Closing Date: 7 November 2026
UKUDLA Master’s Scholarship 2027 for African Students
African graduates interested in data science, agriculture, food security and sustainable development can apply for the UKUDLA Master’s Scholarship 2027 for African Candidates, Cohort 3. The scholarship supports full-time master’s studies at two South African universities, helping talented graduates develop advanced research skills to address challenges affecting agricultural productivity, food systems and environmental sustainability.
The African German Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems and Applied Agricultural and Food Data Science (UKUDLA) is inviting applications for its latest fully funded master’s scholarship cohort. Funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), with support from Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, the programme aims to develop African researchers and professionals who can apply modern data-science methods to agricultural and food-security challenges.
UKUDLA Master’s Scholarship 2027: Overview
- Scholarship: UKUDLA Master’s Scholarship, Cohort 3
- Study level: Master’s degree
- Host country: South Africa
- Host universities: University of Mpumalanga and University of the Western Cape
- Eligible applicants: Qualified African candidates who meet the residency, academic and programme requirements
- Funding: Monthly stipend, tuition contribution, and possible accommodation and medical-aid support
- Study duration: Up to 24 months
- Application deadline: 7 November 2026
- Expected commencement: February 2027
What Does the UKUDLA Master’s Scholarship Cover?
The scholarship provides financial assistance for the standard duration of the master’s programme, up to a maximum of two years.
Successful applicants may receive the following benefits:
- Monthly stipend: €650 per month to support living expenses.
- Accommodation subsidy: An additional €30 per month may be provided if university accommodation or a place in a student residence is not available.
- Tuition fees: Coverage of tuition fees up to €3,000 per year through the scholarship.
- Medical aid contribution: Support of up to €20 per month may be included, subject to the required medical-aid contract and proof of payment.
- Research and academic development: Access to UKUDLA Graduate Centre educational modules, short courses, workshops and summer schools, with opportunities to participate in these activities.
The scholarship is subject to the programme’s funding conditions and the successful candidate’s registration at the selected university. Applicants should review the official call for full details of the financial arrangements.
Which Universities Can You Attend?
Successful candidates will undertake full-time master’s studies at one of the following UKUDLA partner universities in South Africa:
University of Mpumalanga (UMP)
The university is a participating institution in the UKUDLA consortium and offers an academic environment for postgraduate study and research.
Website: https://www.ump.ac.za/
University of the Western Cape (UWC)
UWC is another participating institution where successful applicants can undertake their master’s studies.
Website: https://www.uwc.ac.za/
Scholarship recipients must live in the city or town where their registered university is located for the duration of their studies.
Eligible Fields of Study and Research
UKUDLA focuses on the intersection of sustainable food systems and applied data science. Applicants with relevant academic backgrounds and an interest in quantitative research are encouraged to apply.
Relevant fields include:
- Data science and computer science
- Bioinformatics and computational biology
- Statistics and mathematics
- Agricultural sciences
- Farming systems and animal sciences
- Water-Energy-Food nexus research
- Agricultural economics and policy
- Other relevant quantitative disciplines
Potential research projects may involve climate and environmental data, agricultural productivity, food security, machine learning, predictive modelling, genomic data, geospatial analysis and the use of large datasets to understand food systems.
Applicants should demonstrate how their proposed research relates to UKUDLA’s focus areas.
Who Is Eligible for the UKUDLA Master’s Scholarship?
To qualify, applicants must meet the academic, residency and research requirements outlined in the official call.
Applicants should:
- Hold a completed four-year university degree equivalent to an honours-level qualification, or be close to completing a qualifying degree.
- Have achieved an overall average of at least 68% or an equivalent upper-second-class result.
- Have completed their most recent university degree in 2019 or later.
- Be a national or permanent resident of the African country where the chosen host university is located, or hold a valid study visa for that country.
- Be willing to undertake the master’s degree on a full-time basis.
- Demonstrate basic knowledge of statistics, quantitative data analysis and machine learning.
- Have basic programming skills, preferably in Python or R, and an interest in working with large datasets and reproducible research.
- Meet the English-language requirement through IELTS Band 6, TOEFL 79/80 points, or evidence that English has been the language of instruction since at least secondary school.
- Provide a letter of support from a potential master’s supervisor and two academic references, including one from the potential supervisor.
Applicants must also demonstrate motivation, research potential and a commitment to applying their skills to agricultural, biological or food-security challenges.
The scholarship will commence on 1 February 2027. Successful applicants must secure admission to their selected master’s programme and satisfy any additional university-specific admission requirements before the award takes effect.
Required Application Documents
Applicants should prepare the following documents:
- A completed online application form.
- A completed and signed master’s research project proposal.
- A copy of a national identity document or passport.
- Two recent academic recommendation letters from different university teachers.
- Certified copies of university degree certificates and academic transcripts.
- Proof of English-language proficiency, where applicable.
- A letter of admission from the host university, which may be submitted later if it is not available at the time of application.
- The required motivational statements.
The application form requires four motivational statements of approximately 250 words each, covering your research interests, the scholarship’s expected impact on your career, the anticipated impact on your community or environment, and your academic and career journey.
How to Apply for the UKUDLA Master’s Scholarship
Follow these steps to submit your application:
Step 1: Read the official UKUDLA scholarship announcement carefully.
Step 2: Identify a suitable master’s programme at the University of Mpumalanga or the University of the Western Cape. Check the university’s admission requirements separately.
Step 3: Develop a research proposal aligned with sustainable food systems and applied data science. Arrange support from a potential supervisor.
Step 4: Gather your academic transcripts, certificates, identification document, recommendation letters and English-language evidence.
Step 5: Complete the online UKUDLA Master’s Scholarship application form and upload the required supporting documents.
Step 6: Submit your application before the deadline and monitor your email for further communication.
Applications will undergo an administrative eligibility check, followed by review of qualifying research proposals by the selection committee. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview.
What Is the Application Deadline?
The deadline for the UKUDLA Master’s Scholarship 2027 for African Candidates, Cohort 3, is 7 November 2026. Successful candidates are expected to be informed before 30 November 2026 and commence their studies in February 2027.
Because the deadline is approaching, eligible candidates should begin preparing their applications and contacting potential supervisors as soon as possible.
This scholarship is an opportunity for eligible African graduates to pursue a fully funded postgraduate study in South Africa while developing research skills in data science, agriculture and sustainable food systems.
