Hilde Domin Programme Scholarship

DAAD administers the Hilde Domin Programme with funds from the Federal Foreign Office (AA). The programme supports students and doctoral candidates from across the globe who are at risk of being formally or de facto denied educational or other rights in their country of origin. It is intended to enable beneficiaries to begin or complete a study or research degree at a higher education institution in Germany.

The programme is aimed at students aiming for a master’s degree and doctoral candidates worldwide who are at risk because of ethnic, sexual, gender or religious identity and/or political or civic engagement. It does not cover EU/EEA/EFTA countries as well as Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the United Kingdom. Students from all academic disciplines can be nominated, except human medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and law.

Potential candidates cannot apply themselves; they are nominated by the management (presidiums/rectorates) of a legal entity domiciled in Germany that carries out science, research and teaching and/or activities related to human rights, peace and democracy, or the rule of law. Nominations are made using the online nomination form and include a questionnaire on the nominee’s risk situation. After an initial plausibility check, suitable candidates are invited by DAAD to apply via the DAAD online application portal; DAAD verifies completeness and formal correctness, and an independent selection committee makes the final selection. Both risk status and academic performance are assessed.

Funding is provided for a master’s degree up to 24 months or for a doctoral degree up to 48 months. The value includes a monthly scholarship payment (992 EUR for master students or 1,400 EUR for doctoral candidates), health, accident and personal liability insurance cover, and a travel allowance based on the country of origin or present residence. If applicable, beneficiaries may receive participation in a preparatory German language course for two, four or six months according to required language skills, plus additional financial benefits.

• Target group: students aiming for a master’s degree and doctoral candidates worldwide.Risk criterion: at risk of being formally or de facto denied educational rights and/or other rights in the country of origin, due to ethnic, sexual, gender or religious identity and/or political or civic engagement.Excluded countries for the target group: EU/EEA/EFTA countries as well as Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the United Kingdom.Academic disciplines: students from all academic disciplines can be nominated except human medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and law.Threat evidence: candidates must prove or credibly demonstrate a threat to personal well-being or safety (e.g. physical violence, arrest, denial of civil and educational rights, etc.).Education credentials: possession of educational certificates that enable entrance to a higher education institution and warrant the pursuit of the desired higher education qualification according to the anabin database.Residency at time of nomination: may not be already residing in Germany or the European Union at the time of nomination.Language knowledge requirement for nomination: sufficient knowledge of German or English (corresponding to level B2) by the nomination deadline to complete the study degree programme/research project in the respective language.Nomination pathway: candidates cannot apply for participation themselves; they must be nominated by eligible nominating institutions/organisations.Number of nominations: multiple nominations do not provide advantages; one nomination per candidate is sufficient.Visual arts and related disciplines: nominations for visual arts, performing arts, design, visual communication, music, film, and architecture can be submitted only by accredited higher education institutions and require a letter confirming academic ability in the foreseen discipline and willingness to enrol the candidate in case of the award.MA students: applying for the scholarship does not automatically constitute an application for the preferred place of study; a separate application for a degree programme is required later, and confirmation of a place of study comes only from the host university.

• Monthly scholarship payment: 992 EUR for master students.Monthly scholarship payment: 1,400 EUR for doctoral candidates.Health, accident and personal liability insurance cover.Travel allowance based on country of origin or present residence.If applicable, participation in a preparatory German language course for two, four or six months according to previously acquired and required language skills.Additional financial benefits.

1. Check eligibility for nomination: candidates cannot apply themselves; they must be nominated by eligible institutions/organisations in Germany.Obtain nomination from the management (presidiums/rectorates) of an eligible legal entity domiciled in Germany. The nominating institution submits the nomination online and includes a questionnaire on the nominee’s risk situation.After an initial plausibility check, DAAD contacts suitable candidates and invites them to apply via the DAAD online application portal.Submit application documents as instructed in the DAAD online application portal; DAAD verifies the documents for completeness and formal correctness.Selection is made by an independent selection committee appointed by DAAD, assessing both risk status and academic performance.For master’s studies: complete a separate application for the degree programme later; the scholarship application does not automatically apply for a place of study, and only the host university can provide confirmation of a place.

• Questionnaire on the nominee's risk situation (submitted as part of the nomination).