Deadline: July 13, 2025
Applications are open for the German Bundestag International Parliamentary Scholarship Programme 2026. 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 participate in a scholarship programme in Berlin.
Since 2020, the German Bundestag, under the patronage of the President of the Bundestag, has been offering a scholarship programme for talented, cosmopolitan and politically interested young people from sub-Saharan Africa who are interested in the German parliamentary system and want to take an active and responsible role in shaping the democratic future of their countries. In a four-week compact programme, up to 24 scholarship holders will get to know German parliamentary democracy and the political decision-making processes in the German Bundestag at close quarters.
Program Details
In 2026, the program will take place from January 5 to February 3, 2026 in Berlin. The core of the programme is a one-week internship in the office of a member of the German Bundestag. To this end, knowledge about parliamentary democracy as well as the working methods and function of parliament is imparted in a compact preparation. In addition, the topics of plural society, the protection of minorities and the culture of remembrance are treated as a political mandate. There are a number of workshops on various topics such as anti-corruption and intercultural training. A workshop on project management is intended to help develop one’s own project ideas for the promotion of democracy and civil society in the respective countries of origin.
Scholarship
- Participants will receive a scholarship of 700 euros. The scholarship also includes free accommodation in a residential complex, coverage of travel expenses to and from Berlin, and coverage of health, accident and liability insurance.
Eligibility
- Nationality of one of the participating countries: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda;
- Younger than 30 years of age at the beginning of the scholarship or on January 1;
- 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.
Application
Send your application as a PDF file (with the designation: last name-first name) by e-mail to the German embassy in your home country. The e-mail address can be found here. The PDF file must not exceed a maximum size of 10 MB. If the PDF file exceeds the size of 10 MB, split your application documents into several e-mails. Do not send ZIP files.
Your application is only complete with the following documents:
- Application form (to be completed and signed in German);
- Proof of good German language skills, not older than 2 years;
- Letter of motivation in German, signed by hand (max. 2 pages);
- Copy of passport or copy ID as proof of citizenship of one of the participating countries;
- Graduation certificate from the university (in the original or as an officially certified copy in English or German);
- Letter of recommendation (in German or English) from a teacher/professor or the employer assessing the applicant’s professional qualifications for the IPS program.
For more information, visit German Bundestag Scholarship.
