Declining or Accepting DAAD PPGG scholarship

[foxx]

I applied to DAAD's Public Policy and Good Governance Scholarship for Developing Countries. Lately, this program has been renamed as DAAD Helmut Schmidt Program. I applied to two schools- Hertie School of Governance in Berlin and  University of Osnabruck.  While I have been accepted to both programs, DAAD is only willing to fund me for Osnabruck. Hertie, on the other hand, has offered me a tution fee waiver of 50%. So, I'm caught between the two choices- have an absolute free ride to Osnabruck's Masters in Democratic Governance and Civil Society program. DAAD offers a generous monthly stipend besides contributing towards travel, and health insurance. Tuition fee and semester fee is also paid in full.      Hertie's program is however much more reputed and they have connections with elite institutions such as Science Po, LSE, Columbia. Hertie's program has a rather professional orientation compared to Osnabruck's focus on political theory. However, for Hertie, I will have to incur substantial debt to meet my living expenses and pay tuition. After 50% waiver, I will still have to pay € 16000. As for my future plan, I want to do PhD in PolSci at reputable US schools such as NYU or Chicago. I applied to these schools only as test cases without putting in my best effort for the personal essay, recommendation letters, standardized exams etc. I'm afraid by attending a rather average school (Osnabruck's) on full funding might not work out in the long run when I apply for a PhD.

[Monsuru]

I want to ask pls if it is the sponsor that announces the Helmut scholarship decision or the participating institutions. Hertie accepted my application but said I am not considered for their scholarship