Hilde Domin Programme Scholarship 2026 , Germany (Fully Funded)
The Hilde Domin Programme, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and administered by the DAAD, is a prestigious fully funded scholarship designed for at-risk students and doctoral candidates worldwide. This scholarship provides academic refuge in Germany for individuals who face political, civic, or human-rights-related threats in their home countries.
With comprehensive financial support, the programme enables scholars to pursue a master’s degree or PhD in a safe and secure academic environment at any recognized German university.
Scholarship Overview
- Fully Funded
- Germany Universities
- Masters, PhD
- All Subjects
- International Students
- Germany
Degree Level
The Hilde Domin Programme supports:
- Master’s Degree (up to 24 months)
- Doctoral Degree / PhD (up to 48 months)
Note: The programme does not support undergraduate studies.
Available Subjects
Students from all academic disciplines may be nominated except:
- Human Medicine
- Dentistry
- Veterinary Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Law
- Special rules apply for:
- Visual Arts
- Performing Arts
- Design
- Visual Communication
- Music
- Film
- Architecture
(These require university confirmation of academic ability and willingness to enroll.)
Benefits
The Hilde Domin Programme provides extensive financial coverage, including:
Monthly Stipend
- €992 per month for Master’s students
- €1,300 per month for Doctoral candidates
Additional Benefits
- Health, accident, and personal liability insurance coverage
- Travel allowance (based on home country)
- German language course (2–6 months), if needed
- Funding for the full duration of the degree programme
- Participation in interdisciplinary training programmes
- Academic and personal support throughout the stay in Germany
Eligible Nationalities
The programme is open to all nationalities worldwide, except:
- EU/EEA/EFTA countries
- Andorra
- Monaco
- San Marino
- United Kingdom
Eligibility Criteria
To be nominated, applicants must:
1. Be at personal risk
Candidates must prove or credibly demonstrate that they face:
- Physical danger
- Arrest or persecution
- Denial of civil rights
- Denial of educational rights
- Threats due to ethnic, religious, gender, sexual, or political identity, or civic engagement
2. Hold valid academic qualifications
- Must possess certificates allowing admission to higher education (verified through the anabin database).
3. Be outside Germany/EU
- Candidates must not already reside in Germany or the European Union at the time of nomination.
4. Meet language requirements
- German or English language proficiency at B2 level by the nomination deadline.
5. Meet academic discipline requirements
- Must belong to a permitted field of study (see above).
- Application Process (Important: You Cannot Apply Yourself)
- Unlike most scholarships, the Hilde Domin Programme does not allow direct applications.
Application Procedure
Unlike most scholarships, the Hilde Domin Programme does not allow direct applications.
Step-by-Step Application Route
1. Nomination by an eligible institution (mandatory)
The candidate must be nominated by:
- A German university
- A German research institute
- A German-based human rights, democracy, or peace-promotion organization
Multiple nominations do not increase chances—one is enough.
2. DAAD Plausibility Check
- DAAD reviews the nomination and verifies the candidate’s risk situation.
3. Invitation to Apply
If the nomination is accepted, DAAD invites the candidate to submit:
- Online application
- Academic documents
- CV
- Motivation letter
- Language certificates
- Risk-description form
4. Final Evaluation
An independent DAAD selection committee assesses:
- Risk level
- Academic potential
- Motivation and suitability
Successful applicants receive the scholarship and proceed with visa and university enrollment.
Nomination & Application Deadlines
For Summer Semester 2027 Start
- Nomination Deadline: 15 March 2026
- Application Period (after DAAD invitation): 17 March – 15 April 2026
Nomination is possible at any time, but only fully submitted nominations before the deadline are considered.
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