DAAD Scholarships Guide for African Students – All Programmes, Funding & How to Apply
The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) is Germany’s national funding body for international academic exchange, and one of the largest and most established sources of fully funded postgraduate scholarships for African students anywhere in the world. DAAD funds Master’s and PhD study at German universities and research institutions across virtually every field, with especially strong programmes in engineering, public policy, agriculture, economics, and development-related studies.
What it covers: Full tuition waiver (most German public universities charge no tuition regardless of scholarship status), a monthly stipend of roughly €934–€1,300 depending on degree level, health, accident, and personal liability insurance, a travel allowance, and in many cases a research or study allowance.
The Main DAAD Programme Tracks for African Students
- EPOS (Public Policy and Good Governance) — funds postgraduate study in development-related fields for students and young professionals from developing countries, typically requiring at least two years of relevant work experience.
- Helmut Schmidt Programme — Master’s scholarships in public policy and good governance, similar in spirit to EPOS but with a dedicated application track.
- In-Country/In-Region Scholarships — funded Master’s and PhD study at select African partner universities rather than in Germany itself, useful for candidates who want DAAD funding without relocating.
- Research Grants (Doctoral & PhD) — funding for candidates who already have an admitted or planned doctoral research project with a German supervisor.
- Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees — co-supervised PhD programmes between a home-country and a German university.
Detailed Eligibility Checklist
- Citizen of an eligible developing country — DAAD publishes an official country list, and most African nations qualify
- Hold a strong first university degree relevant to your target programme, typically in the top 30% of your graduating class
- At least two years of relevant professional experience for most postgraduate tracks (varies by specific programme)
- Academic activity within roughly the last six years — DAAD generally does not fund applicants who graduated long ago with no recent academic engagement
- English or German language proficiency as required by your chosen programme — many Master’s courses are taught fully in English
When to Apply
The main DAAD postgraduate scholarship round typically opens around October each year for an intake roughly a year later. Because DAAD funds dozens of individual programmes across many universities, each with its own specific deadline, applicants should search the DAAD database for their target programme well in advance and confirm the exact current-cycle date on the official site rather than relying on last year’s deadline.
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Use the DAAD scholarship database to filter by your country, degree level, and subject area to find currently open programmes.
- Check each programme’s specific entry requirements — they vary meaningfully between EPOS, in-country tracks, and doctoral research grants.
- Prepare a motivation letter, CV, academic transcripts, and reference letters tailored to your chosen track.
- Apply directly through the specific programme’s listed application channel — DAAD itself does not run one single unified application form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to already speak German? Not necessarily — many DAAD Master’s programmes are taught fully in English, though basic German is useful for daily life.
Can recent graduates with no work experience apply? Most postgraduate tracks like EPOS require at least two years of relevant experience, though a small number of programmes accept strong recent graduates — check each listing’s specific requirements.
What is the difference between studying in Germany and an In-Country scholarship? In-Country/In-Region scholarships fund DAAD-supported study at a partner university in Africa itself, which can be a faster and less costly route for candidates who do not need to relocate to Germany.