to 6.5 depending on band), 2 years’ relevant experience, up to 10 scholars |
| University of Passau | Development Studies | Check course page |
| University of Passau | Governance and Public Policy | Check course page |
Some summary sites say eight universities take part, but the 2027 list has seven courses at six universities, with Passau offering two. The partner list can change between rounds, so check the DAAD announcement when the June 2027 window opens.
Helmut-Schmidt Programme eligibility
- Country: you must be from, and currently live in, a country on the DAAD’s Helmut-Schmidt list. The list covers developing and emerging countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Europe. For the 2027 round, Arab countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia were included, while Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE were not.
- Degree: a bachelor’s degree or equivalent with above-average grades, usually in social or political science, law, economics, public policy or public administration.
- Degree age: your latest degree must be no more than six years old when you apply. For the 2027 round that meant a degree issued on or after 1 January 2020.
- Experience: relevant practical experience, such as a job, internships, NGO work or political and social engagement. Some courses ask for two full years.
- Commitment: a clear willingness to contribute to development in your home country or region.
- Time in Germany: you are not eligible if you have been in Germany for more than 15 months at the deadline.
- English: proof at the level your course asks for, from B2 to C1. Some courses accept a previous English-taught degree as proof. Test results usually must be no more than three years old when the master’s begins.
Edge cases worth checking
- Short bachelor’s degrees: Osnabrück accepts four-year bachelor’s degrees from South Asia, and three-year degrees followed by a master’s, but not two-year degrees. Rules vary by course.
- APS certificate: applicants with bachelor’s degrees from China, Vietnam or India need one at Osnabrück.
- Degree from outside social sciences: Magdeburg asks for at least 30 ECTS in social or cultural sciences with a German grade of 2.5 or better.
- Final-year students: Magdeburg accepts applicants who have not yet finished, if they already have at least 150 credit points.
Helmut-Schmidt Programme deadline and key dates
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Application window opens | 1 June 2027 |
| Magdeburg’s recommended internal deadline | 15 July 2027 |
| Deadline | 31 July 2027 |
| Selection committees meet | October to December 2027 |
| Results to applicants | Late December 2027 to early January 2028 |
| German course in Germany | About June to September 2028 |
| Master’s starts | Winter semester 2028/2029 |
The 31 July 2027 window is confirmed by Osnabrück. The other dates follow the pattern published for the 2027 round (based on this year’s dates; confirm on the official page when the call opens).
Check each university’s date
Some partners set an earlier internal deadline. Magdeburg’s official university deadline in 2026 was 15 July, two weeks before the DAAD’s 31 July. Submit by the earlier date.
Documents you need
Magdeburg publishes the most detailed list. Other partners ask for similar files, with their own admission form in place of Magdeburg’s.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| DAAD checklist | Signed and dated by hand |
| DAAD application form | Signed; list your one or two courses |
| University admission form | Each partner’s own form or online portal |
| Motivation letter | Two pages at most at Magdeburg, signed and dated |
| Europass CV | In English, signed and dated |
| Passport copy | Plus residence permit if you live outside your home country |
| Degree certificates and transcripts | With an explanation of the grading system; certified English translations if needed |
| English certificate | At the level your course sets |
| Recommendation letter | From a professor or current employer, on letterhead with stamp |
| Proof of work and engagement | Employment certificates and letters showing social or political engagement |
How to apply for the Helmut-Schmidt Programme
- Check the country list: download the DAAD’s Helmut-Schmidt list of countries from the DAAD database entry and confirm both your nationality and residence qualify.
- Choose one or two courses: compare the course content and each partner’s extra requirements. You may apply to at most two using the same DAAD form.
- Book an English test early: if your course wants C1, give yourself time for a retake.
- Collect letters in May: employer and engagement letters need letterhead and stamps, which take time.
- Apply in the window: submit through each university’s portal or email route between 1 June and 31 July, and say clearly that you are applying for the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme.
- Prepare for the DAAD Portal: if the committee suggests you, the DAAD asks you to upload the full application there. Keep a clean PDF set ready.
