Climate Policy Masters Scholarships 2026: How to Win a Full 38,500 Euro Hertie School Climate Action Award

If you care about climate change and public policy, this scholarship is one of the big ones.

The Hertie School Climate Action Scholarship 2026 offers at least two full scholarships worth 38,500 euros each to study public policy in Berlin, with a sharp focus on climate, sustainability, and energy systems. That amount is designed to cover tuition for the full master’s programme – which means you can spend more time dissecting climate policy and less time juggling three side jobs.

This isn’t a generic “green” scholarship that gives you a token stipend and a pat on the back. It’s tied to the Hertie School’s Master of Public Policy (MPP) – a degree that trains people to sit at the decision-making table: ministries, regulators, climate funds, city governments, think tanks, and international organisations.

If you’re the person who reads about climate targets and thinks, “Who actually decides these things, and how can we push them harder?” – you’re exactly the audience this scholarship has in mind.

At a Glance

Why This Scholarship Actually Matters

Climate politics is no longer a side topic. It’s the main storyline.

Every year, countries sign on to ambitious climate targets and then quietly approve fossil fuel projects, delay carbon pricing, or underfund adaptation. The gap between promises and practice is not a science problem anymore. It’s a governance problem.

That’s exactly where this scholarship lives.

The Climate Action Scholarship is meant for people who want to understand – and influence – how decisions about energy, emissions, and climate justice are made. You’ll look at governance structures, policy tools, markets, technology, and social impacts, not as abstract theories but as systems you might one day help redesign.

The money matters too. A full 38,500‑euro award is substantial by any standard. For many applicants, especially from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, that’s the difference between “I wish I could study climate policy” and “I actually am studying climate policy in Berlin next year.”

It’s competitive. It should be. But if you already live and breathe climate action – whether through research, activism, community projects, or policy work – this award is absolutely within reach.

What This Opportunity Offers (Beyond the 38,500 Euros)

The headline is simple: full tuition funding for the MPP at Hertie School, currently set at 38,500 euros. But if you stop reading there, you’re missing most of the value.

First, the academic angle. The MPP is built around public policy analysis, which means you don’t just “care about” climate – you learn how to design policies, model impacts, evaluate existing regulations, and defend your ideas with data. Think carbon pricing design, renewable energy auctions, adaptation funds, climate risk regulation for banks, or just transitions for coal regions.

Second, the climate focus. The scholarship specifically targets students whose interests sit at the intersection of:

• Global sustainability – from climate justice to sustainable development.
• Renewable energy – solar, wind, grids, storage, regulation, financing.
• Energy system transformation – how to actually move from fossil-heavy systems to low‑carbon ones while keeping societies functioning and (ideally) more equal.

That means your personal statement, coursework, and likely thesis will revolve around these themes. You’ll also be in an environment where classmates are working on everything from carbon tax designs to resilient cities.

Third, the location. Berlin isn’t just cool cafés and art. It’s a political and policy hub: Germany’s federal ministries, major think tanks, NGOs, international networks, and a large climate‑policy community work right there. You’re studying climate governance in a city where energy transition debates are happening in real time.

Finally, there’s the signalling effect. Saying “I did a climate‑focused MPP at Hertie on a full competitive scholarship” is short‑hand for: “I’m serious about climate and other people have bet their money on that.” That helps when you apply to roles at climate funds, policy institutes, government ministries, and international organisations.

Who Should Apply (and Who Will Actually Be Competitive)

Formally, the eligibility is refreshingly simple: all nationalities can apply, and the scholarship is for students who want to explore climate action, sustainability, and energy policy within the MPP.

Informally, that’s only part of the story.

You’re in the target zone if:

• You can point to specific experiences where you’ve already engaged with climate or energy – not just “I care about the planet,” but “Here’s what I’ve actually done.”
• You want to understand policy and governance, not just technology. You’re the person who asks, “Why hasn’t this solution scaled, and who has the power to change that?”
• You’re willing to spend two years digging into how institutions, markets, and societies react to climate policy – and what to do when they resist.

