German Bundestag Scholarship Program 2022 for Southern Africans

The scholarship is offered to 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.

In a four-week compact program, eight fellows can get to know the German parliamentary system and political decision-making processes in the German Bundestag up close. The program will take place in Berlin from January 1 to 31, 2022. The core of the program is a one-week internship in the office of a member of the German Bundestag.

The focus is also on events on the German parliamentary system as well as lectures, workshops and seminars, among other things, on parliamentary democracy, the way parliament works and its function. 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.

Benefits

• The participants receive a grant of 500 euros. 
• In addition, the costs for health, accident and liability insurance are covered. 
• In addition, free accommodation is granted in a residential complex (two-person shared apartment). 
• The costs of travel to and from Berlin will be reimbursed.

Eligibility

• Open to 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.
• Applicant should be younger than 30 years at the beginning of the scholarship.
• Must have completed university degree.
• Have a very good knowledge of the German language.
• Interest in political contexts as well as social / political engagement.

Selection Criteria

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.

How To Apply

Your application should be sent in German and contain the following scanned documents:

• Passport photo (please insert on page 1 of the application form);
• Application form;
• Proof of very good German language skills (at least level B 2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages);
• Letter of motivation (maximum two pages);
• Copy of passport or copy of ID;
• Officially certified copy of the degree certificate;
• A letter of recommendation in German or English (from a university professor or from the employer, in which the professional qualifications of the applicant for the program are assessed).

Send the complete online application documents in a PDF document, the file name of which consists of your surname and first name (ie “surname-first name”), by email to the German representation in your home country.

For more information, visit German Bundestag Scholarship

Application Deadline: July 31, 2021