Sur-place scholarships
Once a year, the KAS Office Ethiopia/AU offers local scholarships to Ethiopian students from across the country who show excellence in their academic studies and in society. Find out more below.
Who is eligible?
In general, there is no age limit and all academic tracks are eligible. However, the scholarships are primarily intended for young Ethiopians who have finished their Bachelor’s degree and who are entering or are already enrolled in their Master’s degree, or to those who are at the start of their professional careers in Ethiopia. It is important to note that the scholarship program is only open to Ethiopians who are pursuing studies or projects in Ethiopia (“sur place”) and who share the values of democracy, the Rule of Law, Social Market Economy, and human rights of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS).
Who is Konrad Adenauer and what does the Foundation do?
Founded in 1955, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) is a German, publicly-funded political foundation close to the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of Germany. The CDU is the political party of five Chancellors since 1949. It is rooted in Christian conservative values, the ideas of European integration, and strongly believes in the transatlantic partnership. The foundation is named after the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer, who opposed the Nazi regime and used to be the Mayor of Cologne. During his 14 years as a Chancellor, he was responsible for rebuilding Germany after the Second World War. The political foundations in Germany were founded in the 1950s to educate Germans in democracy and the functioning of a democratic society. In the 1960s, the German government extended their mandate to contribute to democratic development abroad through civic education. Today, there are six political foundations in Germany which represent the different political ideas. KAS is among the biggest. It has one of the largest alumni networks in Germany and in more than 120 countries. It is also among the leading global think tanks in international relations. Every year, besides offering workshops, seminars, and conferences in Germany and abroad, KAS fosters exchanges between political stakeholders and experts from Germany and its partner countries. In Ethiopia, KAS was registered in 2019 under the new CSO proclamation.
When does the next scholarship selection take place?
The application for the next selection is open. The submission deadline for applications is October 31, 2021. We will select scholarship holders in the month of November.
What types of scholarships does the KAS Office Ethiopia/AU offer?
There are two categories of scholarships. The “monthly academic scholarship” and the “training grant”.
The “monthly academic scholarship” supports students in Ethiopia who have finished their Bachelor’s degree and who are currently enrolled in their Master’s or about to enter their Master’s. This scholarship consists of a monthly stipend of 70 Euro. It is not a full scholarship, but an encouragement for and a recognition of excellent performance in academic studies and society. It should be noted that Bachelor, PhD studies, and studies abroad are not supported by this scholarship. This scholarship only supports Ethiopian students in their Master’s.
The “training grant” is a one-time scholarship and is intended for young Ethiopian professionals who have finished their studies (either Master’s or PhD) and who want to do an on-site training course in Ethiopia for a limited period in order to specialize and develop their skills for their careers, for example with a language course. The financial allocation for this scholarship depends on each case.
What is the length of the scholarship program?
The length of the “monthly academic scholarship” is one year. It is renewable once. The “training grant” is a one-time grant and covers a training program for a maximum of one year.
What does await you during your scholarship?
The KAS sur-place scholarship program is more than a financial scholarship. The KAS Office Ethiopia/AU will try its best to support you in your academic career and in the pursuit of your professional goals. As a scholarship holder, you are part of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, which today has one of the largest alumni networks in Germany and in more than 120 countries. You have access to KAS workshops, conferences, discussion fora, and many other resources KAS offers. You will learn about German and European history, discuss international relations, questions of development, and peace and security in Africa.
Why does the “sur-place program” do not support studies abroad?
The KAS Office Ethiopia/AU can only support scholarship recipients pursuing studies or training in Ethiopia (“sur place”). The scholarship program does not support studies or further training abroad.
What are the selection criteria for both scholarships?
The KAS sur-place scholarships in Ethiopia support young people who demonstrate excellence in their academic studies and in society. To be admitted to the “monthly academic scholarship”, students must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher in their Bachelor’s degree (in every year of the Bachelor!). Students applying for the “training grant” should have a GPA of 3.5 or higher in their Master’s/ or (if applicable) summa cum laude in their PhD. In general, it is a very competitive program. On top of that, we seek students who do not only excel in their studies, but who engage in society as we fundamentally believe that countries can only grow if everyone contributes to community.
What means “civic engagement”?
KAS does not only look for excellent students, but for young women and men who are already involved at a young age in their community. We want to support young people who are dedicated to work for society. In your application, you must make proof of this. There is no limit to what civic engagement can be, whether in a political party, an association, a church, in a sports club, in your university or in your neighborhood. Being a political foundation, we particularly look for people with a political interest, an understanding of the importance of multiparty democracy, the Rule of Law, Social Market Economy, human rights, and the world today.
And if I only have a GPA of 3.4, can I also apply?
Yes, you can. As described above, there are more criteria for us than good grades.
Can I apply if I already receive another scholarship?
Students receiving a scholarship for their studies by the Ethiopian Government or another institution are also eligible. In this case, however, they are not eligible for the financial support, but they can be part of the KAS network and the mentoring and education opportunities provided by KAS during the scholarship.
How does the selection procedure work?
The selection procedure has two stages. The first stage is the preselection of the best candidates on the basis of their application documents (grades, level of civic engagement, etc.). On the basis of that, we will invite the best candidates to the second stage, the selection weekend.
The second stage is the selection of scholarship holders during a weekend which takes place towards the end of the year in Addis Ababa. The weekend consists of a written test which assesses the candidates’ general knowledge of history, politics, national and international news, and of global issues. After the written test, each candidate must present himself to a selection committee in a personal interview.
What will be tested in the written test?
We are looking for the best talents and expect you to be interested in politics and current affairs, that you have a solid knowledge of the history of Ethiopia and the world, science and literature, that you are familiar with Germany and Europe.
What application documents do I have to submit?
Please note that we will only consider applicants who submit their documents correctly and complete. For this, please carefully read the following information about the necessary application documents:
a) For the “monthly academic scholarship”
– letter of motivation
– CV
– your B.A. diploma and all of your transcripts of records during your B.A. studies (of each year); and (if applicable) all the transcripts in your MA so far; all documents must show your GPA. Note: If you have not received your BA diploma yet, you can still apply. However, by the time of admission you must present your B.A. diploma which needs to meet the grade requirements.
– 2 letters of recommendation (by academic advisor and/or employer)
b) For the “training grant”
– letter of motivation
– CV
– your B.A. and M.A. diploma, and (if applicable) your PhD certificate; all documents must show your GPA
– 2 letters of recommendation (by academic advisor and/or employer)
How to write a strong letter of motivation?
Successful candidates pay special attention to writing a strong letter of motivation. A strong letter of motivation shows your personality, your motivation for pursuing your career goals, and it gives an impression of your civic engagement. Applicants to the “training grant” should also clearly express the kind of training for which they seek support.
Correct submission of application documents:
We only accept applications sent to us by e-mail. Your application must be sent to us in one single e-mail and with one single pdf document attachment that does not exceed 5MB. We do not accept applications sent in several e-mails or e-mails with multiple attachments, or applications sent to us by physical mail. Please send your application in English by e-mail no later than October 31, 2021 to the following address: [email protected] We only notify candidates who get invited to the selection weekend.
