DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme - Willy Brandt School 2026/28

The Willy Brandt School of Public Policy is a partner in the DAAD's Helmut-Schmidt-Programme, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (Master’s Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance). The Programme supports future leaders from developing countries, who seek responsible positions to promote democracy and social justice in their home countries or regions. It offers the chance to acquire a Master’s degree in practice-oriented programmes of particular relevance for the social, political and economic development in the students’ countries of origin. 

Admission Requirements

All Helmut-Schmidt scholarship applicants who wish to study the MPP at the Brandt School must fulfill the MPP's general application requirements.

The prerequisites for applying to the Master of Public Policy program are:

• higher education entrance qualification (i.e. high school diploma, Abitur)
• college or university degree (Bachelor, Master, Diploma, state exam, etc.) equivalent to a German Bachelor's degree with a minimum duration of 6 semesters
• first professional experience
• above-average grades or above-average professional performance
• analytical talent and pronounced interest in political problems
• very good English language proficiency ( TOEFL: Internet based test (iBT): 90 or above, Paper test: 577 or above. Please note: the ITP test can not be accepted; IELTS: 6.5 or above (for all categories - Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: A or B)
• candidates who received their degree from an English-language college or university are not required to submit proof of their English language proficiency in the form of a test score report. Instead, they must submit an official letter from their university stating that English was the language of instruction, all coursework, and all examinations

Main DAAD selection criteria are:

• your study results so far
• language skills
• political and social engagement
• a convincing description of the subject-related and personal motivation for your studies in Germany
• expected benefit when returning to the home country

Your most recent university degree should have been obtained within the six years prior to the application for the scholarship. Applicants who have stayed in Germany for more than 15 months at the time of the application deadline are not eligible.

Stipends for living costs and a tuition waiver.