DAAD Scholarships – Germany (Masters & PhD, 2026/2027 Intake)

The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Scholarships are among the most established fully funded postgraduate scholarship programmes for students from developing countries, including those across Africa. DAAD funds Master’s and PhD study at German universities and research institutions, and is especially strong in engineering, public policy, agriculture, economics, and development-related fields.

What it covers: Full tuition waiver (most German public universities are tuition-free for these programmes), a monthly stipend (currently around €934–€1,300 depending on degree level), health insurance, travel allowance, and in many cases a research/study allowance.

Eligibility: Applicants from African countries with a strong first degree (and relevant work experience for most Master’s programmes) are eligible. Specific country quotas and programme requirements vary by faculty, so applicants should check the DAAD database for their target programme.

When to apply: The main DAAD postgraduate scholarship round typically opens around October each year for intake roughly a year later — applicants should start preparing transcripts, references, and a research proposal several months in advance. Always confirm exact 2026/2027 dates on the official DAAD scholarship database before applying.

How to apply: Applications are submitted through the DAAD scholarship database, where you can filter by country, degree level, and subject area to find programmes currently accepting applications.