Applications are open for reputable KAAD Scholarships offered to students from developing countries to study in Germany. These scholarships are available to students who want to pursue a master’s degree, Ph.D., or postdoctoral research project (2-6 months for established university lecturers) at a German university.

KAAD offers three types of scholarships, including Scholarship Program 1, Scholarship Program 2, and Eastern Europe Program, as follows:

Scholarship Program 1:

• Invitation Program: The invitation program is a part of KAAD’s Scholarship Program 1 in cooperation with the focus countries. Its primary aim is at postgraduates and persons with proven professional experience. Usually, applicants receive an invitation to Germany for postgraduate studies or research stays.
• In-country Program: This program is for Master’s studies in the home country, covering fifteen locations in eight countries: Ethiopia, Guatemala, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Peru, and Zimbabwe.
• Third-country Program: The third-country program is also part of KAAD’s Scholarship Program 1 for Master’s studies in a selected third country. The chosen countries may include Bangkok or Thailand for students from Myanmar. Students from other continents can also apply for this program at selected third-country locations. In particular, this applies to refugees from Syria studying in Lebanon and Jordan.

Scholarship Program 2

Scholarship Program 2 of KAAD is available for students from the Global South countries already studying for their Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Germany. The Catholic University Chaplaincies is the only organization that proposes suitable applicants.

Eastern Europe Program

In cooperation with the partner committees, the Eastern Europe Program supports Ph.D. and Master’s programs. Also, this program supports short studies and research stays in Germany.

Catholic Academic Exchange Service (KAAD) supports its scholars through  educational programs. It offers spiritual and personal assistance to help its scholars build their capacity to work for the development of their own countries in the future. KAAD Scholarship is awarded primarily to students in financial need.

Important information

Application Deadline: Not specified

Location: Germany

Level of Study: Masters, Ph.D., and Postdoctoral Research

Field of Study: Various Fields

Funding Organization: Catholic Academic Exchange Service (KAAD)

Benefits of the KAAD Scholarship

The KAAD will provide varying award amounts based on the programs available.

Eligibilities and Criteria

The following are the eligibility criteria for the KAAD Scholarships:

Who is Eligible for Program 1 of the KAAD Scholarship?

Applicants who wish to apply for the KAAD Scholarship Program 1 should meet the following criteria:

• Be citizens of a developing or emerging country in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, or Latin America and are currently living there;
• Hold a university degree and possess professional experience in their home country;
• Wish to earn a master’s or doctoral degree from a German university or undertake a post-PhD research project at a German university;
• Are a Catholic Christian (belongs to a Christian belief); candidates from other religions can also apply if they are recommended by their Christian partners in view of a documentable willingness to engage in interreligious dialogue.
• Prove German language skills before starting the studies (KAAD can offer a language course of six months in Germany).

Eligibility Criteria for Program 2 of the KAAD Scholarship

Applicants who meet the following criteria can apply for the KAAD Scholarship Program 2:

• Applicant must be from an emerging or developing country in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, or Latin America;
• willing to study in Germany and must not remain from their studies for more than ten months;
• Should pursue a Master’s degree, a Diploma, or a Magister degree. or a Ph.D. at a German higher  education institution;
• Prove communication level of the German language (Level B1or at least A2 in the case of English-language degree programs);
• Belong to a Catholic or a Christian denomination, which applies particularly to students from the Near and Middle East.

Note: Applicants from religions other than the ones mentioned above can also apply for this opportunity. However, the Catholic partners should propose them by reviewing a documentable willingness to engage in interreligious dialogue.

Eastern Europe Program Eligibility Criteria

Those who wish to apply for the Eastern Europe Program should meet the following criteria:

• Be a master’s degree applicant holding a Bachelor’s degree at a German university (max. 24 months). Applications for fee-based Master’s degree programs can also apply in exceptionally justified cases;
• Applicants working towards a Ph.D. degree in Germany for a maximum of 36 months;
• Be a doctorate or habilitation academics in their home country and are planning a research stay in Germany for up to 12 months;
• Candidates planning a research stay or wish to deepen their scientific knowledge in Germany after their examination completion in their home country;
• Those who are planning a non-consecutive postgraduate or supplementary course of study;
• University teachers applying for a research stay of up to 6 months in Germany;
• Students in Master’s programs in their home country and planning a study visit of up to 6 months to collect material at a university in Germany;
• Prove communication level of the German language (Level B1or at least A2 in the case of English-language degree programs)

Note: Scholarships are available for all disciplines but for theological courses.

What are the KAAD Scholarship Expectations?

Applicants should fulfill the following:

• Above-average performance potential for studies or research
• Oriented towards permanent reintegration into the home region for scholarship (otherwise considered a loan)
• Religious and social commitment or willingness to engage in inter-religious dialogue
• German language skills: at least B1 level (A2 for English-language programs)
• Preparatory German courses in the home country are expected
• Opportunity to apply for full-time or during-studies language courses

Note: The host institutions offering this program work with focus and partner countries in their regions. Partner Committees of KAAD located in eligible countries will process applications. Applicants from other countries can be considered only in exceptional conditions. Visit the web page for region-specific eligibility requirements and application procedures: Africa (sub-Sahara), Asia, Latin America, Near and Middle East (including northern Africa).

Application Guidelines for KAAD Scholarships

The first step to applying for KAAD Scholarship Program 1 is that the applicant must fill out the online application questionnaire and submit it to the KAAD offices.

Application Form for KAADs Scholarship Program 1

To apply for KAAD Scholarship Program 2, applicants should remember that the selection committee meets twice a year. Applicants can find out the exact application deadlines from their KHG/KSG. Interested applicants can contact the responsible KHG/KSG at their university:

Apply for KAAD Scholarship Program 2

The application procedure for the KAAD Eastern Europe Program has two steps. First, applicants fill out the online application form. Next, suppose they are eligible for the second stage of the application process. In that case, applicants will receive the necessary application documents and work until 15 January (March scholarship award) and 30 June (September scholarship award) each year.

Apply for the KAAD Eastern Europe Program