DAAD-NRF Joint Scholarship Programme 2026

The programme aims at fostering strong, internationally oriented higher education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa with the capacity to contribute to sustainable development. To this end, scholarships are granted for development-related Master or doctoral studies for individuals who plan to pursue a career in teaching and / or research at a higher education institution in Sub-Saharan Africa.

• Table of Content
• About DAAD Helmut-Schmidt
• DAAD NRF Joint Scholarship Programme
• Aim and Benefits of DAAD NRF Joint Scholarship Programme
• Requirements for DAAD NRF Joint Scholarship Programme Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for DAAD NRF Joint Scholarship Programme
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About DAAD Helmut-Schmidt

The Helmut-Schmidt-Programme is named in honor of the former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt and is a cooperation of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and eight German universities. The next Helmut-Schmidt-Programme starts in September 2020.

DAAD NRF Joint Scholarship Programme

Aim and Benefits of DAAD NRF Joint Scholarship Programme

Generally:

• Monthly scholarship
• Study and research allowance
• Thesis publishing costs
• Tuition fees

Only applicable for In-Region scholarship holders:

• Travel allowance
• Health insurance

Requirements for DAAD NRF Joint Scholarship Programme Qualification

• Graduates and postgraduates from Sub-Saharan Africa with a first academic degree if applying for a Master’s programme, or with a Master’s degree if applying for a doctoral programme who want to pursue Master’s or PhD courses in their home country or in the country for which they have a residence permit (so called In-Country scholarships) or in another Sub-Saharan African country, outside their home country/in the country for which they do not have a residence permit (so called In-Region scholarships).
• Female applicants and candidates from less privileged regions or groups are especially encouraged to participate in the programme.

Supported program

• Master and PhD studies in selected, development-related degree programmes

Interview date, Process and Venue for DAAD NRF Joint Scholarship Programme

West and Central Africa

Cameroon

• University of Dschang
  Subject fields:
  PhD: Parasitology
  PhD: Pharmacology

Ghana

• West African Center for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana
  Subject field:
  Master: Seed Science and Technology
• West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana
  Subject field:
  Master: Molecular Cell Biology of Infectious Diseases

Nigeria

• Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University Makurdi (formerly Benue State University Makurdi)
  Subject fields:
  Master: Food Chemistry
  PhD: Food Chemistry

Eastern Africa

Kenya

• Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)
  Subject fields:
  Master: Energy Technology
  Master: Soil and Water Engineering
  PhD: Soil and Water Engineering
• Moi University
  Subject field:
  PhD: Biostatistics
• East and South African-German Centre of Excellence for Educational Research Methodologies and Management (CERM-ESA) – Moi University
  Subject field:
  Master: Education in Research
• Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT)
  Subject field:
  Master: Food Science and Technology
• Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR)*
  Subject field:
  Master: Research and Public Policy (MRPP)
  *at the following universities: Egerton University, University of Lagos, Maseno University, Mzumbe University, University of Ibadan
• Pwani University
  Subject field:
  Master: Bioinformatics

Tanzania

• Ardhi University
  Subject field:
  Master: Geomatics
• Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST)
  Subject field:
  Master: Embedded and Mobile Systems

Uganda

• Busitema University
  Subject field:
  Master: Public Health
• Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)
  Subject fields:
  Master: Biology (Natural Resources Ecology, Management and Conservation)
  Master: Biology (Microbiology and Parasitology) (MAP)

Southern Africa

Botswana

• Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST)
  Subject field:
  Master: Physics (by research)

Malawi

• Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS)
  Subject field:
  Master: Environmental Health

Check also:
Tony Elumelu Foundation African Entrepreneurship Programme 2026

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, visit DAAD Scholarship Programme webpage