The DAAD In-Region Scholarship 2027 funds Master’s study in 13 development-related programs across eight Sub-Saharan African countries. You must be a national or resident of the region, hold a good Bachelor’s degree, and submit through the DAAD portal by November 12, 2026, at midnight Central European Time. Applicants from outside the region cannot use it.
November 12, 2026, 24:00 Central European Time (CET), in the DAAD portal. Your host university may close its own admission window on a different date.
- It is a Master’s scheme for people already living in, or from, Sub-Saharan Africa. Nationals of other regions are out.
- You apply twice: once via the BNRB portal, and once to the host university on its own terms.
- The WACCI call, the one we read in full, sets a hard floor: Second Class Upper Division or equivalent.
- Third-party posts quoting April 29, 2026 describe the previous round, not this one.
- What the DAAD In-Region Scholarship 2027 Actually Is
- In-Country Versus In-Region
- Quick Facts
- Numbers at a Glance
- Who Can Apply by Nationality and Residence
- If You Live Outside Sub-Saharan Africa
- Eligibility Rules That Remove Applicants
- Who the Call Prioritizes
- Open Programs and Host Universities
- Calls Not Yet Open
- What the Scholarship Pays
- A 24-Month Cash Estimate
- What You Still Pay Yourself
- Payments and Work Rules
- Deadline and Key Dates
- The Deadline in Your Time Zone
- Documents to Upload
- How to Apply Step by Step
- Two Applications, Two Deadlines
- How Selection Works
- Your Realistic Chances
- After the Award
- Mistakes That Sink Applications
- Official Sources and Verification Note
- FAQ
- Disclaimer
What the DAAD In-Region Scholarship 2027 Actually Is
The DAAD In-Region Scholarship 2027 is the In-Country/In-Region Programme Sub-Saharan Africa, run by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and supported by Germany’s development ministry, BMZ. It funds Master’s studies inside Africa, not in Germany, and it exists to train future teachers and researchers for African universities.
That purpose explains most of the rules you will meet later. DAAD describes the target as people who plan a career in higher education teaching or research in the region, and it ties every award to a named degree at a named host.
“plan to pursue a career in teaching and / or research”
DAAD scholarship database, programme objective
In-Country Versus In-Region
In-Country awards go to people who study in their home country or in the country where they hold a residence permit. In-Region awards go to people who move to a different Sub-Saharan African country. The label changes your money: In-Region pays a higher monthly rate and adds travel and health insurance, as the benefits table below shows.
Here is the part most applicants miss. In the WACCI call, In-Region places (eight) outnumber In-Country places (three). A Ghanaian applying to stay home competes for a smaller pool than a Nigerian applying to move. That split is specific to that call, and DAAD publishes no acceptance rates, so treat it as a planning clue, not a forecast.
Quick Facts
This table covers the 2027 intake as listed by DAAD on November 4, 2026. Amounts in the benefits section come from the WACCI call, which we read in full.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Program | DAAD In-Country/In-Region Programme Sub-Saharan Africa, 2027 intake |
| Level | Master’s degrees at selected host universities |
| Funding | Tuition, monthly stipend, study and research allowance, thesis costs; travel and insurance for In-Region only. DAAD does not call it fully funded. |
| Duration | Regular length of the degree, generally up to two years |
| Deadline | November 12, 2026, 24:00 CET (DAAD portal) |
| Status | Open for 13 programs; three more calls due in spring 2027 |
| Eligible region | Sub-Saharan Africa (49 countries in the portal drop-down) |
| Source | DAAD scholarship database entry |
Numbers at a Glance
13
Master’s programs with open calls at 11 institutions
8
Hosts in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda
400 / 500 EUR
Monthly, In-Country and In-Region (WACCI call)
6 years
Maximum age of your last degree when you apply
3 applications
DAAD considers at most three programs per applicant
300 to 1,000 words
Required length of the motivation letter
Who Can Apply by Nationality and Residence
You can apply if you are a graduate from a Sub-Saharan African country and want to study at home, in a country where you hold residence, or in another country of the region. Nationals of other regions are not eligible, according to the calls we read. Edge cases are below.
