Application is open for  German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)  Hilde Domin Scholarship Program for the Academic year of 2024/25, which is funded by the Federal Foreign Office (AA). 

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers the “Hilde Domin Programme” scholarship to support students and doctoral candidates worldwide who are at risk of being denied education or other rights in their home countries. The program provides funding through a fully funded scholarship for a degree course (Bachelor, Master, or PhD) of the recipients’ choice at a German higher education institution.

The long-term goal is to enable recipients to contribute towards meaningful political, economic, and social development in their countries of origin. The program also includes an interdisciplinary program to enhance the recipients’ personal development and contributions to society. The scholarship is named after the German writer and poet Hilde Domin, who spent more than 20 years of her life in exile due to political developments in Germany. The scholarship is open to all students and doctoral candidates worldwide except those from EU/EEA/EFTA countries, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the United Kingdom.

If you are a student/scholar at risk of denial of your education in your home country, apply to the Hilde Domin Scholarship program. The women applicants from Afghanistan who are explicitly denied getting the education can apply to this program.

 Successful students and doctoral candidates who applied for the Program will get enrolment in their desired degree courses as per their qualifications. They will benefit from a scholarship to cover the expenditures paid during their study or research stay in Germany. 

Read other DAAD Scholarships Here

Important Details

• Nominations Deadline for Summer Semester 2025: 15 March 2024
• Application Period for Summer Semester 2025: 19 March – 16 April 2024
• Winter semester 2025/26 intake: 
  • Nominations deadline: until 15th September 2024
  • Application period: 17th September until 16th October, 2024
• Country: Germany
• Organizer: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
• Funded By: Federal Foreign Office (AA) 
• Degrees Level: Bachelor, Masters, and Doctoral
• Eligible Countries: Worldwide, except EU, EEA, and EFTA
• Fields of Study: All fields except human medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacology, and law.
• Gender: Male/Female 
• Duration: 
  • Bachelor: 4 years (1-year preparatory course and up to 36 months the studies);
  • Master: 24 months; and
  • Ph.D.: 48 months 

Target Group

Doctoral candidates and students from around the globe, excluding EU, EEA, and EFTA  who are at risk of:

•  Being formally or de facto denied educational rights in their homeland due to their ethnic, sexual, gender, or religious identity or Due to their political or civic engagement;

Benefits

Successful applicants will benefit from the Hilde Domin Scholarship as follows:

• Monthly Stipend of 934 Euro for Bachelor and Master students and  1,300 Euro for Doctoral students;
• Health or accident insurance;
• Travel costs allowance varied due to country of origin;
• Free German language course of two, four, or six months, if necessary;
• Additional financial benefits. 
• Family and child allowance (if applicable)

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates should meet the following criteria:

• Applicants of any nationality except excluding EU, EEA, and EFTA are eligible to apply; 
• Being formally or de facto denied educational rights in their homeland due to their ethnic, sexual, gender, or religious identity or political or civic engagement; 
• Face a situation of personal risk or threat in one’s home nation;
• Must be nominated by a university or institution;
• Be 18 years or older at the time of nomination; 
• Have academic accomplishments, such as educational certifications that allow admission to a university or previous degrees that can be applied to future studies;
• Should not have completed their university degree or university entrance qualification acquisition more than two years ago at the time of application; Exceptions are made under the following circumstances, which may have a delaying effect on your studies or your doctoral project(s):
  • pregnancy and childbirth
  • care of children up to the age of 12 (maximum of three years per child)
  • care of care-dependent relatives
  • disability or chronic illness
  • prolonged, serious illness
  • compulsory military service
  • if applicable, other circumstances
• Must not be a second bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree holder;
• Not have been more than 15 months in Germany;
•  Be fluent in German or English, equivalent to at least level B2 of the CEFR. 
• Good tests for German are DSH or TestDaF, and for English language Cambridge English, Cambridge Business, IELTS, ISE, TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, TOEIC, and PTE Academic. 

