MA Development and Governance Student Roha Naz from Pakistan Shares Her Journey of Studying at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany

My name is Roha Naz, and I am a recipient of a fully funded DAAD and Commonwealth Scholarship (CDLS). As a DAAD scholarship holder, I completed my MA in Development and Governance from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. Currently, I am writing a dissertation for the part-time MSc. in International Development from the University of Edinburgh as a Commonwealth Scholar.

Educational Background

I completed my Bachelor of Science in International Relations with a 3.7/4.0 cGPA from the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. As my major was political economy, I wrote a thesis on “Cascade of Dollar Hegemony: Appraising Global Financial Crisis 2008 and its Ramifications on Petrodollar,” which was later published in a peer-reviewed journal.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the University of Duisburg-Essen / University of Edinburgh?

During my bachelor’s degree, I set a clear objective, i.e., to secure a fully funded scholarship to study in a developed country while defining my niche in political economy. Achieving this goal required persistence, preparation, and learning from early setbacks and mistakes.

Right after graduation, I began actively searching and applying for scholarships. Initially, I qualified only for programs under the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission because they did not require prior work experience. Over the following year, I gained professional experience, which made me eligible for the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme (Public Policy and Good Governance). Similarly, I had planned to apply for the Chevening Scholarship after completing two years of experience, but I received other scholarships before reaching that stage. The key in this process was to carefully research the eligibility criteria of every scholarship program, as it helps to plan the future trajectory and work strategically to meet the requirements for the scholarship opportunities.

In my first year, I applied to two Commonwealth Scholarship Commission programs and submitted applications to five universities. Around the same time, I took the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in 2022 and achieved an overall band 8. I prepared for IELTS myself within two weeks by practising listening and reading daily. I used online resources and several YouTube channels, and consistent daily practice appeared to be sufficient for achieving a strong score.

However, I did not receive a scholarship during that cycle. Looking back, the main reason was that I did not yet fully understand the expectations and requirements of scholarship committees, particularly regarding experience, clarity of purpose, a good set of reference letters, and a consolidated, yet detailed personal statement or letter of motivation.

Instead of giving up, I spent the following year enhancing my CV. During this period, I wrote several articles, learnt more skills, and worked in important institutions relevant to the master’s I was aiming to pursue. Then, I applied to CDLS and, three months later, to the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme (Public Policy and Good Governance).

For Commonwealth Scholarship Commission scholarships, applicants must complete two parallel steps: submitting the scholarship application through the CSC portal and applying separately to each selected university on the same date. It is also advisable to tailor the personal statement for each university, as different institutions emphasise different academic priorities.

In contrast, the DAAD Helmut Schmidt Programme (Public Policy and Good Governance) follows a slightly different process. Applicants submit their applications directly through the portals of the respective universities, each of which provides specific instructions for the applicants of the DAAD Scholarship. Most importantly, the same motivation letter and supporting documents have to be submitted to every university.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or German?

My experience at both institutions was amazing and rewarding. Most interestingly, I had the opportunity to experience the different grading and learning systems in universities in the UK and Germany, which vary in structure and approach.

Although my studies in both countries were conducted in English, one aspect that particularly stood out for me was the intensive German language course provided by DAAD, which helps scholarship holders to integrate effectively into the German society and culture. Secondly, the DAAD program allowed students to work in positions related to their field of study, and fortunately, I secured a Student Research Assistant position in Germany, which was rather an enriching experience for me.

What Did You Pursue After the DAAD Helmut Schmidt Programme & Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship?

I am currently conducting research for my dissertation; I hope to continue working in Germany for some time. At the same time, I plan to pursue a PhD within the next couple of years.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically Not Knowing German

Without any exaggeration, I came to Germany without being mildly acquainted with the German language. The initial days were quite challenging; however, the DAAD team was quite accommodating and helpful in explaining necessary matters to us. Nevertheless, based on my experience, I would highly recommend learning at least a basic level of German before arriving.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

It would be quite difficult to highlight what made my application stand out. But I can say that it is not just one aspect that makes a difference; the application should be holistic enough to be distinctive and should be the right constellation of a good motivation letter, relevant experiences, good recommendation letters, and your CV.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I would not have delayed my personal statement or motivation letter until the last day. I kept revising my motivation letter repeatedly, and even after submission, I noticed a few minor mistakes.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

My pieces of advice are based on what I learnt gradually, whilst applying for scholarships.

In my own experience, my initial draft resembled a purely academic essay; it required considerable revision before it evolved into a more personal and reflective narrative.  I remember my first personal statement had more of an academic tone and took me quite some time to make it more personal and human-like, with a mix of my struggles and achievements.

Secondly, I believe that letters of recommendation hold a lot of weight that we tend to undermine. The individual from whom one requests a recommendation should possess not only a strong academic or professional standing but also the ability to write a thoughtful and genuinely personal letter. The pragmatic way is to write a respectful email with the points you want them to mention in your letter and your CV, outlining the key aspects of your profile you would like them to highlight, along with your CV and relevant materials. At the same time, I would strongly advise against approaching individuals who ask you to draft your own letter for them to sign later.

Finally, it is essential to think carefully and develop a clear, distinctive vision for what you hope to pursue in the future. Scholarship committees often look for applicants who have a sense of direction and whose goals align with the broader objectives of the scholarship. Taking time to reflect on your long-term plans and how the education you are pursuing will help you achieve them can make your application much stronger.

To conclude, I can say that for me, the key was “consistency,” “far-sightedness,” and “learning by doing.”