| Your situation | What the sources say | Your move |
|---|---|---|
| National or permanent resident of a Sub-Saharan country | Eligible. In-Country if you study there, In-Region if you move. | Pick a program and read its call. |
| Foreign national with a residence permit in the region | The portal defines “country” as where you live and apply from; the WACCI call names nationals or permanent residents. | Ask DAAD and the host in writing before you spend time on documents. |
| African national living outside the region | Same portal definition: the country field is where you live. | Contact DAAD first; do not assume you qualify. |
| Recognized refugee in the region | Especially encouraged. Upload a valid refugee ID or UNHCR registration document. | Attach it under “Others” in the portal. |
| South African applicant | An earlier DAAD call for Pretoria sent South African in-country students to the separate NRF/DAAD program. Cape Town and Pretoria return in spring 2027. | Watch for the spring calls. |
| Pakistan, United States, India or any non-African nationality, living outside the region | Not eligible. | Use a Germany-based DAAD program instead. |
If You Live Outside Sub-Saharan Africa
For Pakistani applicants: this scheme is not for you. The call asks for nationals or permanent residents of a Sub-Saharan country, so a Pakistani passport does not qualify, even with strong grades. Save the hours for programs you can actually win, and track them in our scholarship deadline tracker.
For U.S. applicants: the same rule applies. U.S. citizenship, FAFSA records, and U.S. fee status play no role here, because the money is meant to keep African graduates studying in Africa.
Eligibility Rules That Remove Applicants
Four rules end most applications before anyone reads the motivation letter: the grade floor, the six-year window, the final-certificate rule, and the one-Master’s-per-person limit. The table lists them as the WACCI call words them. Other hosts add their own admission conditions.
| Rule | Requirement | Where it bites |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | Three- or four-year Bachelor’s or equivalent, with a final certificate | Provisional certificates are refused; a statement from your institution is accepted only if issuance is blocked beyond your control |
| Grade | At least Second Class Upper Division or equivalent | The call says candidates below that are not eligible |
| Recency | Last degree finished no more than six years before applying | Late career changers |
| Nationality | National or permanent resident of a Sub-Saharan country | See the table above |
| Prior DAAD funding | No further Master’s funding if you already had a DAAD Master’s scholarship | Repeat applicants |
| Language | Thorough knowledge of the language of instruction | Host sets proof; no test score appears in the call |
Who the Call Prioritizes
The call lists five groups: staff of public universities, candidates being considered for teaching or research posts, public-sector employees, alumni of the DAFI refugee program, and then fresh graduates, professionals, and everyone else. Women, recognized refugees, and candidates from marginalized regions or groups are especially encouraged.
Fresh graduates sit in the last line of that list. You are welcome, but you are not the core audience. If you work at a public university, say so in the letter and attach proof of employment under the optional documents.
Open Programs and Host Universities
Thirteen Master’s programs at 11 institutions in eight countries have open calls as of November 4, 2026. You apply to a specific degree at a specific host, so your field decides your options before your nationality does. Each program name opens its call PDF on DAAD’s servers.
| Country | Host | Program (opens call PDF) |
|---|---|---|
| Burkina Faso | 2iE | MSc Water and Environmental Engineering |
| Ghana | University of Ghana (WACCI) | MPhil Seed Science and Technology |
| Ghana | University of Ghana (WACCBIP) | MPhil Molecular Cell Biology of Infectious Diseases |
| Ghana | University for Development Studies | MPhil Agricultural Economics |
| Ethiopia | Jimma University | Master in Environmental Health |
| Kenya | Chuka University | MSc Plant Breeding |
| Kenya | Moi University | Master of Education in Research |
| Rwanda | University of Rwanda | MSc Electrical Power Systems |
| Tanzania | Ardhi University | MSc Geomatics |
| Uganda | Busitema University | MSc Climate Change and Disaster Management |
| Malawi | MUBAS | MSc Environmental Health |
| Malawi | LUANAR | MSc Aquaculture and Fisheries Science |
| Malawi | LUANAR | MSc Irrigation Engineering |
Calls Not Yet Open
DAAD says three further calls will appear in spring 2027: MSc Physics at FUNAAB in Nigeria, MPhil Urban Studies (Southern Urbanism) at the University of Cape Town, and MSc Mathematics at the University of Pretoria. If you see posts quoting April 29, 2026, that date belongs to the previous round for those hosts.
