The new African Scholars Programme will support young people from Africa who are committed to social justice and the common good.
Berlin, 6 October 2025. The Hertie School and SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit are launching a joint scholarship to promote leadership in Africa. With the African Scholars Programme in partnership with SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit, students from Africa will receive financial support to pursue a master’s degree at the Hertie School.
The scholarships are funded by SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit, an organisation active in over 130 countries advocating for children’s rights, education and social justice. Students from more than 20 African countries are currently eligible to apply.
“With this new scholarship programme, we are supporting young African policy talents while strengthening our network of students and alumni across the continent. Our sincere thanks go to SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit and the Hermann-Gmeiner-Fund e.V., whose generous support has made this possible,” says Axel Baisch, Managing Director of the Hertie School.
“Education is the key to sustainable change. With this scholarship programme, we are making a targeted investment in young talents who want to take responsibility in their countries and actively drive social transformation,” emphasises Lanna Idriss, Member of the Executive Board of SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit.
Promoting equal opportunities
The scholarship aims to support motivated young people from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds across Africa who demonstrate a strong commitment to social change and the common good, and who aspire to work in the fields of public policy, international affairs, or data science for the common good – all fields in which the Hertie School offers master’s programmes.
Alongside financial support, the scholarship offers access to mentoring programmes, workshops, and the international network of Hertie School students, alumni and Fellows. The aim is to empower recipients to advance social justice and equal opportunities in their home countries.
“At the Hertie School, we prepare students from over 80 countries for the challenges of tomorrow. We are delighted that, with the African Scholars Programme, we can now specifically support people and ideas from Africa that promote social justice and good governance,” says Cornelia Woll, President of the Hertie School.
Admission requirements and deadlines
The scholarship programme offers full tuition coverage for master’s degrees at the Hertie School as well as a monthly living stipend to assist with living costs. It also provides mentoring and leadership opportunities through the SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit network.
Interested applicants can apply for the scholarship alongside a master’s programme at the Hertie School by the Early Bird Deadline on 1 December 2025, or at the latest, by 15 January 2026.
For further details on the eligibility criteria, selection process, and specific benefits of the scholarship, please visit our African Scholars Programme webpage.
Contact
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Lorena Ramos, Manager Student Recruitment