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Students at Risk – The Hilde Domin Programme
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) administers the scholarship programme “Hilde Domin Programme” with funds from the Federal Foreign Office (AA).
The programme serves to support 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, and to provide these students and doctoral candidates with an opportunity to begin or complete a study or
research degree at a higher education institution in Germany.
Students and doctoral candidates nominated and accepted under the programme will receive a scholarship for a degree course of personal choice and according to individual qualifications. The scholarship is sufficient to cover the necessary costs incurred during their study or research stay.
Up to 50 scholarships can be awarded nationwide each year.
Who can apply?
Students and doctoral candidates worldwide1 who are at risk of being formally or de facto denied educational rights in their country of origin, due to their ethnic, sexual, gender or religious identity and/or their political or civic engagement. According to the DAAD, political, civic and similar engagement encompasses either the participation in groups or individual actions based on liberal and democratic principles aspiring to contribute to a positive social change in communities.
According to the Federal Foreign Office Guidelines on Feminist Foreign Policy, the DAAD welcomes nominations of women and marginalised groups in particular.
*Except for the following countries: EU/EEA/EFTA countries as well as Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the United Kingdom.
The nomination and selection process
Potential candidates may not apply for the Hilde Domin Program on their own; instead, their nomination to the DAAD must be made by the university administration of Philipps-Universität Marburg.
Students and doctoral candidates who meet the nomination requirements and wish to apply are asked to request a nomination via an online form on Ilias. The International Office of Philipps Universität Marburg will then check their eligibility. In addition, any member of the university has the opportunity to submit proposals for suitable candidates to the International Office.
After the nomination of candidates, the DAAD will review the documents in an initial plausibility check. The DAAD will invite suitable candidates two times a year to submit an online application. Final selection of candidates will be made by an independent selection committee appointed by the DAAD.
Both vulnerability and academic performance will be evaluated as a part of this selection process.
Important note: Multiple nominations by different universities do not bring any advantages. One nomination per candidate is sufficient.
Nomination requirements
Students and doctoral candidates in all disciplines except human medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine and law may be nominated,
- Who are at least 18 years old
- who can prove or credibly demonstrate to the nominating institution that there is a threat to their personal well-being or safety (e.g., physical violence, arrest, denial of civil or educational rights, etc.)
- whose last matriculation at the foreign university or university entrance qualification at the time of application was generally no longer than two years ago (exceptions must be explained)
- who are in possession of educational credentials that provide access to higher education and ensure completion of an intended degree program or research project in accordance with the anabin.de database.
- Who have verifiable language skills of B2 in German or English, depending on the requirements of the desired degree program. Attention: Nomination for Bachelor programs at Philipps-Universität Marburg is only possible with German language skills!
- Who have a valid passport
Important! Nominations for the academic fields of fine arts, performing arts, design, visual communication, music, film and architecture require proof of admission to a study course/degree programme at a German higher education institution by the application deadline.Term
The duration of the grant is usually as follows:
- Bachelor’s degree: up to 36 months (plus if applicable preparatory college)
- Master’s degree: up to 24 months
- Doctoral degree: up to 48 months
Scholarship benefits
The scholarship benefits are as follows:
- For bachelor’s and master’s students: A monthly scholarship payment of €934.00
- For doctoral students: A monthly scholarship payment of €1,300.00
- health, accident, and personal liability insurance
- a travel allowance based on your country of origin or present residence
- if applicable, participation in a preparatory German language course (of two, four or six months) – according to the previously acquired and required language skills for the intended course of study or doctoral project
- All MA and PhD beneficiaries of the scholarship programme will further be qualified in an accompanying interdisciplinary programme, to enhance the prospects
of a free development of their personality and their contributions towards society. - Additional benefits
Nomination/application deadline
Candidate nominations to the DAAD are submitted through the International Office of Philipps-Universität Marburg. It is not possible to apply directly at DAAD.
Potential candidates may apply through the International Office at Philipps-Universität Marburg or they may be recommended by a member of the university.
online form for a nomination request
Students: Admission to the university is not required at the time of nomination, but proof of admission must be submitted by the time the scholarship begins.
Doctoral candidates: acceptance as a doctoral candidate and confirmation of supervision are needed for the nomination process.There are two selections per year. The application periods are based on the start of the academic semesters.
Application at Philipps-Universität Marburg for a nomination for the winter term 2025/26:
until 1st of September 2024
Suitable candidates will be contacted by the DAAD and invited to apply via the DAAD online application portal.
Structure of the Selection Process
Please find here the structure of the selection process in Englisch.Contact
Funded by the DAAD with funds from the German Federal Foreign Office
