DAAD Masters Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance

Overview

The DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme — officially the Master's Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance (PPGG) — is a fully funded scholarship offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for outstanding graduates from developing and emerging countries to pursue a two-year master's degree at one of eight selected German universities. Named after former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, the programme is designed to develop future leaders who will promote democracy, social justice, and good governance in their home countries.

Nepal is an eligible country. For Nepali students and professionals interested in public administration, governance, development policy, law, economics, or civil society — this is one of the most directly relevant and high-value scholarships available, with a currently open application cycle.

• Fully funded: monthly stipend (€992), insurance, return flight, and a preparatory German language course before studies begin
• Open to both young graduates without work experience and mid-career professionals — unlike EPOS, work experience is not mandatory
• All 8 participating programmes are taught in English
• A mandatory German language course (up to 6 months) is included before the master's begins — no German required at application
• Scholarship for 2027 entry: application deadline 31 July 2026 — open now
• Apply directly to the participating universities, not to DAAD

The 8 Participating Master's Programmes (2026/27)

• Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg: Social Protection
• University of Duisburg-Essen: Development and Governance
• Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, University of Erfurt: Public Policy
• University of Magdeburg: Peace and Conflict Studies
• Hochschule Osnabrück: Management in Non-Profit Organisations
• University of Passau: Development Studies
• University of Passau: Governance and Public Policy
• University of Göttingen: International Development (check current DAAD announcement for confirmation)

⚠️ Application deadline is 31 July 2026 for all 8 universities. Unlike EPOS (which has varying course-level deadlines), all Helmut Schmidt Programme applications use a uniform deadline across all participating institutions. The application period runs from 1 June to 31 July 2026.

⚠️ 15-month Germany residency rule applies. Applicants currently living in Germany for more than 15 months at the deadline are not eligible.

Eligibility

Who is Eligible

• Citizenship in a developing or emerging country: Must be a citizen of a country on the OECD DAC list of ODA recipients. Nepal is included. You must currently be living in and applying from an eligible developing or emerging country — not from Germany or another high-income country.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject: Must hold a bachelor's or equivalent first university degree with above-average grades in social and political sciences, law, economics, public policy, public administration, or a closely related field.
• Open to young graduates and mid-career professionals: Unlike EPOS, the Helmut Schmidt Programme explicitly welcomes applications from both recent graduates without professional experience and experienced mid-career professionals. Both profiles are competitive if the academic record and motivation are strong.
• Commitment to development and good governance: Must demonstrate genuine commitment to contributing to the social, political, and economic development of Nepal or your home region. The selection committee prioritises candidates who show a clear, credible connection between the proposed study and their future contribution to governance or civil society in their home country.
• English proficiency: All programmes are taught in English. A valid English proficiency certificate is required (IELTS or TOEFL — institutional TOEFL not accepted). The specific minimum score varies by university — check each programme's individual requirements.
• German language: No German is required at the time of application. The scholarship includes a mandatory preparatory German language course of up to 6 months in Germany before master's studies begin. However, you must have sufficient aptitude to pass the required German language exam (DSH 2 or TestDaF 4) after the 6-month course. A complete lack of any German foundation makes passing very difficult — some basic German before arrival is strongly advisable.

Who is Not Eligible

• Citizens of EU member states or other high-income countries not on the OECD DAC eligible list.
• Applicants currently residing in Germany for more than 15 months at the July 31 application deadline.
• Applicants applying to master's programmes not included in the official Helmut Schmidt Programme list — the scholarship is only for the 8 designated programmes.
• Applicants with below-average academic results — the selection committee applies a high academic bar, and candidates below the upper portion of their graduating class will struggle to be competitive.
• Applicants who cannot demonstrate a genuine connection between good governance, public policy, or development studies and their future plans for Nepal — vague or generic motivation letters are consistently rejected.

How to Apply

1. Choose your programme(s) from the 8 participating universities. Review the programme descriptions carefully on the official DAAD Helmut Schmidt page. Consider which programme's focus (Social Protection, Public Policy, Development Studies, Peace and Conflict, NPO Management, Governance, Development and Governance) aligns most closely with your professional background and goals for Nepal. You can apply to more than one programme — submit the same motivation letter adapted to each, with a single letter explaining both choices if applying to two.
2. Prepare your application documents. All documents must be in English or German. Required documents:
   • Completed DAAD scholarship application form
   • Letter of Motivation (maximum 2 pages) — clearly explain your academic background, your connection to public policy/governance/development in Nepal, and how this master's degree will enable you to contribute to Nepal's social or political development. Be specific about Nepal's challenges and your role in addressing them.
   • Curriculum vitae in reverse chronological order (Europass template recommended)
   • Certified copies of all degree certificates with English translations if the original is in Nepali
   • Full academic transcripts with grading system explanation
   • Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS or TOEFL — not institutional TOEFL)
   • One current reference letter from an employer (if working) or academic supervisor
   • Proof of professional experience if applicable (employer certificate on letterhead)
3. Submit your application to the participating university — not to DAAD. Applications are submitted directly to each of the programmes you are applying to. The application period is 1 June to 31 July 2026 for all 8 universities simultaneously. Late applications are not accepted. Visit each university's programme page for their specific online application portal or submission instructions.
4. The university selection committee reviews and nominates candidates to DAAD. Each university reviews its applicants and nominates the strongest candidates for the DAAD Helmut Schmidt scholarship. Being admitted to the programme does not automatically guarantee the scholarship — scholarship nomination is a separate step.
5. DAAD contacts shortlisted candidates to complete the DAAD portal upload. Nominated candidates receive instructions from DAAD to upload their complete application documents as PDFs to the DAAD scholarship portal. Keep digital copies of all documents ready.
6. Receive scholarship decision and prepare for German language course. If awarded, you will begin a mandatory German language course in Germany — lasting up to 6 months — before your master's programme starts in September or October. Budget time for this: the full commitment runs from the language course start (typically spring) through two years of master's study to graduation in late 2028 or early 2029.