Kenyans seeking fully funded opportunities to study in Germany can now apply for several scholarship programmes under the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), opening doors to Master’s, PhD and research opportunities at leading universities in Germany and across Africa.
The scholarships target outstanding students and professionals from developing and emerging countries and offer comprehensive financial support, including tuition, monthly stipends, travel costs and health insurance.
What is DAAD?
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is the world’s largest funding organisation for international academic cooperation.
Rather than being a single scholarship, DAAD administers multiple scholarship programmes covering a broad range of academic disciplines and degree levels.
The programmes support Master’s degrees, PhDs, research programmes and development-related postgraduate studies.
Financial Benefits
Successful applicants receive:
- A monthly stipend of €992 (about KSh149,520) for Master’s students.
- A monthly stipend of €1,300 (about KSh196,000) for PhD students.
- Full tuition fee coverage.
- Travel allowance.
- Health, accident and liability insurance.
- Study and research allowances.
- Rent subsidy where applicable.
- Family allowance for eligible dependents.
- Free or funded German language courses.
Fully Funded DAAD Scholarships for Kenyans
Study Scholarships – Master’s Studies for All Academic Disciplines
Among the opportunities available is the Study Scholarships – Master’s Studies for All Academic Disciplines programme, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.
The scholarship allows international students to pursue:
- A full postgraduate or Master’s degree at a state or state-recognised university in Germany; or
- One year of study in Germany as part of a Master’s degree being pursued at their home university, provided the academic credits are recognised by the home institution.
The programme is open to applicants who have completed their first university degree, such as a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification, by the time the funding period begins.
Funding is available for between 10 and 24 months, depending on the duration of the selected programme.
The scholarships are awarded for the standard period of study, up to a maximum of 24 months. Students pursuing two-year programmes must indicate the full scholarship period in their applications.
Funding must begin in 2027, with the scholarship usually starting on October 1, 2027, or earlier for students taking a German language course before beginning their studies.
The programme does not cover artistic disciplines and architecture, which have separate DAAD scholarship schemes.
Also Read: Germany Embassy Invites Kenyans to Apply for Fully Funded STEM Scholarships
DAAD In-Country/In-Region Programme – Sub-Saharan Africa
The DAAD In-Country/In-Region scholarship programme aims to foster strong, internationally oriented higher education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa with the capacity to contribute to sustainable development.
The programme offers scholarships to future academic and professional leaders from developing countries for postgraduate and doctoral studies.
Under the programme, scholars study either at universities in their home countries or at leading institutions within their regions.
The scholarships are open to graduates and postgraduates from Sub-Saharan Africa who wish to pursue Master’s degrees in their home country, in a country where they hold a residence permit, or in another Sub-Saharan African country.
DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Scholarships for 2027
Kenyans can also apply for fully funded Master’s scholarships under the Helmut-Schmidt Programme for Public Policy and Good Governance 2027.
The programme targets graduates from developing and emerging countries seeking leadership roles in governance, public policy and development.
According to DAAD, the initiative seeks to prepare graduates for responsible leadership positions in their home countries while contributing to democratic governance and reducing social inequalities.
The scholarship is open to graduates with a first university degree and above-average academic performance, preferably those ranked in the top third of their class.
Eligible fields include:
- Social and Political Sciences
- Law
- Economics
- Public Policy
- Public Administration
DAAD Study Scholarships for STEM Disciplines
DAAD is also offering fully funded Master’s degree scholarships under its Study Scholarships for STEM Disciplines programme.
The programme targets high-achieving graduates from developing and emerging countries who wish to pursue postgraduate studies in:
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Natural Sciences
- Engineering
The scholarships are available for full-time, on-campus and tuition-free Master’s programmes at state or state-recognised universities in Germany.
Only programmes beginning in the Winter Semester 2027/28 are eligible, and courses requiring compulsory study periods outside Germany are excluded.
Interdisciplinary programmes are only eligible if they have a clear STEM focus.
Funding is available for between 10 and 24 months, depending on the duration of the selected programme.
Also Read: How Kenyan Students Can Secure Scholarships to Study in the United States
General Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for DAAD scholarships, applicants must:
- Be non-German citizens.
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree for Master’s studies.
- Hold a Master’s degree for PhD studies.
- Have completed their most recent degree within the last six years.
- Apply for a full-time, on-campus programme.
- Demonstrate strong academic performance.
Some programmes, such as the EPOS programme, also require applicants to have at least two years of relevant professional experience.
Application Requirements
Applicants may be required to submit:
- DAAD application form.
- Academic transcripts and certificates.
- Curriculum vitae (CV).
- Motivation letter or statement of purpose.
- Language test results.
- Letters of recommendation.
- Research proposal for PhD programmes.
- Proof of work experience where applicable.
Applications are submitted either through the DAAD portal or directly to the host university, depending on the specific programme.
