About this opportunity
This programme exists because Sub-Saharan African universities need researchers and lecturers who can teach and publish at an international standard without leaving the continent. The DAAD states the objective plainly: to foster strong, internationally oriented higher education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa with the capacity to contribute to sustainable development. Scholarships are granted for Master’s study in selected development related degree programmes, and they are aimed at people who plan a career in teaching or research at a higher education institution in the region.
Two routes run under the same programme. An In-Country scholarship supports Master’s study in the country where you live or hold a residence permit, while an In-Region scholarship supports study in another Sub-Saharan African country, outside your home country or the country where you hold a residence permit. Both are open to graduates and postgraduates from Sub-Saharan Africa who hold a first academic degree. The DAAD expressly encourages applications from women, from refugees with recognised refugee status, and from candidates in marginalised regions or groups.
The money is a package rather than a single stipend. The programme lists a monthly scholarship, study and research allowance, thesis publishing costs, tuition fees and health insurance, and it adds a travel allowance for In-Region scholarship holders. DAAD does not publish one flat figure on the programme page because the amounts and the way choosing works are set out in the call for applications of the individual degree programme you choose. Funding lasts for the regular duration of the Master’s course, generally up to two years.
The practical point for a Nigerian applicant is that the open calls sit at universities elsewhere in the region, so this is normally an In-Region route. The programme page lists the funded Master degrees whose calls are open now. In West and Central Africa these are 2iE, the Institut International d’Ingénierie de l’Eau et de l’Environnement in Burkina Faso, with a Master of Science in Water and Environmental Engineering, and three in Ghana: the West African Center for Crop Improvement at the University of Ghana with a Master of Philosophy in Seed Science and Technology, the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens at the University of Ghana with a Master of Philosophy in Molecular Cell Biology of Infectious Diseases, and the University for Development Studies with a Master of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics. In Eastern and Southern Africa the open calls are Jimma University in Ethiopia for a Master in Environmental Health, Chuka University in Kenya for a Master of Science in Plant Breeding, Moi University in Kenya for a Master of Education in Research, the University of Rwanda for a Master of Science in Electrical Power Systems, Ardhi University in Tanzania for a Master of Science in Geomatics, Busitema University in Uganda for a Master of Science in Climate Change and Disaster Management, and in Malawi the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences for a Master of Science in Environmental Health and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources for a Master of Science in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science or in Irrigation Engineering. The page also carries a second list of calls that are not open at the moment. Each call states its own requirements and runs its own choosing board, and the DAAD closing date for the round is 12 November 2026.
What you receive
- A monthly scholarship for the regular duration of the Master’s course, generally up to two years
- Tuition fees covered for the funded degree programme
- A study and research allowance alongside the monthly payment
- Thesis publishing costs covered
- Health insurance provided for the funding period
- A travel allowance for In-Region scholarship holders studying outside their home country
- The chance to complete a development related Master’s degree at a recognised African institution rather than abroad
- Entry into the DAAD alumni network of scholars working on sustainable development in the region
Who can apply
- Applicant is a graduate or postgraduate from Sub-Saharan Africa
- Applicant holds a first academic degree and is applying for a Master’s programme
- Applicant intends to pursue the Master’s degree in their home country or in the country where they hold a residence permit, which is the In-Country route
- Alternatively the applicant studies in another Sub-Saharan African country, outside the home country or the country of residence, which is the In-Region route
- The chosen degree programme is one of the development related programmes currently listed with an open call
- Applicant plans a career in teaching or research at a higher education institution in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Women, refugees with recognised refugee status and candidates from marginalised regions or groups are expressly encouraged to apply
Who should not apply
- This round funds Master’s study only, so it is not a route for a first degree or a doctoral programme
- Study outside Sub-Saharan Africa is not covered by this programme
- Applications submitted after 12 November 2026 fall outside the round
- A degree programme with no open call listed on the DAAD page cannot be funded under this round
Documents to prepare
- The application form set out in the call for applications of the chosen degree programme
- Your first degree certificate and transcripts
- Proof of residence in the country you are applying from, where the In-Country route is being used
- A statement of your intended career in teaching or research at a higher education institution
- Any additional documents the individual host call requires, since requirements differ between programmes
How to apply
- Open the programme page at https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?detail=10000486 and read the Overview, the Who can apply section and the list of open calls.
- Choose the degree programme you want. The open calls are published as separate PDFs for institutions in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi, and each one carries its own subject requirements and its own closing date.
- Download that call for applications and check its own documents, deadlines and selection board, because the DAAD states the procedure differs between regions and host institutions.
- Prepare the documents the call lists, including your first degree certificate and transcripts and your statement of academic and career intent.
- Submit the application to the host institution through the route its call specifies, in good time before 12 November 2026.
- Use the print version of the announcement on the same DAAD page if you need the whole text offline, and write to the DAAD contact listed under Contact and Consulting if your country or programme is unclear.
Selection process
- The DAAD states that the selection process differs between the individual degree programmes
- Each host institution runs the selection described in its own call for applications, which is linked from the programme page
- The programme gives particular encouragement to women applicants, refugees with recognised status and candidates from marginalised regions or groups
Sources and verification
Related opportunities
- TWAS Research Professors in Least Developed Countries Programme 2026/2027
TWAS is inviting requests from research groups and scientific institutions in least developed countries, including many across Africa, to host a TWAS Research Professor for a two to four week visit during a one year appointment. Applications close 23 November 2026.
Questions applicants ask
What is the difference between In-Country and In-Region?
In-Country funds Master’s study in the country where you live or hold a residence permit. In-Region funds study in another Sub-Saharan African country, and In-Region holders also receive a travel allowance.
Can a Nigerian apply?
Yes, as a graduate from Sub-Saharan Africa. The open calls listed for this round sit at institutions in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, so a Nigerian applicant would normally use the In-Region route.
How much is the scholarship worth?
DAAD publishes the award as a package rather than one figure: a monthly scholarship, study and research allowance, thesis publishing costs, tuition fees and health insurance, plus travel allowance for In-Region holders. The amounts are stated in the call for applications of the degree programme you choose.
How long is the funding?
For the regular duration of the Master’s course, which the programme states is generally up to two years.
When is the deadline?
The programme page gives 12 November 2026 as the application deadline for the round. Individual calls may set their own earlier dates, so check the call for the programme you choose.
Important disclaimer
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