Returning to Germany?

In case you are not posted to Germany, our network consolidation programmes are always a good chance to return to Germany. There are, however, also several other offers by various institutions.

We can recommend e.g. this selection:

General overview:

1. German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

• Provides an overview of programmes in Germany (Bachelor, Master, State Examination, PhD, scholarships, language courses and shorter programmes) in various languages
• The search programme also includes programmes of political foundations in Germany etc.
• DAAD Study and research in Germany

2. Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

• Overview of scholarships and research programmes
• Humboldt Foundation Scholarships

A small selection of recommendations:

A) Bachelor's and master's programmes

Duration: Bachelor: about three years (six to eight semesters); Master: two years (three to four semesters)

1. German Studies

Around 50 universities in Germany offer German Studies courses. Popular among foreign students are, for example, the University of Freiburg, the Technical University of Dresden, the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt/Oder and the Technical University of Aachen.

The special programme "Intercultural German Studies Germany - China" is jointly organised by the Universities of Göttingen and Nanjing and the Beijing Foreign Studies University. The students acquire both a German and a Chinese Master's degree.

Read here about the diverse career opportunities that a degree in German Studies opens up: A degree in German Studies opens up many different carrer opportunities

2. Disaster Management

Programmes in the field of disaster management are currently offered e.g. by these universities:

• Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences: Bachelor's course in "Safety and Hazard Defense"
• Bonn University: Master's degree in "Disaster Management and Risk Governance"
• Bauhaus-University Weimar: Master's degree in "Natural Hazards and Risks in Strucutral Engineering"

Here you can inform yourself about the career prospects: Emergency helpers - disaster management is a degree course offering a variety of job prospects

B) Postgraduate programmes, research programmes and programmes for professionals

1. The German Chancellor Fellowship for tomorrow's leaders of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

Work on a project you have developed yourself with a host of your choice in Germany.

Duration: one year
Target group: people who have acquired initial leadership experience
Countries: Brazil, China, India, Russia, USA; from March 2021 also South Africa
Sector: politics, economics, the media, administration and culture

You can find further information here: The German Chancellor Fellowship for tomorrow's leaders

2. International Climate Protection Fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

Work on a research-based project you have developed yourself with a host of your choice in Germany.

Duration: one year
Target group: young climate experts (scientific, engineering, legal, economic or social aspects of climate change)
Countries: developing countries
Sector: Climate protection

All information can be found here: International Climate Protection Fellowship

3. Centre for Rural Development (SLE) of the Humboldt-University Berlin

Practice-oriented vocational training, postgraduate studies, training courses, practice-oriented research, consultancy

Duration: depends on the programme of interest
Target group: future experts and managers
Sector: international cooperation and development cooperation

Find here all further information: Centre for Rual Development

C) The Deutsche Welle Academy is an important address for journalists and people interested in journalism:

1. International Media Studies

Duration: two years (four semesters)
Target group: young students who have previous media experience
Countries: no restriction, but the programme is designed primarily for applicants from developing and transition countries
Sector: Journalism, media (management), development cooperation

You can inform yourself here: International Media Studies

2. DW Journalism Traineeship

Duration: eighteen months
Target group: young journalists
Countries: the programme is designed for regions to which Deutsche Welle broadcasts
Required language skills: Deutsche Welle (DW) trains its own young journalists for its programming in 30 languages. Required for the traineeship are native speakers of a Deutsche Welle programme language with excellent knowledge of English and a good knowledge of German, English native speakers with a good knowledge of German or German native speakers with excellent knowledge of English.
Sector: Journalism, multimedia work

Read on here if you are interested: DW Journalism Traineeship