Applications are open for the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Program in M.A. Development Studies at the University of Passau for 2025/26. The University of Passau joined the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme network in 2020. The M.A. in Development Studies is a two-year, English-taught program that prepares students to understand and address economic and social development issues. It combines theoretical knowledge with practical field research, focusing on quantitative and qualitative methods. The program meets the growing demand for development experts and project managers in international development cooperation.

The M.A. Development Studies program at the University of Passau offers a comprehensive education designed to equip students with advanced knowledge, analytical skills, and conceptual frameworks necessary to navigate the complexities of economic and social development. The program is tailored for individuals seeking to understand the multifaceted contexts of development and aims to produce experts capable of contributing to international development cooperation and research.

The following programs are also available under the DAAD’s Helmut-Schmidt-Programme:

• DAAD Scholarship for M.A. Development and Governance Program 
• Master Helmut-Schmidt Scholarship Program for Public Policy and Good Governance (DAAD PPGG) in Germany
• DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Program for Master of Public Policy at the Willy Brandt School, Germany

Key Details and Dates

• Application Deadline:
  • Winter semester: 15 April – 31 May (direct applications); 1 April – 31 May (applications via uni-assist e.V.)
  • Helmut-Schmidt-Program: 1 June – 31 July 2026 for the 2025/2026 session
• Result Announcement Dates: Mid to late December 2026 for Helmut-Schmidt-Program
• Funding Type: DAAD scholarships available
• Host Institution: University of Passau
• Eligible Countries: Developing and emerging countries listed by DAC
• Eligible Gender: All genders
• Target Group: Graduates and junior managers with job experience in development-related fields
• Field: Development Studies
• Study Level: Master’s degree
• Number of Opportunities: Up to 10 scholarships annually
• Duration: 2 years (4 semesters)
• Program Language: English
• Host Country: Germany

Benefits and Financial Aids

DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Program Scholarship provides the following items for selected candidates:

• Monthly Scholarship Rate: 931€
• Health Insurance Cover: Provided in Germany
• Travel Allowances: Appropriate allowances provided
• Study and Research Grant: Available
• Additional Support: Helmut-Schmidt-Programme team and extracurricular activities

Eligibility Criteria

All candidates must meet the following criteria:

• DAAD Scholarship application is to applicants from developing countries in the list below
• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences or equivalent (minimum 60 ECTS credits in relevant disciplines, 10 ECTS credits in empirical research methods)
• Final grade equivalent to at least upper second-level
• English proficiency at level B2 CEFR
• Basic German (A1 CEFR) required by the end of the first year (free beginner’s course provided if necessary)
• Minimum of 4 months in a relevant field or social/political engagement
• Must not have resided outside DAC-listed countries for more than 15 months before the application deadline
• No recent master’s degree in a similar discipline unless well-justified
• Must apply to a maximum of two master’s programs within the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme network

Eligible Countries

Applicants from these developing countries can apply for the DAAD Scholarship:

Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Syrian Arab Republic, Algeria, Bhutan, Bolivia, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Eswatini, Ghana, Honduras, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tokelau, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, China (People’s Republic of), Colombia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Montserrat, Namibia, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Helena, Nauru, Niue, North Macedonia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, South Africa, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank and Gaza Strip

Required Documents

Please prepare these application documents:

• Application Form: Completed via the application portal
• Degree Certificate: First university degree certificate and transcript of records
• Language Certificates: Proof of English (B2 CEFR) and, if available, German language skills
• Professional Experience: Certificates for internships, volunteer work, and work experience (hand-signed, dated, on letterhead with stamp)
• Motivation Letter: Single letter for up to two chosen programs
• Translations: Official English or German translations for documents not in these languages

Selection Process

Following is the selection process for the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Program in M.A. Development Studies:

• Initial Screening: Formal and completeness check of applications
• Evaluation: Assessment by a joint committee of DAAD representatives and University of Passau staff
• Interviews: Potential video interviews between August and December 2024
• Notification: Results will be announced by mid to late December 2024

How to Apply?

• Create an account on the application portal.
• Complete the application form accessible during the period (1 June – 31 July 2026 for the Helmut-Schmidt Program).
• Submit Documents by uploading all required documents as specified.
• Prepare a single motivation letter for up to two master’s programs if applying to more than one.

Apply Now 

Note: Ensure all documents are clear and legible. Incomplete or non-specific applications may lead to disqualification.

If you have any questions, contact information.ppgg@uni-passau.de. Further details are available on the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Program or the M.A. Development Studies webpage.

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