Closing Date: 12 November 2026
DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarships 2027: Fully Funded Master’s Opportunities in Africa
The DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme 2027 offers postgraduate scholarship opportunities for students from Sub-Saharan Africa who want to pursue selected Master’s or PhD programmes within Africa.
Funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the programme aims to strengthen higher education and develop professionals who can contribute to sustainable development across Africa.
For the 2027 intake, DAAD is offering scholarships for selected Master’s programmes at participating universities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Some of the current calls have application deadlines in November 2026.
What Is the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Programme?
The DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme is designed to help graduates from developing countries pursue postgraduate education without necessarily having to leave their home region.
In-Country scholarships support students studying in their home country, while In-Region scholarships allow students to study at a participating university in another Sub-Saharan African country.
The programme focuses on development-related and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)-oriented fields. It is particularly interested in developing future professionals, researchers, university lecturers and decision-makers who can contribute to addressing development challenges in Africa.
What Does the DAAD Scholarship Cover?
The exact benefits can vary depending on the host institution and individual scholarship call. However, the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarships generally provide:
- Tuition fees
- Monthly scholarship payments
- Study and research allowances
- Funding toward thesis printing
- Travel allowance for In-Region scholarship holders
- Health insurance support, usually for In-Region scholarship holders
- In some programmes, opportunities for short research stays abroad
DAAD advises applicants to check the specific call for their chosen programme because funding arrangements can differ between participating institutions.
Who Can Apply?
The DAAD In-Country/In-Region Programme Sub-Saharan Africa 2027 generally targets graduates from Sub-Saharan Africa who already hold a first academic degree and wish to pursue an eligible postgraduate programme.
Applicants must meet the academic and programme-specific requirements established by the participating university. Requirements can include:
- A relevant Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification
- Strong academic performance
- A clear motivation for postgraduate study
- Appropriate language proficiency
- Meeting the admission requirements of the selected university and degree programme
- Being a national or, depending on the call, a permanent resident of an eligible Sub-Saharan African country
DAAD particularly encourages applications from women, refugees and candidates from disadvantaged or underprivileged regions and groups.
Applicants should also pay close attention to the age or graduation-year requirements in individual calls, as these can differ between programmes.
Which Countries and Universities Are Participating?
The DAAD In-Country/In-Region Programme Sub-Saharan Africa 2027 covers universities across Sub-Saharan Africa rather than offering admission to every African university.
For the current 2027 calls, DAAD has announced selected opportunities at institutions in countries including Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Available fields include areas related to agricultural economics, climate change and disaster management, environmental health, infectious diseases, water and environmental engineering, among others.
Additional programmes and calls may become available through the DAAD Scholarship Database.
For example, Moi University in Kenya has announced DAAD-funded Master’s scholarships for its Master of Education in Research programme, with applications closing on 12 November 2026. The call includes both In-Country and In-Region scholarships.
How to Apply for the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship
Applicants should first identify an eligible programme in the DAAD Scholarship Database and carefully read its individual call for applications.
Depending on the programme, applicants may need to complete both a DAAD scholarship application and a separate university admission application.
Typical documents may include:
- Academic certificates and transcripts
- Curriculum vitae
- Motivation letter
- Proof of language proficiency where required
- Academic or professional references
- Research proposal, where applicable
- Proof of admission or application to the participating university
Because application procedures and deadlines differ between host institutions, applicants should not rely on a single general deadline.
Why This Scholarship Is Worth Considering
The DAAD In-Country/In-Region programme is particularly attractive for African students who want an internationally supported postgraduate education within Africa.
Instead of moving to Europe or another continent, successful applicants can develop advanced expertise at participating African universities while building regional networks and gaining knowledge that can be applied to development challenges in their own countries.
The programme is especially relevant to applicants interested in sustainable development, climate change, environmental management, energy, agriculture, health, education, science and technology and other development-focused fields.
If you are a graduate from Sub-Saharan Africa planning to pursue a Master’s degree in 2027, the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme is an opportunity worth checking early. New calls can have different deadlines, eligibility requirements and application procedures, so applicants should carefully review the specific programme they intend to apply for.
