IPS programme for African Countries / How to apply

The German Parliament invites highly motivated young graduates from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, Senegal, Nigeria and Ghana to participate in the annual International Parliamentary Scholarship programme for African Countries.

The concept

Since 2020, the German Bundestag has offered a scholarship programme for talented young graduates from Africa. The programme is aimed at scholars who are interested in politics and who wish to make an active contribution to democracy and a vibrant civil society in their home countries after completing the programme.

In a compact four-week programme, up to 24 fellows can get to know the German parliamentary system and the political decision-making processes in the German Bundestag at first hand.

The programme

The programme runs every January. In 2025 the programme runs from 3 January to 4 February 2025.

The core of the programme is a one-week placement in the office of a Member of the German Bundestag, shadowing the MP and their staff members. 

The programme provides a compact introduction to parliamentary democracy and the functioning of the German Bundestag. Other topics include pluralist society, minority protection, and culture of remembrance as a political task. There will be a series of workshops on a variety of topics, including anti-corruption and intercultural training. A project management workshop will help participants develop their own project ideas to promote democracy and civil society in their home countries.

The scholarship

Participants will receive a stipend of 700 euros. The German Bundestag will also cover the cost of health, accident and personal liability insurance.

Accommodation in a shared apartment (two people sharing) will be provided free of charge. Travel costs to and from Berlin will also be covered.

The selection process

The scholarship programme is aimed at highly-qualified, open-minded, and politically interested young people from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda who wish to play an active and responsible role in shaping the democratic future of their countries.

Applicants will be invited to an interview at a German diplomatic mission, where an independent selection committee appointed by the German Bundestag will select the fellows on the basis of their professional, social, linguistic, and intercultural skills.

Eligibility criteria

• Citizenship of a participating country (dual citizenship is possible)
• Under the age of 30 at the start of the scholarship on January 1st
• University degree
• Good knowledge of German (at least level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)
• Interest in politics, and social/political commitment

How to apply?

Please send your application as one single PDF file (titled: Surname-First Name) to the German Embassy in your home country. You will find the e-mail address on the right-hand side under “List of participating countries”. The PDF file must not exceed 10 MB in size. If the PDF file exceeds 10 MB, please split your application into several emails, each with a maximum attachment size of 10 MB. Please do not send ZIP files.

Your application is complete only if it includes the following documents:

• Application form (in German)
• Passport photo (please attach this to the first page of the application form)
• Recent language certificate, not older than 2 years
• Letter of motivation in German (maximum of two pages), signed by you personally
• Copy of passport or identity card
• University degree certificate in original or certified copy in English or German
• Recent letter of recommendation in German or English (from a university professor or employer, assessing the applicant’s qualification for the programme)

Application deadline for IPS Africa 2025:

For applicants from West Africa (only Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal): April 21, 2024.

For applicants from East Africa (only Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda): June 14, 2024

For applicants from Southern Africa (only Botswana, Namibia, South Africa): June 30, 2024

Parliamentary coordination

The parliamentary coordination is in the responsibility of the rapporteur group on international exchange programmes. The president of the German Bundestag is patron of the IPS programme.

Contact

For more information, please send an email to: ips-afrika@bundestag.de

Important note

Namibian and South African citizens are now eligible to apply for the regular five-month IPS programme. For more information, please visit https://www.bundestag.de/ips_global. Please note that you can apply for both programmes at the same time, but you can only participate in one of them, and it is not possible to participate in the other programme at a later date.