Financing your studies: Tuition waivers, full and partial scholarships

Going to grad school isn’t just about getting admitted – it also requires careful planning, especially when it comes to financing your studies. When you apply to the MPP, MIA or MDS programmes, you can also apply for the Hertie School’s tuition waivers, full and partial scholarships. In this blog post, we’ll go over the financial aid opportunities available, their differences and how to apply for them.
 

Full scholarships

Full scholarships cover 100% of tuition fees for the MPP, MIA and MDS and can’t be used for anything other than tuition. For some scholarships, we do work with organisations that provide financial support for living costs in Berlin, however. We offer the following full scholarships:

• COLFUTURO-Hertie School (MPP, MIA, MDS)
• Hertie School Fellowship (MPP, MIA, MDS)
• Digital Governance (MPP, MIA, MDS)
• Future of Europe (MPP, MIA)
• Indo-German Young Leaders Forum (MPP, MIA, MDS)
• International Law and Human Rights (MPP, MIA)
• International Security Policy (MIA)
• New Perspectives (MPP, MIA, MDS)
• Prospect Burma (MPP, MIA, MDS)
• Sustainability and Energy Policy (MPP, MIA)

You may only apply for one full scholarship per programme. Please note that for the Executive MPA programme only tuition waivers up to 50% are available.

How to apply

First, take a look at all the full scholarships we offer. Once you’ve picked the scholarship you feel is right for you, think no further and apply! Make sure you check the instructions and deadlines on each scholarship page carefully – most require an additional essay or statement. While you don’t need to submit your application and scholarship essay at the same time, you must submit both before the scholarship deadline. Most, but not all, are due on 1 February.

For COLFUTURO and Prospect Burma, you’ll need to submit a separate application through their respective websites by their respective deadlines.

Lastly, remember to fill in the "Financial Information" section and select the scholarship you’re applying for in the "Scholarships" section of the online application form.

Tuition waivers

Tuition waivers cover 10% to 50% of the total tuition fees for our master’s programmes. Over the last three years, more than half of our students have received a tuition waiver from the Hertie School. You may apply for a tuition waiver in addition to one full scholarship.

How to apply

Applying for tuition waivers is straightforward: you need to complete the "Financial Information" and "Scholarships" section of our online application form, declare your finances and select that you wish to apply to a tuition waiver. No additional documents are required at this stage.

Partial scholarships

We also have partial scholarships that are essentially profile-based tuition fee reductions in partnership with different organisations:

• Hertie School Fellowship
• Public Servants in Brazil
• Teach for India
• Vetor Brasil
• Digital Leadership
• European Governance
• Social Entrepreneurship and Non-Profit Management
• Public Service Fellowship

Remember that even if you are not eligible for the above partial scholarships, you may still apply for tuition waivers from the Hertie School.

How to apply

If you would like to apply for one of the  Partial Scholarships listed above, you will need to submit additional application materials such as an essay or a confirmation letter (depending on the scholarship) along with your application. Please check each scholarship page for more information.

Declaring your finances

In order to be considered for a tuition waiver full or partial scholarship, you must declare your finances. In the financial information section of the online application form, indicate the amount of funds you currently have available or have certainly secured for the duration of your studies. List your personal savings, any support from your partner or parents (not what they earn or have saved, but what they will support you with), and any scholarships or sponsorships that you are sure to receive.

It is important that you indicate only secured funds for two reasons:

1. When you join us, we want you to be able to focus on your studies and career development. All worries about financing should be resolved by the time you accept an admission offer. By inserting the respective amounts in our declaration of finances, and using the cost estimates on the same page, you should be able to easily weigh funds available to you against the cost of the programme. Use this part of our application form as an honest self-assessment of your finances.
2. The allocation of financial aid is in part based on the information you provide in this form.
    

How are the recipients of tuition waivers full and partial scholarships selected?

We award these based on merit and financial need, which is measured by the sum of the full tuition fees for the MPP, MIA, MDS or Executive MPA, plus the cost of living in Berlin for two years. This year, the threshold is 57,500 euros, so if the funds available to you exceed this amount, you may not be eligible for Hertie School tuition waivers. In case of all financial aid offerings, we will also consider the strength of your application and any supplemental materials.

Here’s a peek into our three-step selection process for full scholarships:

1. Outstanding candidates with financial need are shortlisted based on how well their profiles fit the scholarship and the strength of their scholarship essay and supplemental application material.
2. Pre-selected candidates are invited to a video interview. During the interview, candidates can expect a discussion on their essay, relevant academic topics, and their personal motivation to study at the Hertie School.
3. We award scholarships based on your profile, essay and interview.
    

How can you boost your chances for securing a full scholarship?

The easiest way to increase your chances is simply to apply, and to apply early. As our full scholarships have certain themes, you can enhance the odds by making a smart choice about which scholarship best fits your profile. Discussing your CV and interests with a friend, maybe even a sympathetic sceptic, will help you make an honest assessment of your strengths and choose the right scholarship for you.

The best advice we can give is to pick a scholarship and topic that aligns with your passion. Clear coherence between your CV, letter of motivation, and scholarship essay can set your candidature apart from others. If you’ve made the right choice, writing the essay should feel engaging.

While all of this won’t ensure you’re selected, if you approach the process as an interesting experience, it might boost your chances of getting the scholarship you want!

Learn more about the scholarships available for the MIA, MPP, MDS and Executive MPA and apply today!