DAAD Scholarships Coverage

About This Scholarship

The German Academic Exchange Service — Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) — is one of the world's largest and most respected funding organisations for international academic exchange, with an annual budget exceeding €500 million and programs supporting tens of thousands of scholars and researchers globally every year. For Ghanaian students and researchers, DAAD offers one of the most diverse scholarship portfolios available from any single national funding body — ranging from fully funded Master's degrees and doctoral fellowships to short-term research visits and in-country scholarship programs that do not require travel to Germany.

Germany's universities are globally recognised for excellence in engineering, natural sciences, medicine, and applied research — and a distinctive feature of the German higher education system is that tuition fees at public universities are minimal or non-existent. This means DAAD living expense grants can make a German postgraduate degree genuinely affordable even for Ghanaian students from modest economic backgrounds. The DAAD alumni network in Ghana is substantial and active, with former recipients working across government, academia, the private sector, and civil society.

The DAAD Scholarship is a German government-funded program that supports international students and researchers pursuing master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral studies in Germany. It is open to students from developing and emerging countries, focusing on fields that promote sustainable development. Many DAAD scholarships are tied to specific programs or research areas, with an emphasis on academic excellence and future contributions to home countries.

Tips for Ghanaian and African Applicants

• Multiple DAAD programs are available to Ghanaians: The Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS), In-Country/In-Region Scholarships, Graduate School Scholarships, and Research Grants each have different eligibility criteria and application routes. Visit the DAAD Ghana page or the Goethe-Institut Accra for guidance specific to your level, field, and career stage.
• Return commitment is central to DAAD's mandate: DAAD awards are explicitly designed to support development-relevant study. Your application must articulate clearly how your German training will benefit Ghana or contribute to Africa's development — vague career aspirations will not be competitive.
• German language skills expand your options significantly: While many DAAD-funded programs are taught in English, German language proficiency opens access to a much wider range of programs and is viewed very favourably by selection committees. Consider investing in German language training alongside your application.
• Start the process early: Many DAAD awards require prior university admission, and German universities typically operate on an October intake with application deadlines falling between January and March. Begin researching programs and contacting potential supervisors 12 months before your intended start date.

To be eligible for DAAD Scholarships, you need to meet the following criteria:

Students with outstanding academic records

Students who have excellent study projects

Motivated, with clear future prospects and commitment to extracurriculars

To apply for DAAD Scholarships, please follow these steps:

Access the scholarships database

Apply to your desired scholarship

Important Note: The application procedures and required documents for DAAD Scholarships may vary depending on your degree, program, nationality and other factors.