DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme 2027/2028 for Sub-Saharan African Students

The DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa is a postgraduate scholarship opportunity funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). It supports eligible African students who want to pursue selected Master’s degree programmes at participating universities within their home countries or other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Unlike many international scholarships that require students to travel to Europe, this programme allows beneficiaries to study at selected African universities while receiving financial support.

Important update: The programme has different application calls and deadlines depending on the university and degree programme. A previous 2026 application round closed on 29 April 2026, but new calls for the 2027/2028 academic year have been announced, including opportunities with a reported deadline of 12 November 2026.

DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Summary

About the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme

The DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme is designed to strengthen higher education, research and professional development across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The programme is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It provides financial assistance to qualified African graduates who want to pursue selected postgraduate programmes at participating universities in Africa.

One important feature of this scholarship is that students do not necessarily have to travel to Germany to benefit from DAAD funding. Successful applicants can study in their home countries or move to another eligible African country to complete their Master’s degree.

The programme mainly supports people interested in contributing to education, research, sustainable development and other important sectors across Africa.

Female applicants, recognised refugees and candidates from disadvantaged communities or less privileged regions are particularly encouraged to apply.

Available Master’s Programmes and Participating Universities for 2027

For the current application round, DAAD has listed Master’s scholarship opportunities at universities in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi.

The following programmes are listed on the official DAAD regional scholarship page.

All programmes above have a listed DAAD application deadline of 12 November 2026. The programme list and intake dates are based on the current DAAD regional call.

Scholarship Benefits

The DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship provides financial assistance to successful applicants throughout their approved period of study.

The general scholarship benefits include:

• Tuition fees: Payment of eligible tuition fees directly to the participating university.

• Monthly stipend: Financial support for accommodation, food and other living expenses.

• Study and research allowance: Financial assistance for academic and research activities.

• Thesis publication allowance: Support towards publishing the final Master’s thesis.

• Travel allowance: Available to eligible In-Region scholarship recipients.

• Health insurance: Usually provided for In-Region scholarship recipients.

The exact scholarship amounts depend on the individual programme and host institution.

For example, the official 2iE Burkina Faso 2027 call specifies:

 

Who Can Apply for the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship?

The scholarship is open to qualified graduates from Sub-Saharan African countries who want to pursue an eligible Master’s programme at a participating African university.

To qualify, applicants generally must meet the following requirements:

1. Be a national or permanent resident of a Sub-Saharan African country.

2. Hold a recognised Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification.

3. Have achieved good academic results, generally at least Second Class Upper Division or an equivalent qualification.

4. Demonstrate strong motivation and commitment to their chosen field of study.

5. Have sufficient knowledge of the language of instruction.

6. Meet the university’s admission requirements.

7. Have completed their last university degree within the period specified in the individual scholarship call.

The programme particularly welcomes applications from:

• Staff members of public universities.

• Candidates being considered for teaching or research positions.

• Applicants working in the public sector.

• Former DAFI scholarship beneficiaries.

• Fresh graduates and other qualified professionals.

Female applicants, recognised refugees and candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply.

Important: Some requirements differ between universities and courses. For example, the 2iE Water and Environmental Engineering programme requires a relevant undergraduate qualification, while other programmes have their own academic requirements. Always read the individual scholarship announcement before applying.

Can Nigerian Students Apply?

Yes. Nigerian graduates can apply for the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme if they meet the eligibility requirements and select an eligible programme.

However, there is an important distinction between the two scholarship categories:

• In-Country Scholarship: You study in your home country or a country where you have a residence permit.

• In-Region Scholarship: You study in another participating Sub-Saharan African country outside your home country or country of residence.

For example, a Nigerian graduate could apply for an eligible In-Region scholarship to study at the University of Ghana, provided they satisfy the programme requirements.