What the Scholarship Pays
Under the WACCI call, the scholarship pays tuition directly to the university, a monthly stipend, an annual study and research allowance, and a one-time thesis publishing grant. In-Region holders also get a travel allowance and health insurance. Other hosts publish their own tables, so confirm every figure in your call.
| Benefit | Who gets it | Amount (WACCI call) | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition fees | All | Set in the Letter of Award; sent to the host | Annually |
| Monthly scholarship | All | 400 EUR In-Country; 500 EUR In-Region | Monthly |
| Study and research allowance | All | 460 EUR | Annually |
| Thesis publishing costs | All | 400 EUR | Once, near the end |
| Travel allowance | In-Region only | Flat rate set in the Letter of Award | With the first monthly payment |
| Health insurance | In-Region only | Details in the Letter of Award | Annually |
Research-based programs also allow an application for a 3- to 6-month research stay in Germany, subject to available funds. You must flag it in your first application, and it has to fit inside the regular study period.
A 24-Month Cash Estimate
Here is an illustration, not a promise. We assume a 24-month program at WACCI rates, the allowance paid twice, and the thesis grant paid once. Tuition, travel, and insurance are excluded because their amounts sit in the Letter of Award.
| Item | In-Country (EUR) | In-Region (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly stipend, 24 months | 9,600 | 12,000 |
| Study and research allowance, 2 years | 920 | 920 |
| Thesis publishing costs | 400 | 400 |
| Cash total | 10,920 | 13,320 |
What You Still Pay Yourself
Plan to cover your first two months yourself. DAAD cannot pay before the scholarship starts and your studies begin, and the first transfer can lag while you open a bank account. At WACCI rates, two months of stipend equals 800 EUR In-Country or 1,000 EUR In-Region.
- Document costs. Certified translations for anything not in English or German, plus fees to get papers from your university or a national qualifications authority.
- Host admission. The calls we read do not state an admission fee. Ask your host.
- Moving and permits. The call does not describe study permits. In-Region applicants should ask the host’s international office early.
- Gaps in the package. DAAD will not pay fee increases or repeated exams, and some institutional fees may fall outside tuition coverage.
- Family. No benefits for family members are available.
Payments and Work Rules
DAAD pays the stipend monthly into your own bank account, but only after you arrive and your studies officially start. The WACCI call says nothing about limits on paid work, so treat work rights as unconfirmed and ask your host before you plan around a side income.
- No advance payments, and late arrival shortens your funded period.
- Your results are reviewed after the first year before funding continues.
- Monthly rates are reviewed each year and can change.
- DAAD may end the award immediately for good cause, such as breaking good scientific practice.
DAAD In-Region Scholarship 2027 Deadline and Key Dates
The DAAD In-Region Scholarship 2027 closes in the DAAD portal at 24:00 Central European Time on Thursday, November 12, 2026. Applications sent by any other channel are not considered. Selection then runs for months, so the real wait for a result is long.
“Applications submitted through other channels or to other authorities will not be considered.”
DAAD call for applications, WACCI, edition 08/2026
One timing conflict deserves a flag. The WACCI call says funding usually begins on November 1 of the following year, while some regional DAAD pages describe study starting between January and July 2027. Your own call and your host’s academic calendar control. Track the date with the scholarship deadline tracker.
