Bundestag International Parliamentary Scholarships (IPS)

The Deutsche Bundestag offers the International Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS) as a support opportunity for committed and politically interested young university graduates from Africa. The programme is designed for talented young people with good German knowledge who are interested in parliamentary democracy and want, after returning to their home countries, to actively strengthen civil society and democratic structures.

Applicants can apply from the listed participating countries in Africa: Südafrika (Botswana, Namibia, Südafrika), Ostafrika (Kenia, Tansania, Uganda), and Westafrika (Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal). The programme includes participation in the Deutsche Bundestag and its decision-making processes in Berlin.

Selection is based on meeting the stated application requirements and being selected as one of the participants. Up to 24 scholarship holders receive the opportunity to learn about the Deutsche Bundestag and its decision-making processes from close up, including a structured programme with placements, workshops, and trainings.

The programme is a four-week compact programme. It includes a one-week placement (Hospitation) in the office of a member of the Deutsche Bundestag, insights into the parliamentary system and political practice in Germany, workshops on pluralistic society, minority protection and remembrance culture, trainings on anti-corruption, intercultural competence and project management, and the development of project ideas to promote democracy and civil society.

• Nationality: must have the nationality of a participating country.
• Education level: completed university degree.
• Age: under 30 years as of the reference date 1 January 2027.
• Language: good German skills (at least B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference).
• Interest and engagement: pronounced political interest and social commitment.

• Opportunity to get to know the Deutsche Bundestag and its decision-making processes from close up
• One-week Hospitation in the office of a member of the Deutsche Bundestag
• Insights into the parliamentary system and the political practice of Germany
• Workshops on pluralistic society, minority protection and remembrance culture
• Trainings on anti-corruption, intercultural competence and project management
• Development of own project ideas to promote democracy and civil society

1. Submit the application through the online application portal of the Deutsche Bundestag.
2. Submit the completed application through the German foreign missions (deutsche Auslandsvertretungen).

• Online application through the portal of the Deutsche Bundestag
• Passport photo (Passfoto)
• Copy of passport or identity card (Kopie von Reisepass oder Personalausweis)
• University degree certificate (Hochschulabschlusszeugnis)
• Proof of language proficiency (Sprachnachweis)
• Motivation letter in German (Motivationsschreiben in deutscher Sprache)
• Current recommendation letter (aktuelles Empfehlungsschreiben)