Finding Scholarships

Welcome to our scholarship database!
Here you will find information about our DAAD scholarship programmes for international students and researchers as well as offers from other selected funding organisations.

Please also take note of our important scholarship information.
Please note:
The usage of the application portal is possible only to a limited extent with mobile devices. Please use your desktop computer. Technical requirements

Eine Druckversion dieser Ausschreibung (PDF) steht Ihnen in den weiteren Registerkarten (z.B. „Bewerbungsvoraussetzungen“) zur Verfügung.

A print version of this announcement (PDF) is available in the further tabs (e.g. “Application requirements”).

Objective

The general aim of the programme is to train young academics and scientists through funding of PhD degree studies in Germany.

Who can apply?

Excellently qualified academic staff of higher learning institutions and of public Kenyan research institutions in the STEM subjects (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) and Agriculture.

What can be funded?

PhD studies:

  • individual projects under the supervision of a university teacher or academic advisor
OR
  • participation in a structured doctoral study programme

Duration of the funding

Generally, up to 45 months.
Grants are initially awarded for a maximum of one year. Extensions depend on whether the selection committee considers the previous award period to have been successfully completed.

Value

  • 4 to 6 months preparatory German language course (fulltime)
  • Co-financed monthly scholarship instalment
  • Reimbursement of travel costs through an adequate travel lump sum that is disbursed after arrival in Germany, during the funding period respectively
  • Study and research allowance
  • Accident, health and personal liability insurance cover
  • Further individual allowances upon application

Selection

Selection is done by a bi-national committee through personal interviews of the candidates in Nairobi, Kenya. Selection criteria are, amongst others, general academic performance as well as a convincing and detailed proposal, discussed and agreed with the German supervisor, a convincing motivation for the chosen degree course respectively.

Further information

Please note that the scholarship awards are subject to sufficient funds.

What requirements must be met?

The last qualifying degree should have been obtained not more than six years ago. Candidates should have passed their Bachelor studies with at least “second class upper division”, their Master’s studies with at least B+ (or equivalent).

Language skills

English

Application deadline

Application deadlines are updated at least once a year. In most cases, they are in the same period as the previous year. You can find the current dates here:

31 October 2022
Selection date in January 2023 for funding starting from October 2023

Application documents

1.To be submitted to the DAAD Portal:

  • Curriculum Vitae (use the Europass specimen form at http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu)
  • List of publications, if any
  • Description of academic and personal reasons for your planned project in Germany (letter of motivation: 1-2 pages), taking account of the following question: What do you hope to gain from your project in Germany (personally, professionally, for your career)?
  • Ph.D. proposal (maximum 10 pages)
  • Abstract of the proposal on one page (please include name and title of the proposal)
  • Detailed work plan including time schedule covering the whole period of the scholarship
  • Confirmation from a German Professor stating that he/she will supervise the applicant for his/ her Ph.D. thesis (in English)
  • OR Admission/Eligibility letter from structured PhD Programme
  • Master’s certificate
  • Transcripts for each Year
  • Bachelor’s certificate
  • Transcripts for each Year
  • A/O-level certificate
  • Confirmation of funding for research during field studies

2. To be sent to the DAAD office in Nairobi:
  • 2 original references of academic referees (in English; on recommendation forms, available on the online portal)

To be sent via email to the DAAD in Nairobi (bengelstorff@daad.de):
  • Ph.D. proposal as word file

Application location

DAAD Regional Office for Africa

Postal Address:
P.O Box 14050-00800
Nairobi, Kenya

Physical Address:
Upper Hill Close, 3rd floor, Madison Insurance House,
Upper Hill, Community Area,
Nairobi, Kenya

Please note

  • Your application is only valid if you submit all the required documents to the DAAD portal on time.
  • For submitting references by post, the postmark date serves as proof that they have been dispatched on time.
  • The DAAD portal closes at 24.00 hrs. (CET or CEST) on the last application day.
  • Incomplete applications cannot be considered. You are responsible for ensuring that your applications are complete.
  • The application documents remain with the DAAD. Your personal data is saved by the DAAD in accordance with the Federal Data Protection Act and with the EU Data Protection Regulation insofar as this data is needed to process the application.

Information and advisory centres

DAAD Regional Office for Africa

Postal Address:
P.O Box 14050-00800
Nairobi, Kenya

Physical Address:
Upper Hill Close, 3rd floor, Madison Insurance House,
Upper Hill, Community Area,
Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: +254 20 27 29 741; 771 444 111, 733 929 929, 780 001 363
E-Mail: info.nairobi@daad.de
Website: www.nairobi.or.ke
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DAADNairobi

More detailed information

General information on the application via DAAD portal

You can access the DAAD portal by clicking "Application portal" at the end of the page. Here you will find an online application form in which you can enter your application data.

This is what you have to do:

1. Register in the DAAD portal (Read notes about registering in the portal >>)

2. Request references
The form, which has to be completed by a referee, has to be generated in the DAAD portal in the section "Request reference" after registration and downloaded. Please send the form by e-mail to your referee and ask for the completed reference form to be returned to you in a sealed envelope. In each case, please provide your referee with the application address thus enabling him/her to send the recommendation letter there direct.

Please note that the form for completion by a referee can only be generated during the application period (from about 6 weeks before the application deadline).
Please generate one form for each referee.
The reference is confidential and may not be viewed by you!

3. Applying online in the DAAD portal (Read notes on applying in the portal >>)

  • Download and complete the online application form
  • Prepare application documents
  • If necessary, translate documents (unless they are already in German or English).
  • Scan paper documents (except references) and save in PDF format. Please note that you can only upload PDF files to the portal.
  • Upload the completed application form and the other application documents to the portal in PDF format. Translations, if applicable, should be uploaded together with the document issued in the original language.
  • Submit the uploaded application documents online.

4. Sending application documents by post
References must be sent in the unopened envelope to the application location.

##PAPIEREXEMPLAR##

Information for applicants from non-EU countries:
Please remember to specify the exact contents of your postal consignment in the documents for the customs authorities, e.g. "Application for a scholarship with application documents, a reference and a DVD with work samples (no commercial goods, no merchandise value, no insurable value)".

Please note:
If you have any technical questions or problems your local information and advice centres could not help you with, please do not hesitate to contact our technical Portal hotline: +49 (0228) 882-8888 or via e-mail portal@daad.de, open every weekday from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm (CET/CEST).
Please consider this when you are planning your application.

Please also take note of our important scholarship information.