Deadline Date: July 13, 2025
Donor Name: German Bundestag
The German Bundestag invites politically and socially engaged young university graduates from Southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa), East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) and West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal) to a scholarship program in Berlin in January.
In a four-week compact program, up to 24 scholarship holders from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda will get to know German parliamentary democracy and the political decision-making processes in the German Bundestag up close.
The core of the program is a one-week internship in the office of a member of the German Bundestag. A compact preparatory course provides participants with knowledge of parliamentary democracy and the workings and functions of parliament.
Furthermore, the topics of pluralistic society, minority protection, and the culture of remembrance are addressed as a political mandate. There are a series of workshops on various topics, such as anti-corruption and intercultural training. A project management workshop is designed to help participants develop their own project ideas to promote democracy and civil society in their respective countries of origin.
Benefits
- The scholarship also includes free accommodation in a residential complex, travel expenses to and from Berlin, and health, accident, and liability insurance.
Funding Information
- Participants will receive a scholarship of €700.
Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality of one of the participating countries: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda
- Younger than 30 years at the start of the scholarship or on 1 January
- Completed university studies
- Good knowledge of the German language (at least level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)
- Strong interest in political issues and social/political engagement
Selection Criteria
- Applicants will be invited to an interview at a German diplomatic mission abroad, where an independent selection committee appointed by the German Bundestag will select the scholarship recipients based on their professional, social, linguistic and intercultural skills.
Application Requirements
- Please send your application as a single PDF file (labeled: Last Name – First Name) by email to the German embassy in your home country. You can find the email address on the right under “Contact German Embassies.” The PDF file must not exceed 10 MB in size. If the PDF file exceeds 10 MB, please split your application documents into multiple emails. Please do not send ZIP files.
- Your application is only complete if you include the following documents:
- Application form (to be completed and signed in German);
- Proof of good knowledge of German, not older than 2 years;
- Motivational letter in German, personally signed (max. 2 pages);
- Copy of passport or copy of ID as proof of citizenship of one of the participating countries;
- University degree certificate (original or certified copy in English or German);
- Letter of recommendation (in German or English) from a teacher/professor or employer assessing the applicant’s professional qualifications for the IPS program.
