Applications are open for the IPS Africa 2026 scholarship, offering young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa a fully funded opportunity to explore German parliamentary democracy in Berlin. Apply Below:
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline for the 2026 program year is July 13, 2025.
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Tell me about the German Bundestag Scholarship:
The International Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS) Africa is a four-week program offered by the German Bundestag under the patronage of its President. It is designed for politically and socially engaged young university graduates from sub-Saharan Africa who are interested in Germany’s parliamentary system and aspire to contribute to democratic development in their home countries. Participants will gain firsthand experience of parliamentary democracy, political decision-making, and governance through a series of academic courses, workshops, and an internship in the office of a member of the German Bundestag.
Which fields of study are eligible?
All fields
What type of opportunity is this?
Leadership scholarship
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Who can apply for the German Bundestag Scholarship?
Also, applicants must:
- Be citizens of Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, or Uganda
- Be younger than 30 years as of January 1, 2026
- Have completed a university degree
- Possess good knowledge of German (at least B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)
- Show strong interest in political issues and active civic or political engagement
How are applicants selected?
Applicants will be invited to an interview at a German diplomatic mission abroad, where an independent selection committee appointed by the German Bundestag will select the scholarship recipients based on their professional, social, linguistic, and intercultural skills.
Required Documents:
Applicants are also to submit the following:
- Application form (to be completed and signed in German);
- Proof of good knowledge of German, not older than 2 years;
- Motivational letter in German, personally signed (max. 2 pages);
- Copy of passport or copy of ID as proof of citizenship of one of the participating countries;
- University degree certificate (original or certified copy in English or German);
- Letter of recommendation (in German or English) from a teacher/professor or employer assessing the applicant’s professional qualifications for the IPS program
Which countries can apply?
The scholarship is open to citizens of Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Where will this opportunity take place?
Berlin, Germany, at the German Bundestag
How many spots are available?
Each year, up to 24 scholarship recipients from the nine eligible African countries will be selected.
What are the benefits of the German Bundestag Scholarship?
Participants will receive:
- A €700 scholarship
- Free accommodation in a residential complex
- Travel expenses to and from Berlin
- Health, accident, and liability insurance
- A one-week internship in a German Bundestag office
- Workshops and courses on governance, democracy, anti-corruption, and civil society engagement
- A project management workshop to develop initiatives for democratic development in their home countries
How long does this opportunity last?
The program runs for four weeks, from January 5 to February 3, 2026.
How can you apply?
- Send your application as a single PDF file (labeled Last Name – First Name) by email to the German embassy in your home country.
- Ensure the PDF does not exceed 10 MB (if larger, split it into multiple emails).
- Do not send ZIP files.
- Contact details for the German embassies can be found under the “Contact German Embassies
Visit the official application webpage.