Picture a few strong profiles:

• A Nigerian engineer who worked on mini‑grid projects and now wants to design smarter regulation and financing tools for distributed renewables in West Africa.
• A Bangladeshi activist who led community‑based adaptation projects in flood‑prone areas and wants to shape national adaptation policy.
• A Brazilian researcher analysing deforestation data who now wants to work on carbon markets and climate finance.
• A German or Kenyan policy officer already in government who needs more technical training in policy design, impact assessment, and energy economics.

You don’t need a “perfect” CV. What you need is a clear thread connecting your past, this degree, and your future climate impact.

If your climate interest is entirely theoretical with no past action, you’re not disqualified – but you’ll need to work harder to show that the MPP will turn your intentions into concrete impact.

How the Application Process Actually Works

Here’s the key structural detail: you cannot apply straight for the scholarship. You apply for the MPP first, then the scholarship after you’ve been admitted.

So the process runs in two stages:

1. Apply to the MPP programme

   • Submit a standard application via the Hertie online portal.
   • You must hit one of the core deadlines:
     • Early Bird: December 1, 2025
     • Priority for non‑EU/EEA applicants: January 15, 2026
     • Priority for EU/EEA applicants: February 15, 2026
   • Earlier is better, especially if you need a visa, and doubly so if you’re from Africa, Asia, or Latin America where visa timelines can be brutal.

2. Apply for the Climate Action Scholarship (after admission)

   • If you’re offered admission, Hertie will invite you to access the Funding Application section.
   • You’ll get only two weeks to submit scholarship materials.
   • For this particular scholarship, the key requirement is a one‑page personal statement on:
     • Your interest in climate action, and
     • How your studies at Hertie School will support that purpose.

The two‑week funding window catches a lot of people off guard. You don’t want to write that statement in a panic. Draft it early, long before you actually receive an offer.

Insider Tips for a Winning Climate Action Application

Think of this as your unfair advantage: what strong applications actually have in common.

1. Treat the MPP Application as Part One of Your Climate Story

Don’t mentally separate “admission application” and “scholarship application.” Reviewers will see both, and they should read like two chapters of the same story.

If your MPP motivation letter barely mentions climate, then your scholarship essay screams “lifelong passion for climate,” it’ll look inconsistent. From the start, frame your MPP application around:

• Your climate or energy interests.
• The skills you need to build (policy analysis, quantitative methods, regulatory design).
• The type of roles you want after graduation (e.g., climate ministry, think tank, multilateral climate fund).

2. Make Your Climate Interest Concrete, Not Abstract

“Climate change is the biggest challenge of our time” is the sentence everyone writes. Skip it.

Instead, be precise. Describe:

• The specific climate issue that keeps you up at night (e.g., loss and damage finance, unreliable grids, unfair energy subsidies, climate‑induced migration).
• What you’ve already done about it – projects, campaigns, jobs, research, community activities.
• A moment where you realised policy – not just passion – was the missing piece.

Reviewers want to see that this isn’t a passing fascination. Show continuity.

3. Nail the One‑Page Personal Statement

One page is short. That means every paragraph needs to earn its place.

A simple but powerful structure:

1. Opening: A concrete example or short story showing your direct involvement in a climate or energy issue.
2. Reflection: What you learned from that experience about the limits of current policies or institutions.
3. Hertie Link: Why the MPP at Hertie – and specific courses, tracks, or professors – is exactly what you need next.
4. Impact Vision: Where you want to be 5–10 years from now and how that ties back to climate action and governance in your home context or globally.

If you’re from Africa (as suggested by the tag), emphasise how your work connects to regional realities: energy access, adaptation gaps, climate finance access, infrastructure resilience, or climate justice.

4. Show You Understand “Governance,” Not Just “Green Tech”

This scholarship isn’t for building a better solar panel. It’s for figuring out:

• Who sets the rules.
• What incentives shape behaviour.
• How institutions respond to pressure from citizens, markets, and crises.

Use your statement to show you think at this level. Mention, for example:

• Regulation of renewables or fossil fuels.
• Design of carbon pricing or subsidy reform.
• Accountability of climate funds.
• Inclusion of marginalised communities in decision‑making.

