Master's Scholarship•Germany

KAAD Scholarship Programme 1 (for academics from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America)

Funding

Fully Funded

Program dates

TBA

Scholarship Programme 1 is the main programme of KAAD (Katholischer Akademischer Ausländer-Dienst, the Catholic Academic Exchange Service), funded chiefly through the German Catholic Church and federal sources. It supports graduates and experienced professionals who come from — and currently reside in — a developing or emerging country in Africa, Asia, the Middle East or Latin America to undertake postgraduate study or research at a German university. Candidates may pursue a Master’s degree, a PhD or other postgraduate studies, a post-doc, or a shorter research stay of two to six months. The programme is explicitly faith-linked (Catholic, or more broadly Christian) and built around the applicant’s eventual return and reintegration into their home region. Applications are handled through KAAD’s regional partner committees rather than a single central call.

Benefits & funding

  • A KAAD scholarship for postgraduate study or research at a German university (Master’s, PhD, other postgraduate studies, post-doc, or a 2–6 month research stay).
  • A monthly scholarship for living costs, together with the wider KAAD support model (the official pages confirm the scholarship but do not publish the exact monthly amount).
  • A preparatory German-language course of up to 6 months in Germany where needed, plus expected pre-arrival language preparation in the home country.
  • Personal, academic and spiritual accompaniment through KAAD and its partner committees, and access to KAAD’s international alumni network.

Eligibility

  • Come from and currently reside in a developing or emerging country in Africa, Asia, the Middle East or Latin America; applications are channelled through KAAD’s partner committees in its focus and partner countries, and applications from other countries are considered only in exceptional cases.
  • Be of Catholic denomination, or generally belong to a Christian denomination (especially for applicants from the Near and Middle East); others may qualify if proposed by Catholic partners and able to show commitment to inter-religious dialogue.
  • Already hold a university degree and have professional experience in your home country.
  • Show above-average academic performance and a clear orientation toward permanent reintegration into your home region.
  • German-language skills before entry (typically B1 for German-taught programmes, A2 for English-taught degrees); KAAD can provide a German course of up to 6 months.
  • Demonstrate religious and social commitment, or willingness to engage in inter-religious dialogue.

Application process

  1. 1
    Submit the online inquiry/application form via the KAAD scholarship-application portal, giving your academic record, language level, faith background and study or research plan.
  2. 2
    Your application is referred to the KAAD partner committee responsible for your home country or region, which reviews and selects candidates on its own schedule.
  3. 3
    Selected candidates are accompanied by KAAD and its partner committee through admission to a German university, language preparation and the start of the scholarship.

Program timeline

  1. Application deadlines

    set individually by each regional partner committee (no single global date).

  2. Selection and accompaniment

    handled on a rolling basis by KAAD and the relevant partner committee.

  3. Preparatory German course

    up to 6 months in Germany before or at the start of studies, where needed.