Would you like to get to know the German Parliament?

The German Bundestag invites politically engaged graduates from the Arab region to take part in a scholarship programme in Berlin from 1 to 30 September each year.

The Concept

The International Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS) programme for Arab countries is aimed at politically engaged young people from the MENA region (Middle East and Northern Africa) who are interested in the German parliamentary system and play an active role in promoting core democratic values in their home countries.

During an intensive four-week programme, participants have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the German parliamentary system and political decision-making processes.

The Programme

The programme takes place each year from 1 to 30 September in Berlin. The core element is a one-week work placement with a Member of the German Bundestag.

The focus is also on events about the German parliamentary system along with presentations, workshops and seminars on topics such as German history and culture, minority issues, comparison of systems, approaches to experiences of dictatorship and the German culture of remembrance.

The scholarship

Participants will receive a monthly scholarship of 700 euros. The Bundestag will also cover the costs of health, accident and personal liability insurance. In addition, accommodation in an apartment complex will be provided free of charge, and the costs of travel to and from Berlin covered. It is only possible to participate in one of the three International Parliamentary Scholarship Programmes.

The selection process

The scholarship programme is aimed at highly-qualified, committed and capable young women and men from the MENA region who are open to new ideas, interested in politics and wish to play an active and responsible role in shaping the democratic future of their country.

Applicants will be invited to attend an interview at a German diplomatic mission, where an independent selection panel set up by the German Bundestag will choose the successful candidates based on their professional, social, language and intercultural skills.

Eligibility criteria

Citizenship of a participating country
Under the age of 35 at the start of the scholarship on 1 September
University degree
Good knowledge of German (at least level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF))
A strong interest in politics, and social/political commitment

Please send your completed online application documents by email as a PDF-file, with the file name consisting of your surname followed by your given name (i.e. surname-first name), to the German diplomatic mission in your home country.

Your application should be submitted in German and include the following scanned documents:

Application form;
Passport photo (please attach this to the first page of the application form);
Evidence of good knowledge of German (level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF) or equivalent), no older than 2 years;
Personal statement of reasons for applying, in German (maximum of two pages) and signed personally by you;
Copy of passport or ID card;
University degree certificate in the original form or a certified copy[1] in English or German. The original or the certified copy must be able to be presented at the interview.
Up-to-date letter of recommendation in German or English (from a university professor or employer, assessing the applicant’s qualification for the programme).

Deadline for applications: 15 December 2022

Please apply online to the German diplomatic mission in your home Country!

Parliamentary coordination

The parliamentary coordination is the responsibility of the Rapporteur Group on International Exchange Programmes. The patron of the IPS is the President of the German Bundestag.

This information, along with an application form, can be found at the official Website of the German Parliament (Bundestag)

If you have any questions, please contact ips@bundestag.de