The Deadline in Your Time Zone
Midnight in Central Europe falls on different calendar days elsewhere. No zone below is on daylight saving in mid-November, so the offsets are stable. Submit at least two days early anyway.
| Place (zone) | Deadline in local time |
|---|---|
| Central Europe (CET, official) | 24:00 on Thursday, November 12 |
| Ghana, Burkina Faso, UK (UTC or GMT) | 23:00 on November 12 |
| Nigeria, Cameroon (WAT, UTC+1) | 24:00 on November 12 |
| Rwanda, Malawi (CAT, UTC+2) | 01:00 on Friday, November 13 |
| Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda (EAT, UTC+3) | 02:00 on November 13 |
| Pakistan (PKT, UTC+5) | 04:00 on November 13 |
| U.S. Eastern (EST, UTC-5) | 6:00 p.m. on November 12 |
| U.S. Pacific (PST, UTC-8) | 3:00 p.m. on November 12 |
Documents to Upload
You upload a CV, DAAD’s own recommendation form, your final degree certificate, a transcript, a motivation letter and a valid ID. Everything must be a PDF in English or German, and anything else needs a certified translation. Proof of admission can follow later.
| Document | Rule from the WACCI call | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Online application form | Fully completed and submitted | Mandatory |
| Curriculum vitae | Tabular format | Mandatory |
| DAAD letter of recommendation | DAAD’s own form only, signed and, if possible, stamped by a university teacher | Mandatory |
| Bachelor’s certificate | Final certificate, above-average result; no provisional versions | Mandatory |
| Transcript of records | From your most recent degree | Mandatory |
| Letter of motivation | 1 to 2 pages, 300 to 1,000 words; rank your programs if you apply to several | Mandatory |
| Passport or national ID | Valid at the time of application | Mandatory |
| Proof of admission | May come later, but before funding starts | Deferred |
| Semester or time schedule | Course-based or research-based, as your program requires | Deferred |
| Publications, refugee papers, proof of employment | Include only what applies | Optional |
Two free tools help here: keep the letter in range with our motivation letter word counter, and shrink oversized scans with the PDF compressor. For the writing itself, see our guide on how to write a winning motivation letter.
How to Apply Step by Step
You apply in two places: a DAAD portal account, where you upload documents, and the host university, which runs its own admission. Use a desktop computer, because DAAD warns that the portal works only to a limited extent on mobile devices. Each call PDF contains the portal link for its program.
Confirm you are a national or permanent resident of a Sub-Saharan African country, hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least Second Class Upper Division results, and finished it within the last six years.
Pick one of the 13 open programs listed above and read the full call PDF, because amounts, quotas and host rules differ by university.
Gather your CV, the DAAD recommendation form, final degree certificate, transcript, a motivation letter of 300 to 1,000 words, and a valid passport or national ID, all saved as PDF files.
Register, log in, complete the online form, and upload everything before the portal closes at 24:00 CET on November 12, 2026.
Send a separate admission application to your chosen university before its own deadline, using the contact details in the call.
DAAD checks formal criteria, the host ranks candidates, and an independent committee reviews the shortlist, usually between April and September.
If you are selected, upload proof of admission before funding starts and proof of arrival once you reach the host university.
Two Applications, Two Deadlines
The scholarship application and the admission application are separate files with separate clocks. DAAD reviews only what arrives through its portal, and the host reviews only what reaches the host. Some countries also require a qualifications-authority document for admission, and getting it is your job, not DAAD’s.
How Selection Works
DAAD forwards to an independent committee only the applications that pass both its formal check and the host’s admission requirements, including the university’s own pre-selection ranking. The committee mixes university teachers and experts from German and African institutions with alumni. Interviews are possible.
The call lists four judging criteria: academic performance and quality, extracurricular activities, motivation, and, where it applies, the relevance of your research topic. Selection usually runs between April and September, and DAAD reserves the final decision.
Your Realistic Chances
No official acceptance rate exists for this scheme, so any percentage you see online is invented. What we can say from the call: WACCI offers up to three In-Country and eight In-Region places, and every candidate has to survive the host’s ranking first. A grade just above the Second Class Upper line will not stand out. A clear research plan tied to the program, plus proof you will teach or research in the region, will.
After the Award
A scholarship becomes effective only after DAAD has your proof of admission and proof of arrival. Upload the arrival proof, such as an airline ticket or a letter from your coordinator, as soon as you reach campus, because the first payment waits for it.
Funding runs for the regular length of the degree, capped at 24 months in the WACCI call, and DAAD reviews your results after year one. In-Region holders also get the travel flat rate with that first payment. The calls we read do not explain visas or study permits, so ask the host.
