The German Bundestag is inviting politically and socially committed 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.
The idea
Since 2020, the German Bundestag has been offering a scholarship program for talented and politically interested young university graduates from sub-Saharan Africa who are interested in the German parliamentary system and are actively committed to basic democratic values in their home countries.
In a four-week compact program, up to 24 scholarship holders can get to know the German parliamentary system and political decision-making processes in the German Bundestag up close.
The program
The program takes place annually from January 1st to 31st.
The core of the program is a one-week internship in the office of a member of the German Bundestag.
For this purpose, knowledge about parliamentary democracy as well as the workings and function of parliament is conveyed in a compact preparation. In addition, the topics of plural society, protection of minorities and culture of remembrance are addressed as a political mandate. A series of workshops will take place on a variety of topics, including corruption and intercultural training. A workshop on project management is intended to help you develop your own project ideas with the aim of promoting democracy and civil society in the respective countries of origin.
The scholarship
The participants receive a scholarship of 700 euros. The scholarship also includes free accommodation in a residential complex, coverage of travel costs to and from Berlin and coverage of the costs of health, accident and liability insurance.
The selection
The scholarship program is aimed at highly qualified, cosmopolitan, politically interested young people from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda who want to take an active and responsible role in shaping the democratic future of their countries.
Applicants are invited to a selection interview at a German mission abroad, where an independent selection committee appointed by the German Bundestag selects the scholarship holders based on their technical, social, linguistic and intercultural skills.
The admission requirements
- Citizenship of a participating country (dual citizenship is possible)
- younger than 30 years at the start of the scholarship on January 1st
- 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 contexts as well as social/political commitment
How do you apply?
Please send your application as a PDF file (labeled: last name-first name) by email to the German embassy in your home country. The email address can be found on the right under “List of participating countries”.
Your application is only complete if the following documents are included:
- Application form (in German)
- Passport photo (please insert on the first page of the application form);
- Proof of good German language skills, not older than 2 years;
- Letter of motivation in German with your handwritten signature (maximum two pages);
- Copy of passport or copy ID;
- Degree certificate from the university (in the original or as an officially certified copy in English or German. The original or the officially certified copy of the original must be presented at a possible selection interview.)
- a current letter of recommendation in German or English (from a university lecturer or from the employer, in which the applicant's professional qualifications for the program are assessed)
Application deadlines for IPS Africa 2025:
- For applications from Western Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal): April 14, 2024.
- For applications from Eastern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda): May 31, 2024.
- For applications from Southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa ): May 31, 2024.
Parliamentary coordination
Parliamentary coordination is carried out by the rapporteur group for international exchange programs. The patron is the President of the German Bundestag.
Contact
If you have any further questions, please send an email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Important NOTE
Namibian and South African citizens can also apply for the five-month IPS standard program. Further information can be found at https://www.bundestag.de/ips_global . Please note that you can apply for both programs at the same time, but if two are accepted, you are only allowed to take part in one of them.