The Eastern Europe Programme is run by the Katholischer Akademischer Austauschdienst (KAAD), the Catholic Academic Exchange Service based in Bonn, Germany. It supports graduates, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers and university teaching staff from Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia who wish to pursue a Master’s degree, a doctorate, or a study or research stay at a German higher-education institution.
The programme is open to all academic disciplines except theological courses (for which candidates are referred to Renovabis). Applicants are expected to return to their home country after the scholarship to contribute there.
Benefits & funding
- A KAAD scholarship covering the period of study or research in Germany (monthly scholarship/stipend).
- Tuition fees for Master’s programmes are covered only in justified exceptional cases.
- Funding durations: Master’s up to 24 months; doctorate up to 36 months; research stays for doctoral candidates or postdocs up to 12 months; study or research stays for university teachers and Master’s students up to 6 months.
- KAAD’s academic, personal and spiritual accompaniment programme for scholarship holders.
- Note: the official KAAD and DAAD pages do not publish an exact monthly stipend figure or an itemised list of travel/insurance allowances.
Eligibility
- Nationals of the eligible countries of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus (see the official country list): Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
- Of Catholic denomination; in exceptional cases applicants of another Christian denomination may apply if proposed by Catholic partner organisations.
- Hold a first degree appropriate to the level applied for (a Bachelor’s for a Master’s; a Master’s for a doctorate).
- German language proficiency at level B1 (or level A2 for English-language courses of study).
- Intention to return to the home country after completing the scholarship.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Albania · Armenia · Azerbaijan · Belarus · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Czechia · Estonia · Georgia · Hungary · Kazakhstan
+ 16 more
Kosovo · Kyrgyzstan · Latvia · Lithuania · Moldova · North Macedonia · Poland · Romania · Russia · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Tajikistan · Turkmenistan · Ukraine · Uzbekistan
Education required
Bachelor · Master · PhD
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Application process
- 1Apply through the KAAD online application portal, addressing the programme’s country/region scope.
- 2Complete the two-stage selection procedure (initial review followed by the selection-committee stage).
- 3Submit by the relevant committee deadline — 15 January (for scholarships awarded in March) or 30 June (for scholarships awarded in September).
Program timeline
15 January
Committee deadline for scholarships awarded in March
30 June
Committee deadline for scholarships awarded in September