The previous 2026 scholarship opportunity at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), for an MSc in Physics is listed as closed. Nigerians should therefore check the currently available programmes rather than assume that the previous Nigerian university opportunity is still accepting applications.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare the following documents for their DAAD scholarship application. The exact requirements depend on the selected university.

1. Completed online DAAD application form.

2. Updated curriculum vitae (CV).

3. Bachelor’s degree certificate.

4. Academic transcripts showing final grades.

5. DAAD letter of recommendation completed by a university lecturer.

6. Letter of motivation explaining academic and career goals.

7. Valid international passport or national identity card.

8. Proof of admission, where available.

9. Study schedule or research work plan, where applicable.

10. Additional documents required by the participating university.

Applicants who are refugees may also be required to provide recognised refugee identification or UNHCR registration documents.

The 2iE call specifies that the main application documents must be submitted in English or German. Documents in other languages require certified translations. Applicants should also prepare their documents in PDF format for the DAAD Portal.

How to Apply for the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship 2027

Interested applicants must follow the application instructions for their chosen university.

The application process generally involves the following steps:

Step 1: Choose an eligible Master’s programme.

Visit the official DAAD scholarship page and review the participating universities, available courses and individual application announcements.

Step 2: Check the admission requirements.

Read the scholarship announcement for your preferred programme. Check the academic qualifications, language requirements and other conditions.

Step 3: Prepare your application documents.

Gather your degree certificate, academic transcripts, CV, recommendation letter, motivation letter and other required documents.

Step 4: Register on the DAAD Portal.

Create an account on the official application platform:

DAAD Online Application Portal

Step 5: Complete your scholarship application.

Follow the instructions on the portal, upload the required documents and submit your application before the deadline.

Step 6: Apply separately to the participating university.

This is particularly important. Applicants must also follow the host university’s admission process. Submitting a DAAD scholarship application does not automatically mean that you have applied for university admission.

Step 7: Wait for the selection decision.

Eligible applications will undergo the required assessment and selection process. Academic performance, motivation, extracurricular activities and research relevance, where applicable, may be considered. Interviews may also take place.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the currently listed DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship calls for the 2027 intake is 12 November 2026.

This deadline applies to the programmes listed in the current call, including opportunities at participating universities in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi.

Applicants should submit their applications before the deadline and check whether their chosen university has an additional admission deadline.

Do not confuse this application round with the previous April 2026 call, which has already closed.

Official Application Links

For accurate information, individual application instructions and access to the scholarship application, use the official DAAD resources below.

• DAAD In-Country/In-Region Programme – Current Calls.

• DAAD Scholarship Database – Sub-Saharan Africa.

• DAAD Online Application Portal.

• DAAD Programme Information and Scholarship Benefits.

Always download and read the application document for your selected course before submitting your application.

FAQs

1. Is the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship fully funded?

The scholarship provides tuition fee support, monthly stipends, study and research allowances and thesis publication support. In-Region recipients may also receive travel assistance and health insurance. The exact benefits depend on the individual scholarship call.

2. Can Nigerians apply for the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship?

Yes. Nigerian graduates who meet the eligibility requirements can apply for eligible programmes in participating Sub-Saharan African countries. However, the availability of a Nigerian host university must be checked separately.

3. Can fresh graduates apply?

Yes. Fresh graduates with a recognised Bachelor’s degree can apply if they meet the academic and other requirements of their chosen programme.

4. Can I study in Germany with this scholarship?

The main programme supports studies at selected universities in Sub-Saharan Africa, not a full degree in Germany. However, eligible research-based Master’s scholarship holders may apply for an additional short-term research stay in Germany, subject to funding and approval.

5. Do I need IELTS to apply?

The general programme requires applicants to have sufficient knowledge of the language of instruction. Whether IELTS or another language certificate is required depends on the participating university and its admission rules.

6. What is the deadline for the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship 2027?

The currently listed application deadline is 12 November 2026. Applicants should check the official call for their selected programme to confirm all deadlines.

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