Applications are currently being accepted for the 2026 DAAD In-Country/In-Region Masters and PhD Scholarship Program. This initiative seeks to strengthen higher education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa by fostering institutions with an international perspective that can contribute to sustainable development. Scholarships are available for individuals pursuing development-focused Master’s or doctoral programs, particularly for those who intend to build careers in teaching or research at universities within Sub-Saharan Africa.

Eligible applicants include graduates and postgraduates from Sub-Saharan Africa. Those applying for a Master’s program should hold a first academic degree, while those pursuing a PhD should already have a Master’s degree. Candidates may undertake studies in their home country or a country where they hold a residence permit (referred to as In-Country scholarships) or in another Sub-Saharan African nation where they do not have permanent residence (referred to as In-Region scholarships). The program strongly encourages applications from women and from individuals belonging to underrepresented or disadvantaged regions and communities.

The scholarship covers development-related Master’s and doctoral programs, providing financial support for the standard duration of the course, which is generally up to two years for Master’s studies and up to three years for doctoral programs. Recipients typically receive a monthly stipend, support for study and research, assistance with thesis publication costs, and coverage of tuition fees. In addition, those holding In-Region scholarships are entitled to travel allowances and health insurance.

Opportunities are available across various countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. In West and Central Africa, Cameroon’s University of Dschang offers PhD programs in Parasitology and Pharmacology. In Ghana, the University of Ghana hosts the West African Center for Crop Improvement for a Master’s in Seed Science and Technology, and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens for a Master’s in Molecular Cell Biology of Infectious Diseases. Nigeria’s Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University Makurdi provides a Master’s and PhD in Food Chemistry.

In Eastern Africa, Kenya offers multiple options: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology provides Master’s programs in Energy Technology and Soil and Water Engineering and a PhD in Soil and Water Engineering. Moi University offers a PhD in Biostatistics, while its East and South African-German Centre of Excellence for Educational Research Methodologies and Management provides a Master’s in Education in Research. Dedan Kimathi University of Technology offers a Master’s in Food Science and Technology. Through the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research, students can pursue a Master’s in Research and Public Policy at universities including Egerton, Maseno, Mzumbe, Lagos, and Ibadan. Pwani University offers a Master’s in Bioinformatics. In Tanzania, Ardhi University provides a Master’s in Geomatics, and the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology offers a Master’s in Embedded and Mobile Systems. Uganda’s Busitema University offers a Master’s in Public Health, while Mbarara University of Science and Technology provides Master’s programs in Biology with specializations in Natural Resources Ecology, Management and Conservation, as well as Microbiology and Parasitology.

In Southern Africa, Botswana International University of Science and Technology offers a Master’s in Physics by research, and Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences provides a Master’s in Environmental Health. These scholarships aim to equip scholars with the knowledge and skills necessary to strengthen higher education and promote sustainable development throughout the region.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached below to apply for this opportunity