Countries not eligible: 

Belgium, Spain, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, France, Malta, Finland, Czechia, Croatia, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Austria, Germany, Cyprus, Poland, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Portugal, Liechtenstein, Ireland, Lithuania, Romania, Norway, Greece, Luxembourg, Slovenia

Important Note: Nominations for the academic fields of fine arts, performing arts, design, visual communication, music, film, and architecture require proof of admission to a study course or degree program at a German higher education institution by the application deadline.

Required Documents

Applicants should submit the following documents:

• Online application form;
• Document of valid identification (passport or NID);
• A tabular version of the applicant’s CV; 
• Motivational letter (1 to 2 pages) explaining the applicant’s professional and personal motives for completing a study course at a German university;
• Status of Risk (1 to 2 pages) explaining a threat or risk to the applicant’s well-being, particularly their right to education, and the safety of their life in general;
• Proof of academic progress or graduation;
• Certificates of English or German fluency of minimum level B2 or higher not more than two years old;
• Proof of acceptance to German universities;
• Documents of one’s current academic standing (bachelor, master, or doctoral student)

Note: All documents must be in German or English language. 

How to Apply?

Students should apply to a German higher education institution and get an admission letter or acceptance letter for the place of study. The German institution/organization will nominate them to the Hilde domain scholarship program.

• Applicants cannot apply themselves for the Hilde Domin Program Scholarship.
• An institution or organization with a legal presence in Germany can nominate applicants.
• After the nomination deadline, formally eligible applicants can access the DAAD online application portal.

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Some important questions and responses:

• What does the status of risk imply? Risk status implies a threat or risk to your personal well-being, particularly your right to education, and the safety of your life in general.
• How can I prove my status of risk?
  Evidence that proves your status of risk may include a personal written account, written records (e.g., official documents, social media posts, letters detailing/documenting specific incidents etc.), or witness statements, as well as an official confirmation of a granted refugee status and/or asylum eligibility.

• Can I apply for a scholarship or do I need to be nominated?You cannot apply for a scholarship of the Hilde Domin Programme. You must be nominated as a candidate by an institution or an organization that is a legal entity domiciled in Germany. Upon receipt of the online nomination form, eligible candidates will be invited by the DAAD to submit their application via the DAAD online portal.Important to note: Multiple nominations do not bear any advantages. One nomination per candidate is sufficient.

• Can I bring my family along? Yes, you can bring your spouse and child(ren) along with you. If your spouse and your kid (s) reside in Germany, you are eligible to apply for a family allowance, which comprises a marital allowance and a child allowance (for children under 18 years). If necessary, your spouse and/or child(ren) can also be insured via the DAAD.
• Can I apply if I am already in another European country?  No, those already in Germany or other EU countries at the time of application can not apply.
•  Do I have to leave Germany immediately after completing my studies, or can I search for a job? No, you do not have to leave Germany immediately after graduation. After completing your studies, you can apply for a new residence permit either to search for employment (Beschäftigungssuche) or for employment if you have already secured a job. If you receive a new residence permit for job searching, you have 18 months to find a suitable job related to your degree. During this period, you can work in Germany without restrictions. The 18-month period begins as soon as your final examination results are available in writing and submitted as proof of completion to the Foreigners Authority (Ausländerbehörde). Your studies are officially considered completed on the day you receive your final examination results.
• What study degrees or courses are eligible for application under this program? This scholarship program accepts applications for all academic disciplines available at German higher education institutions, except for human medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacology, and law.
• Can I still be nominated if I have not completed my studies at the time of nomination?Yes, you can still be nominated. If you are invited by the DAAD to apply for a scholarship, you must provide an academic transcript showing your current grades up to the application deadline. Bachelor’s degree applicants need to submit a university entrance qualification by the application deadline. For a master’s degree, you must have a recognized bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) by the start of the scholarship. Similarly, for a doctoral degree, a recognized master’s degree (or equivalent) is required by the start of the scholarship.

For more details about this fully-funded scholarship by the Hilde Domin Program, please check the frequently asked questions (FAQ) or visit the DAAD Hilde Domain Scholarship website.

In case of any problems applying via the DAAD online portal and need technical support, please get in touch with +49 (0) 228 882 8888) or email [email protected].

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