Application Deadline: 15 April 2026 The Hilde Domin Programme, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (AA) and administered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), supports students and doctoral candidates worldwide who are at risk of losing access to education or other fundamental rights in their home countries. The programme offers these individuals the opportunity to start or complete a degree or research project at a higher education institution in Germany. Programme Purpose The scholarship aims to: Protect students and researchers facing threats such as political persecution, violence, arrest, or loss of civil/educational rights. Provide a secure environment to pursue higher education or research. Help beneficiaries contribute to political, economic, and social development in: Their home countries, Germany, or Third countries after completing their studies. Offer additional interdisciplinary training to strengthen academic and professional capacity. Who Was Hilde Domin? Hilde Domin (1909–2006), born Hildegard Dina Löwenstein in Cologne, was a German poet and essayist of Jewish descent.Key points: Fled Germany in 1932 due to rising political extremism. Lived in exile for over 20 years, including in the Dominican Republic—source of her pen name “Domin.” Became known as the “poet of return” after resettling in Germany. Recipient of multiple literary awards, including: Carl Zuckmayer Medal Nelly Sachs Prize Grand Federal Cross of Merit Her poetry often reflects exile, displacement, and resilience. Nomination and Selection Procedure Important: Individuals cannot apply directly. Only formally nominated candidates will be considered. Who can nominate? German-based institutions or organisations that are legal entities and active in: Science, research, or teaching Human rights protection Democracy and peace promotion Rule of law Nomination process: Nominating institutions must use the official online nomination form. A detailed risk situation questionnaire must be submitted. The DAAD reviews nominations for plausibility. Suitable candidates are then invited to apply via the DAAD application portal. Applications are checked for completeness and correctness. Final decisions are made by an independent DAAD-appointed committee. Important notes: Multiple nominations do not provide any added advantage. Only one nomination per candidate is required. Nominating institutions may nominate multiple candidates. Candidates must have German or English proficiency (B2 level) by the nomination deadline. Target Group & Eligibility Eligible nominees must be: Students aiming for a Master’s degree, or Doctoral candidates, From any academic discipline except: Human medicine Dentistry Veterinary medicine Pharmacy Law Candidates must also: Demonstrate a credible risk to their personal safety or rights (e.g., violence, arrest, denial of education). Possess academic qualifications recognized for German higher education (checked through the anabin database). Not already reside in Germany or the EU at the time of nomination. Additional requirement for artistic fields:For visual/performing arts, music, film, design, architecture, etc., nominations must be submitted only by accredited higher education institutions and must include a letter confirming: The candidate’s academic capability, and The institution’s willingness to enroll them if selected. Funding Duration Master’s degree: up to 24 months Doctoral degree: up to 48 months Value of the Scholarship The scholarship covers: Living expenses Academic-related costs Health insurance Additional DAAD benefits (varies by study level and specific circumstances) Further Information Nomination and application deadlines: Provided directly to nominating institutions. For FAQs, helpful links, and consultation, DAAD provides guidance through its official website and advisory teams. For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the awarding organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.