Mistakes That Sink Applications
- Uploading a provisional certificate. DAAD accepts only a final degree certificate.
- Using the wrong recommendation form. Only DAAD’s own form is accepted.
- Skipping the host application. A perfect portal file does not replace admission.
- Applying to several programs without a ranking. The letter must state your order of preference.
- Uploading Word files. The portal takes PDFs only.
- Assuming every African university is covered. Only the listed degrees at the listed hosts qualify.
- Waiting for the last hour. The portal closes at midnight in Central Europe, which is already the next morning in East Africa and Pakistan.
Official Sources and Verification Note
Verification note, November 4, 2026. We checked the DAAD database entry and read the WACCI call in full on this date. The other 12 calls are linked but were not read line by line, so amounts, quotas and grade rules may differ for your host. Two items conflict across sources: the funding start date (see the deadline section) and the year of the April to September selection window, which the call gives only as months. Where sources disagree, follow your program’s call.
Check the official page before you apply
Confirm the deadline and your program’s call on DAAD’s own site. Link moved? Search daad.de for “In-Country/In-Region Programme Sub-Saharan Africa.”
Official DAAD Scholarship PageFAQ
Can I apply for the DAAD In-Region Scholarship 2027 from outside Sub-Saharan Africa?
No, not on the current calls. The WACCI call requires applicants to be nationals or permanent residents of a Sub-Saharan African country, and DAAD’s portal asks you to pick the country where you live and apply from. If you hold an African passport but live elsewhere, contact DAAD before applying. Pakistani and US applicants should look at DAAD’s Germany-based programs instead.
What is the DAAD In-Region Scholarship 2027 deadline?
The DAAD portal closes at midnight Central European Time on November 12, 2026. That is 23:00 UTC, 4:00 a.m. on November 13 in Pakistan, and 6:00 p.m. Eastern time on November 12. Your host university may set a different admission deadline, so check your program’s call separately.
What is the difference between In-Country and In-Region awards?
In-Country awards are for students who study in their home country or the country where they hold residence. In-Region awards are for students who move to a different Sub-Saharan African country. In the WACCI call, the monthly stipend is 400 EUR In-Country and 500 EUR In-Region, and only In-Region holders receive a travel allowance and health insurance.
Does the DAAD In-Region scholarship pay tuition fees?
Generally yes. DAAD lists tuition fees among the benefits and sends them directly to the host institution. It warns that it may not cover every item in a university’s fee schedule, and it will not pay for fee increases or repeated exams. Your Letter of Award states exactly what is covered.
What grade do I need to qualify?
The WACCI call asks for a three- or four-year Bachelor’s degree with at least Second Class Upper Division results or the equivalent, and it says candidates below that level are not eligible. Your last degree must also be no more than six years old at the time you apply. Other hosts may add their own admission rules.
Can I apply to more than one program?
Yes, but DAAD considers a maximum of three applications. If you apply to several programs in this scheme, rank them in your motivation letter. Each host university also runs its own admission process, so every extra program means extra paperwork and a second deadline to track.
Do I need an admission letter before I apply to DAAD?
No. Proof of admission can be uploaded after you apply, but DAAD needs it before the scholarship begins. You still apply to the host university separately, under its own deadline. DAAD only reaches the final selection stage for candidates who meet both its formal criteria and the host’s admission requirements.
When are DAAD In-Region Scholarship 2027 results announced?
The WACCI call says selection usually runs between April and September, and the final decision for Sub-Saharan Africa comes about six months after the application round closes. DAAD adds that details and dates can change. Watch your portal account and the host university’s admission notices rather than waiting for a single announcement date.
Is the DAAD In-Region scholarship fully funded?
DAAD does not use that label here. The call lists tuition fees, a monthly stipend, a study and research allowance, thesis publishing costs and, for In-Region holders, a travel allowance and health insurance. Some fees may fall outside the package and rates are reviewed each year, so read the benefits table in your own call.
Disclaimer
This guide summarizes official DAAD material for general information. Calls, amounts, and dates change, and DAAD or your host university has the final word. Read our disclaimer and editorial policy for how we research and update posts.
We would love to hear your thoughts! Please leave a comment below and share what you think.