You don’t need jargon. You just need to show you’ve thought about the power structures behind emissions and resilience.

5. Get Someone Outside Climate to Read Your Statement

A common trap: writing only for climate insiders. Remember, selection committees often include people from broader policy backgrounds.

Have a smart non‑specialist read your statement and ask them three questions:

• Do you understand what I actually want to work on?
• Does it sound realistic but ambitious?
• Does it sound like me?

If the answers are fuzzy, rewrite.

Application Timeline You Can Actually Stick To

Work backward from the January 15, 2026 (non‑EU/EEA) and February 15, 2026 (EU/EEA) priority deadlines.

By mid‑October 2025
Research the MPP properly. Read the programme structure, course list, and climate‑related offerings. Decide if Hertie truly matches your goals (this will make your motivation letter much stronger).

Late October – November 2025
Prepare your MPP application:

• Draft your CV.
• Write and revise your motivation letter.
• Contact referees early and give them clear instructions and context about your climate focus.
• Sit required tests if applicable (e.g., English proficiency).

Aim to have a near‑final application by mid‑November.

December 1, 2025 – Early Bird Deadline
If you can, submit by the Early Bird deadline. It signals organisation, gives you more time for visa and housing, and may improve your access to various funding options.

December 2025 – January 2026
If you’re non‑EU/EEA and missed Early Bird, treat January 15, 2026 as an immovable wall. Submit at least a few days early to avoid system issues.

After Admission Offer (Likely early 2026)
Once you receive an admission offer:

• Watch closely for the invitation to the Funding Application system.
• Remember: you’ll have two weeks to submit the Climate Action Scholarship application.
• By this point, you should already have a strong draft of your one‑page climate statement. Use the two weeks for final editing, not for starting from scratch.

Required Materials and How to Prepare Them Well

You’ll be preparing two overlapping but distinct sets of materials: one for the MPP admission and one for the scholarship.

For the MPP application, expect to prepare:

• Academic transcripts: Make sure they’re translated if needed and clearly formatted.
• CV or resume: Highlight climate, policy, research, or energy experience prominently.
• Motivation letter: Explain why you want an MPP, why Hertie, and what you plan to do afterward – with climate running through your narrative like a spine.
• Reference letters: Choose referees who can speak to your analytical ability, your initiative, and ideally your climate‑related work or potential.
• Proof of English proficiency (where required).

For the Climate Action Scholarship, you’ll need:

• One‑page personal statement on climate action: This is the star of your funding application.
• Possibly confirming details in the funding portal about your financial situation or other scholarships you’re applying for.

Treat every document as part of one coherent story: you’re a person who has already moved on climate in some way, now seeking the tools and network to scale that impact.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Imagine the selection committee reading a stack of very competent applications. What makes them pause and say, “This one stays on the shortlist”?

1. A sharp, specific climate focus
   “I care about climate” is generic. “I want to design regulatory frameworks that accelerate off‑grid solar in East Africa while protecting low‑income consumers” is memorable.

2. Evidence of prior engagement
   That could be:

   • Research projects or a thesis on climate or energy.
   • Work experience in a related field (utilities, NGOs, urban planning, agriculture under climate stress, finance).
   • Activism, organising, or community projects tied to climate resilience, adaptation, or energy access.

   The scale matters less than the seriousness.

3. A credible impact pathway
   Reviewers are asking themselves: If we fund this person, what happens?
   Your application should outline a plausible path from MPP training to real‑world impact, especially in your country or region.

4. Alignment with Hertie’s strengths
   Mention specific things about Hertie that match your plans – a particular course in energy policy, methods training you need, the Berlin policy ecosystem, or the school’s focus on governance. Generic “I like your excellent school” lines won’t cut it.

5. Clarity and clean writing
   You’re going into public policy. Clear writing is non‑negotiable. Organised paragraphs, straightforward sentences, and a story that flows logically will do more for you than fancy words ever will.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (and How to Fix Them)

1. Treating the scholarship essay as a generic “why I love the environment” piece
Fix: Center your essay on climate action and governance – not just appreciation of nature or broad sustainability ideals.

