The German Government has announced applications for the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) International Postgraduate Scholarship 2026 in Germany.
Through the DAAD, students from Kenya can now access a wide range of fully funded opportunities to study, research, and pursue academic development in Germany.
The program is open to international students from all parts of the world and offers fully funded opportunities to pursue Master’s, MPhil, or short courses at leading German universities with a monthly allowance of Ksh 151,776.
Fresh graduates and result-awaiting students are also encouraged to apply.
DAAD is one of the world’s most prestigious scholarship programs. It provides financial support to outstanding students who wish to advance their studies in Germany.
Fields covered under the scholarship include Visual Communication and Film, Fine Art, Architecture, Design, and Music.
The scholarship lasts between 12 and 24 months, depending on the course and university. All major expenses are covered, making it one of the most attractive opportunities for postgraduate study abroad.
Eligibility to Qualify Germany DAAD Scholarship
To apply for the DAAD International Postgraduate Scholarship 2026, candidates must meet the following requirements:
-
Open to applicants of all nationalities
-
Must hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized university
-
The last degree must have been completed within the past six years. In most programmes that require a first university degree, you can apply in your last year of study.
-
Applications must be submitted in German or English
-
Proof of English proficiency is required (e.g., IELTS or TOEFL)
Duration of the funding
Master’s Degree course:
- Between 10 and 24 months, depending on the length of the chosen study programme
- Start: usually from 1st October of the following year (depending on the start of your study programme) or earlier if a German language course is taken prior to the study programme
- The scholarships are awarded for the duration of the standard period of study for the chosen study programme (up to a maximum of 24 months). Please state the entire period for which you wish to apply for funding in your application. For example, if you are planning a 2-year degree programme, you must directly indicate two years as the desired scholarship duration in your application.
After the first year of study, your academic achievements will be assessed in a further funding procedure. If this shows that you will successfully complete your programme within a reasonable period of time, the scholarship will continue as planned.
Value of the Scholarship
- A monthly payment of €992 (Ksh 151,776).
- Travel allowance
- One-off study allowance
- Payments towards health, accident, and personal liability insurance
Under certain circumstances, scholarship holders may also receive the following additional benefits:
- Monthly rent subsidy
- Monthly allowance for accompanying family members
- In case of a disability or chronic illness, a subsidy may be provided for justified additional costs incurred abroad that are necessary to complete the project in Germany and are not covered by a third party. The extent of this support will be reviewed and determined on an individual basis
- Green Mobility Top-Up (support for climate-friendly travel) or reimbursement of carbon offset payments for air travel
To help scholarship holders prepare for their stay in Germany, the DAAD also offers language support:
- Payment of course fees for an online German language course after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter
- If necessary, a German language course (2, 4, or 6 months) before the start of the study visit in Germany. The DAAD decides whether to fund participation and for how long, depending on the applicant’s German language skills and study project. Participation is compulsory if the language of instruction or working language is German at the host institution.
- An allowance for a personally chosen German language course during the scholarship period
- Reimbursement of TestDaF or DSH exam fees, which can be taken either in the applicant’s home country (after receiving the Scholarship Award Letter) or in Germany during the funding period
Application Deadline
The DAAD scholarship deadline 2026 differs for each program. Important dates include:
Architecture: 24th September 2025
Music: 25th September 2025
Performing Arts: 25th September 2025
Fine Art, Design, Visual Communication, and Film: 10th November 2025
Doctoral Programmes in Germany
The DAAD is also offering doctoral grants in Germany for young scientists and academics who wish to further their qualifications with a PhD.
Eligible applicants must hold a Master’s degree with above-average grades (Second Class Upper or higher). In addition, the last degree must not be older than six years, and special regulations apply to fields like medicine, veterinary medicine, and dentistry.
How to Apply
Application procedures may vary depending on the scholarship programme. To find out where and how to apply, please read the “Application procedure” section of the Call for Applications in the Scholarship database: www.funding-guide.de.
Follow the steps below:
- Visit the DAAD Scholarship Database to select the program and submit your online application.
- Register an account in the online portal
- Fill out the application form with all required personal, educational, and financial information
- Upload supporting documents, including degree certificates, transcripts, CV, motivation letter, and language proficiency certificates
- Submit the online application before the deadline
- Send the required documents by post if specified by the program
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
