Are you wishing for a study opportunity in Germany? Do you also want to get to know the German Parliament? The German Bundestag International Parliament Scholarship (IPS) 2025/26 is now open for application. The German Bundestag invites committed university graduates from Southern Africa to take advantage of the program.
The German Bundestag is offering this scholarship program for politically committed young university graduates from South Africa, Namibia and Botswana who are interested in the German parliamentary system and who actively support basic democratic values in their home countries.
Advertisements:
SUMMARY:
- Scholarship Sponsor(s): German Bundestag
- Scholarships to be taken at: Berlin, Germany.
- Scholarship Type: Fully Funded Scholarships.
- Scholarship level: Postgraduate
- Slots: 8.
- Scholarship Worth: Full funding.
- Scholarships Aimed at: Students from Southern Africa.
Also Check: Mandela Rhodes Foundation Scholarship 2021 for African Students (Fully-Funded)
What you Should Know:
The German Bundestag International Parliament Scholarships programme takes between January and February every year. The core of the program is a one-week internship in the office of a member of the German Bundestag. In 2026, the programme will take place in Berlin from 5 January to 3 February 2026.
- The focus is also on events on the German parliamentary system as well as lectures, workshops and seminars on, among other things, parliamentary democracy, the way in which parliament works and how it functions.
- In addition, the topics of pluralism, protection of minorities and culture of remembrance are conveyed as a political mandate.
- A workshop on project management should help to develop your own project ideas with the aim of promoting democracy and civil society in the respective countries of origin.
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship of one of the three participating countries (dual citizenship possible)
- younger than 30 years at the beginning of the scholarship
- completed university degree
- very good knowledge of the German language
- Interest in political contexts as well as social / political engagement
Selection of Candidates
The scholarship program is aimed at committed, open-minded, resilient and politically interested young professionals from South Africa, Namibia and Botswana who want to actively and responsibly shape the democratic future of their countries.
Applicants are invited to a personal selection interview in the German embassies in the participating countries and are selected by an independent selection committee of the German Bundestag with regard to their professional, social, linguistic and intercultural skills.
The cost of traveling to the interview will be reimbursed on a pro-rata basis if the interviews do not take place in your home country.
Scholarship Benefits
- Participants will receive a stipend of 700 Euros.
- Accommodation will be provided free of charge.
- Travel costs to and from Berlin will also be covered.
- The German Bundestag will also cover the cost of health, accident and personal liability insurance.
Application Procedures
How-to-Apply: The interested applicants are requested to send their applications as one single PDF file (titled: Surname-First Name) to the German Embassy in their home country. Make sure to follow specific instructions thus;
- The PDF file must not exceed 10 MB in size.
- If the PDF file exceeds 10 MB, please split your application into several emails.
- Please do not send ZIP files.
Required Documents:
Your application should be sent in German and must include:
- Application form (in German)
- Recent language certificate, not older than two years
- Letter of motivation (in German, max. two pages, signed by you personally)
- Copy of passport or identity card as proof of citizenship of a participant country
- University degree certificate (in original or certified copy in English or German)
- A letter of recommendation (in German or English) from a professor/teacher or employer, which assesses the applicant’s suitability for the IPS programme.
Application Deadline: July 13, 2025