The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers the In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme to strengthen higher education and develop skilled professionals, researchers, and future university teachers in developing regions. Supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the programme provides funding for selected Master’s and doctoral programmes at participating universities.
Unlike scholarships that require students to travel to Germany, an In-Region Scholarship allows recipients to study at an eligible university in another country within their home region. The programme operates in Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South America, South and Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. However, not every region has an open call every year, and available study programmes and eligible nationalities depend on the individual announcement.
For the 2027 intake, DAAD has published calls for selected Master’s programmes at participating institutions, including universities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Applicants should consult the official DAAD programme page and the relevant scholarship announcement to identify available opportunities.
Degree Level
The DAAD In-Region Scholarship supports selected postgraduate programmes, primarily Master’s degrees and, in certain regional schemes, doctoral studies.
For many Master’s programmes under the Sub-Saharan Africa scheme, funding is provided for the regular duration of the degree, generally up to two years. The duration may differ for other programmes and regions.
Available Subjects
The scholarship supports development-related academic fields selected by participating universities. Available subjects vary by institution and regional announcement. They may include:
- Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences
- Environmental Sciences
- Natural Sciences
- Engineering and Technology
- Computer Science and Information Technology
- Health Sciences and Public Health
- Economics and Business
- Social Sciences
- Education and Development Studies
Only the programmes specifically listed in an active DAAD call are eligible for funding.
The DAAD In-Region Scholarship generally provides the following financial support:
- Tuition fees for the approved study programme.
- Monthly scholarship allowance to contribute towards living expenses.
- Study and research allowance.
- Printing allowance for the final thesis.
- Travel allowance for eligible In-Region scholarship recipients.
- Health insurance support, generally available to In-Region scholarship holders.
Additional benefits and the exact financial amounts depend on the programme, host institution and individual call. Applicants should check the official announcement for the specific university before assuming that all expenses will be covered.
Eligible Nationalities
The programme is designed for applicants from eligible developing countries in the regions covered by DAAD. These include:
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Central America
- South America
- South and Southeast Asia
- Middle East
The eligible countries are not identical across all regional calls. Applicants must check the nationality and country-of-residence requirements in the relevant announcement. Being from a developing country does not automatically make an applicant eligible for every In-Region Scholarship.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility requirements differ between participating universities and programmes. Generally, applicants should meet the following conditions:
- Hold the nationality or meet the country-of-origin requirements specified in the relevant regional call.
- Have a recognized Bachelor’s degree when applying for a Master’s programme.
- Meet the academic and admission requirements of the selected university.
- Apply for a full-time postgraduate programme approved under the DAAD scholarship scheme.
- Demonstrate a strong academic record and relevant educational background.
- Meet the language requirements of the chosen programme.
- Show an interest in contributing to the development of their home country or region after graduation.
- Meet any additional professional experience, research, or employment requirements specified in the individual call.
The programme particularly aims to develop qualified professionals and future university teachers. Female applicants and candidates from less privileged regions or groups are especially encouraged to apply.
English Language Requirements
Language requirements depend on the selected university and degree programme. Applicants may need to provide IELTS, TOEFL, or another accepted language certificate. Some programmes may have different language requirements or accept alternative proof of proficiency.
Always check the language requirements in the official call before submitting an application.
Required Documents
The required documents vary by programme and university. Applicants may generally be asked to prepare:
- Completed DAAD scholarship application form.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Academic degree certificates.
- Academic transcripts.
- Proof of English or other required language proficiency.
- Motivation letter or statement of purpose.
- Research proposal, where required.
- Recommendation letters.
- Proof of relevant professional experience, if applicable.
- Copy of passport or national identification document.
- Additional documents requested by the participating university.
Applicants should follow the document checklist in their specific call for applications.
How Winners Are Selected
The selection process depends on the regional programme and participating university. Applications are generally assessed according to academic qualifications, the relevance of the proposed degree programme, motivation, professional or research experience where required, and the applicant’s potential contribution to regional development.
The selection process may also include an interview or additional university admission assessment. The exact criteria and procedure are provided in the individual call.
Application Procedure
The application procedure is not the same for every region or participating university. Follow these general steps:
- Visit the official DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme webpage.
- Open the relevant regional scholarship announcement and review the participating universities and available degree programmes.
- Confirm that your nationality, academic background, and country of residence meet the eligibility requirements.
- Select an eligible Master’s or doctoral programme at a participating institution.
- Review the university’s admission requirements, language criteria and application instructions.
- Prepare the required academic documents and scholarship application materials.
- Submit your application using the application method specified in the individual call. Some programmes require applications through the host university, while others may use a separate process.
- Complete any additional admission or selection steps requested by the university.
- Monitor your email and the official university or DAAD communication channels for updates.
Submitting an application to a university does not automatically mean that you have applied for the DAAD scholarship. Follow the specific instructions in the relevant announcement.
Application Deadline
There is no single application deadline for the DAAD In-Region Scholarship 2027. Each participating university and regional programme sets its own deadline.
DAAD has announced 2027 scholarship opportunities for selected Master’s programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa, with scholarship start dates between January and July 2027. Applicants should check the individual calls for application deadlines, intake dates, and programme availability.
For other regions, applicants should monitor the DAAD scholarship database for new announcements.