Our guide to applying for a DAAD scholarship walks through the DAAD Portal, file formats and referee forms in more detail.
Writing the motivation letter
This programme is about public responsibility, so selectors want to see that you already act on public problems and know what you will do with the degree. A two-page letter has room for about five short sections:
- A policy problem you know first-hand: something in your country you have worked on, with a fact or figure.
- Your record: jobs, internships, NGO or civic work that shows you have already tried to fix it.
- Why this course: named modules, teaching staff or the course’s focus, and why Germany.
- If you apply to two: why both suit you, in a consistent order.
- Your plan after: the role you aim for at home and the change you want to make.
An example opening: “When our county’s health budget was cut in half in 2023, I spent six months as a volunteer tracking which clinics closed and which patients stopped coming.” It shows engagement with a public problem, backed by evidence, which is what this award looks for.
What happens after you apply
Each university screens its applications first. A selection committee of professors and DAAD representatives then meets, in October and November at Magdeburg, and Osnabrück holds interviews in November and December. Candidates the committee suggests are asked by the DAAD to upload their full files to the DAAD Portal. All applicants hear the outcome around the end of December or early January. If you are selected, you will receive the DAAD award letter, then admission and visa steps, and the German course starts the following June.
Costs the scholarship may not cover
- Semester contribution: tuition is waived, but German universities charge a semester fee for administration and transport.
- Application costs: English tests, certified translations and courier fees.
- Visa fee and arrival: carry money for the first rent deposit, since the first stipend may come after arrival.
- Housing in big cities: €992 is tight in some university towns once rent is paid; the rent subsidy applies only in certain cases.
Common mistakes
- Sending the application to the DAAD instead of the university.
- Applying to more than two courses, or changing the DAAD form between them.
- Missing a partner’s internal deadline, such as Magdeburg’s 15 July.
- Submitting an English score below the course minimum. Lower scores are not accepted.
- Forgetting to say in the application that you are applying for the Helmut-Schmidt scholarship.
- Writing a general letter about leadership with no concrete work or engagement behind it.
Helmut-Schmidt compared with similar scholarships
| Scholarship | Fields | Work experience | Where you apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme | Public policy, governance, development | Relevant experience expected | Partner university, 1 June to 31 July |
| DAAD EPOS | Health, engineering, environment, economics and more | 2 years required | The course, by its own date |
| Rosa Luxemburg Foundation | Any field | Not required | The foundation |
| Heinrich Böll Foundation | Any field | Not required | The foundation |
For every other route to funded study in Germany, see our Germany scholarships guide.
Who should apply and who should not
Apply if you have a good degree in social sciences, law, economics or administration from the last six years, some real public-interest work behind you, and an English score at your course’s level. Civil servants, NGO staff, journalists covering policy and young people active in civic movements fit well.
Look elsewhere if you want a technical or health master’s (EPOS suits you better), if your degree is older than six years, if you have lived in Germany for more than 15 months, or if your country is not on the list.
FAQ on the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme
When is the Helmut-Schmidt scholarship deadline?
The deadline is 31 July 2027, for master’s courses starting in autumn 2028. The window opens on 1 June 2027, and some universities close their own process earlier.
Do I need German for the Helmut-Schmidt Programme?
No. The courses are taught in English, and the scholarship includes a four-month German course in Germany before your master’s begins.
How much is the Helmut-Schmidt scholarship per month?
€992 a month, plus tuition exemption, health insurance, a travel allowance and a study and research grant. Rent or family allowances may be added in some cases.
How many universities can I apply to for the Helmut-Schmidt scholarship?
Up to two partner courses, using the same DAAD application form for both.
Sources and updates
Checked on 25 October 2026 against the DAAD’s Helmut-Schmidt-Programme announcement as reproduced by partner institutions, the programme pages of Hochschule Osnabrück and Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, and Al-Fanar Media’s June 2026 report on the 2027 call. The DAAD scholarship database is the final source for the country list and partner courses. When the 2027 call is published in June, this page will be updated.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
