The DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme aims at fostering strong, internationally oriented higher education systems in developing countries with the capacity to contribute to sustainable development.

To this end, scholarships are granted for development-related Master or doctoral studies for individuals who plan to pursue a career in teaching and / or research at a higher education institution in developing countries. Scholarships are provided for high-quality (post)graduate programmes that give students and doctoral candidates excellent training opportunities.

By training future academic and professional leaders, the programme contributes to the following long-term impacts:

• Qualified professionals’ involvement in the solution of development-related problems in developing countries
• Graduates strengthening education and research in developing countries
• Structural strengthening and regional networking of partner institutions and partner universities

Who can apply?

Graduates and postgraduates from Sub-Saharan Africa with a first academic degree if applying for a Master’s programme who want to pursue Master’s degrees in their home country or in the country for which they have a residence permit (so called In-Country scholarships) or in another Sub-Saharan African country, outside their home country/in the country for which they do not have a residence permit (so called In-Region scholarships).
Female applicants, refugees with recognised refugee status, and candidates from marginalized regions or groups are especially encouraged to apply for funding.

What is supported?

Master studies in selected, development-related degree programmes

Duration of funding

Funding is provided for the regular duration of the Master’s course – generally, up to two years.

Value

Generally:

• Monthly scholarship
• Study and research allowance
• Thesis publishing costs
• Tuition fees

Only applicable for In-Region scholarship holders:

• Travel allowance
• Health insurance

For further information, including the respective amounts, please see the call for applications of the degree programme you wish to apply for.

Selection

The selection process differs between the individual degree programmes. Please see the respective call for applications for further information.

Please note that the application procedure may differ between the regions and host institutions. The specific application instructions regarding each host institution are listed in the respective calls for applications (linked below).

Application deadline
Application deadline is November, 12, 2026

HOW TO APPLY

Below you will find a list of the degree programmes funded under this scholarship programme with links to the corresponding calls for applications, for which the application period is currently open.

West and Central Africa

Burkina Faso

• Institut International d’Ingenierie de l’Eau et de l’Environnement (2iE):
  o Master of Science in Water and Environmental Engineering

Ghana

• West African Center for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana:
  o Master of Philosophy in Seed Science and Technology
• West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana:
  o Master of Philosophy in Molecular Cell Biology of Infectious Diseases
• University for Development Studies (UDS):
  o Master of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics

Eastern Africa

Ethiopia

• Jimma University (JU)
  o Master in Environmental Health

Kenya

• Chuka University (CU):
  o Master of Science in Plant Breeding

• Moi University (MU):
  o Master of Education in Research

Rwanda

• University of Rwanda (UR):
  o Master of Science in Electrical Power Systems

Tanzania

• Ardhi University (AU):
  o Master of Science in Geomatics

Uganda

• Busitema University (BU):
  o Master of Science in Climate Change and Disaster Management

Southern Africa

Malawi

• Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS):
  o Master of Science in Environmental Health
• Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR):
  o Master of Science in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science
  o Master of Science in Irrigation Engineering

Further calls for applications that are currently not open:
Below you will find a list of the study programmes funded under this scholarship programme that will be published in spring 2027.

West and Central Africa

Nigeria

• Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta Nigeria (FUNAAB):
  Master of Science in Physics

Southern Africa

South Africa

• University of Cape Town (UCT):
  Master of Philosophy in Urban Studies – Southern Urbanism
• University of Pretoria (UP):
  Master of Science in Mathematics