2. Waiting for the admission offer before drafting your scholarship statement
Fix: Draft it while you’re preparing your MPP application. When the two‑week window opens, you should already be at the polishing stage.

3. Overloading your story with buzzwords
“Resilience, sustainability, innovation, transformative solutions” – all in one sentence – tells reviewers nothing.
Fix: Use concrete examples and plain language. Specific beats buzzwords every time.

4. Ignoring your home context
If you plan to work in Africa, Asia, Latin America, or Eastern Europe, but your entire essay reads like you only care about EU climate politics, there’s a disconnect.
Fix: Show you understand the climate realities where you come from: drought, floods, energy poverty, air pollution, informal settlements, agricultural vulnerability. Tie your future plans back there.

5. Submitting at the last minute
Systems crash. Files fail to upload. Your internet disappears.
Fix: Aim to submit at least 48 hours before each official deadline – both for the MPP and for the scholarship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this only for people with environmental science degrees?
No. You can come from economics, engineering, social sciences, law, even humanities – as long as you can show a serious interest in climate and a good fit for public policy training. Reviewers care more about your motivation, analytical ability, and climate engagement than your exact bachelor’s label.

Can African applicants apply?
Yes. The scholarship is open to all nationalities, and the tag explicitly notes Africa. Applicants from African countries with clear plans to apply their training back home will likely be viewed very positively.

Does the scholarship cover living costs too?
The stated value is 38,500 euros, which aligns closely with full tuition for the MPP. You should assume this mainly covers tuition. You may need to secure additional funding or savings for living expenses, although you can often combine scholarships or part‑time work (subject to visa rules).

Do I have to already be a climate expert?
No, but you should be able to show a track record of interest and action. That might be early‑stage work, volunteering, a thesis, or a junior role in a related organisation. You’re applying to become a serious climate policy professional; you don’t have to already be one.

Can I apply to other Hertie scholarships at the same time?
Typically, the funding application system lets you indicate interest in multiple scholarships, though you may ultimately receive only one. Check the current funding guidelines once you access the portal, and prioritise the Climate Action Scholarship in your narrative if that’s your top choice.

What happens if I miss the priority deadline?
For non‑EU/EEA applicants, missing the January 15, 2026 priority deadline can seriously hurt your chances, both for funding and for getting your visa in time. Treat that date as your real deadline. EU/EEA applicants should stick to February 15, 2026.

Will I automatically be considered for the scholarship when I apply to the MPP?
No. Admission is one process; funding is another. You must first be admitted and then, within the two‑week window, complete the Funding Application and submit your one‑page climate statement for this specific scholarship.

How to Apply and What to Do Next

If you’re even mildly interested, don’t just file this mentally under “interesting.” Turn it into a practical plan.

1. Study the MPP programme details
   Go to the Hertie School website and read about the MPP structure, climate‑related courses, and career outcomes. Make sure this is genuinely what you want.

2. Mark your deadlines now
   Add these to your calendar with reminders:

   • MPP Early Bird: December 1, 2025
   • MPP Priority (non‑EU/EEA): January 15, 2026
   • MPP Priority (EU/EEA): February 15, 2026

3. Draft your climate narrative early
   Start writing your MPP motivation letter and your one‑page climate statement in parallel. They should reinforce each other, not compete.

4. Line up referees and documents
   Give your referees time to write strong letters. Gather transcripts and other required materials now rather than two days before the deadline.

5. Prepare for the funding window
   Once you get an admission offer, the clock starts. You’ll have two weeks to submit the Climate Action Scholarship application. Have your statement ready so this step is mostly editing and form‑filling, not creative panic.

Ready to move forward?

Apply Now

You submit both your MPP application and, later, your funding application through Hertie’s official portal.

Start here:
Apply via the Hertie School online application portal

Use that link to create an account, check current requirements, confirm details for 2026 intake, and start assembling your application.

If you’re serious about shaping climate action – not just tweeting about it – this is the kind of opportunity you build a year around.