Applicants generally need citizenship from an eligible developing or emerging country, a relevant bachelor’s degree, development commitment, practical experience and course-specific language evidence.
Official source: DAAD scholarship database •Last updated:
Eligibility is not only nationality. Applicants must also show academic fit, development motivation, practical experience and readiness for a selected course.
Applicants generally need citizenship from an eligible developing or emerging country, a relevant bachelor’s degree, development commitment, practical experience and course-specific language evidence.
Start with nationality, but do not stop there. The applicant also needs a relevant degree, acceptable academic record, suitable practical experience, language evidence and a course choice that matches the profile. Meeting only one of these conditions is not enough.
A useful self-check is to write one sentence for each requirement. If you cannot write a clear sentence explaining your academic fit, work experience, development motivation and language readiness, the application needs more preparation before submission.
Do not use one universal answer. Practical experience is important to DAAD’s selection purpose, while individual universities may ask for more specific evidence.
Some courses request documentation showing organization, position, dates, hours and duties.
Applicants should verify nationality against the current DAAD developing/emerging country framework and the selected university page.
High-interest applicant countries include Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Nepal and Indonesia, but the official list controls eligibility.
Applicants from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Nepal, Indonesia and similar high-interest countries should pay close attention to document names, grading explanations, translation requirements and work-experience proof. The course office may not know every local certificate format, so clarity helps.
If your transcript uses CGPA, division, percentage or another grading system, provide the explanation requested by the university. If your work was voluntary or part time, the certificate should say so clearly instead of making the reviewer guess.
Full guide: /daad-helmut-schmidt-scholarship
Practical experience is important and some universities request detailed proof.
Check the current DAAD announcement and selected course page before assuming eligibility.
Compare more scholarships in Germany before widening your destination search.
Use these routes to move from one scholarship page into the wider country and hub structure before you make a final choice.
Europe scholarships 2026 Compare this scholarship with opportunities in other European destinations.
The DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme, also called Public Policy and Good Governance (PPGG), funds selected master’s degrees in Germany for graduates from developing and emerging countries who want to work in public policy, administration, governance, law, economics and development fields.
Official source: DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme •Updated:
A course-selection guide for the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme.
Official source: DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme participating course guidance •Updated:
A document checklist for applicants preparing the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Scholarship application.
Official source: University of Passau DAAD scholarship application guidance •Updated:
There is no single English-language rule that applies identically to every Helmut-Schmidt master’s course.
Official source: DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme and participating university requirements •Updated:
Applications are completed on the official provider website. Be cautious with third-party sites and always verify scholarship details at the source.
Go to official application page →