The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) has announced fully funded Master’s scholarship opportunities for Kenyan graduates at two public universities for the 2027 intake.
The scholarships are available at Moi University and Chuka University under the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme, offering tuition support, a monthly allowance of €400 (about KSh58,148) and additional funding for research and thesis publication.
At Moi University, the DAAD scholarship is available for the Master of Education in Research, while Chuka University is offering the scholarship for the Master of Science in Plant Breeding.
The programme is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is designed to strengthen higher education, research and professional capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The deadline for applications through the DAAD portal is November 12, 2026.
How Much the DAAD Scholarship Pays
For students applying under the In-Country category, the scholarship provides a €400 monthly allowance to cater for accommodation, food and other living expenses.
The scholarship also provides a €460 (KSh66,870) annual study and research allowance.
Students are further eligible for €400 towards thesis publishing costs, payable once towards the end of the scholarship.
Tuition fees are also covered, with the amount paid directly to the host university. However, DAAD cautions that it may not cover every fee or cost included in a university’s official fee structure, depending on the funding agreement.
The tuition fees may also change, and any increase may not necessarily be covered by DAAD.
For students qualifying under the In-Region category, the monthly allowance is €500 (Ksh 72,685), alongside travel and health insurance benefits.
Duration of the Scholarship
The scholarships cover the standard period of study for the selected programme, up to a maximum of 24 months.
Applicants are required to indicate the full period for which they are seeking funding when submitting their applications.
Funding after the first year is subject to an assessment of the student’s academic progress. DAAD may continue the scholarship if the student is making satisfactory progress and is expected to complete the programme within a reasonable period.
The scholarship normally starts on September 1, 2027.
Students who arrive after the official start date will have their scholarship period reduced accordingly.
Students undertaking research-based Master’s programmes under the DAAD In-Country/In-Region scheme can also apply for a short-term research stay in Germany lasting between three and six months.
This opportunity is subject to availability of funds and must be indicated in the initial scholarship application.
The research stay includes a monthly payment for living expenses, health, accident, and personal liability insurance, as well as a flat-rate travel allowance.
The additional research period must fall within the regular scholarship period and cannot extend the standard study duration of the programme.
DAAD scholarship holders can also participate in further training opportunities, including e-training programmes.
Requirements for Application
Applicants must be graduates from Sub-Saharan Africa who hold a first academic degree and have completed a three- or four-year university degree.
They must have achieved at least Second Class Upper Division or an equivalent qualification.
Applicants who do not meet this academic threshold are not eligible.
Candidates must also demonstrate strong motivation and commitment, have a good command of the language of instruction, and have completed their last university degree within the past six years.
Applicants must be nationals or permanent residents of a Sub-Saharan African country.
The programme particularly encourages applications from women, recognized refugees and candidates from marginazised regions or groups.
Fresh graduates, professionals and other applicants who do not fall into the priority categories are also eligible to apply.
How to Apply
Applicants must first submit their scholarship applications through the DAAD portal before the November 12, 2026 deadline.
The process requires applicants to register on the DAAD portal, log in, read the application instructions and submit all required documents before the deadline.
Applicants must also apply separately for admission to the university offering their preferred programme.
This means submitting a DAAD scholarship application alone does not replace the university admission process.
Moi University and Chuka University have their own admission procedures and deadlines, which applicants must check separately.
DAAD will formally assess applications submitted through its portal.
For the final selection, applications that meet both the university’s admission requirements and DAAD’s criteria will be considered by an independent selection committee.
The assessment will consider academic performance, the quality of the application, extracurricular activities, motivation and, where applicable, the relevance of the proposed research topic.
Applicants may also be invited for interviews.
The selection process is expected to take place between April and September, with the final decision for the Sub-Saharan Africa region expected approximately six months after the application process closes.
When Scholarship Money is Paid
DAAD says the first monthly payment will be transferred as soon as possible after the scholar arrives and the official scholarship period begins.
However, the first payment may take time to process, particularly if a student must open a bank account after arriving at the host institution.
Applicants are therefore advised to have enough money to cover at least two months of expenses before receiving their first scholarship payment.
Scholarship payments cannot be made before the official start of the scholarship and studies.
The scholarship funds are paid directly into the scholar’s bank account.
For In-Region scholars, the travel allowance is paid together with the first scholarship payment after arrival in the host country.
The scholarship provides no additional benefits for family members beyond those specifically listed in the programme.
DAAD also reserves the right to terminate a scholarship and stop payments where there is good cause, including violations of academic integrity rules or DAAD guidelines.
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