Deadline: June 9, 2023
Applications for the DAAD “Leadership for Africa” Scholarship Programme 2023-2024 are now open. The scholarship programme “Leadership for Africa” (LfA) aims to support the academic qualification and advancement of young refugees and national scholars from Chad, DR Congo, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo at higher education institutions in Germany.
In times of conflicts and displacement in various African countries, this programme intends to contribute to the education of future leaders, who will be essential for the further development of their home countries. “Leadership for Africa” offers scholarships for Master’s studies in Germany to qualified applicants in all fields of study except for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Arts and Architecture. All “Leadership for Africa” scholarship holders benefit from a complementary training programme in good governance, civil society and career development. The mandatory programme must be completed in addition to the regular studies.
Generally, selected candidates will start their German language course in April 2024 at the earliest and take up their studies at a German institution of higher education by approx. October 1, 2024. The duration of funding is determined by the standard period of study of the chosen programme. In general, eligible Master’s programmes require two years of full-time study.
Scholarship
The scholarship includes:
- German language course (up to 6 months) in Germany before the start of the university studies
- Tuition-free M.A. or M.Sc. degree programme at a public or state-recognized university in Germany starting in winter term 2024 (September/October 2024)
- Additional mandatory training programme LEAD!
Eligibility
The programme targets two groups:
- Highly qualified refugees who hold refugee status and fulfil the necessary qualifications for Master’s studies in Germany. Applicants must fulfil the following conditions:
- Holding refugee status in their host countries, being granted before April 3, 2022.
- Country of asylum must be either Chad, DR Congo, Niger, Nigeria, or Togo.
- Completed Bachelor’s degree at the time of application.
- Highly qualified graduates from Chad, DR Congo, Niger, Nigeria, or Togo who fulfil the necessary qualifications for Master’s studies in Germany. Applicants must fulfil the following conditions:
- Citizenship of either Chad, DR Congo, Niger, Nigeria, or Togo.
- Country of residence is Chad, DR Congo, Niger, Nigeria, or Togo.
- Completed Bachelor’s degree at the time of application.
Application
Note that all documents must be uploaded to the DAAD portal. Incomplete applications will be formally rejected and will be excluded from the application process. The following documents may be scanned in non-certified form and uploaded to the DAAD portal. If you submit documents in your national language, you must include English or German translations.
- Online DAAD application form duly completed (available on the DAAD portal)
- Curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages) containing information about your academic career to date, former scholarships, current address and current or previous employers. Use the European specimen form.
- Letter of Motivation (1-3 pages) containing a precise description of your academic/professional and personal reasons for the planned study project.
- DAAD Form “Study course profile” duly completed (specify 3 Master’s programmes). Be aware that DAAD does not consider your suggestions of master programmes which charge tuition fees. This should be taken into consideration while deciding for the master programmes. Also note the information on how to fill in the form ‘Study course profile’. The form can be subject to change every year, therefore only access the most recent version by using the link above.
- Applicants who already hold a Master’s degree or are in the process of completing a Master’s degree can only be considered in well-justified cases, if they can explain conclusively, why they would like to obtain another master’s degree. Please fill in the form “Additional Master’s Degree”.
- Proof of necessary language skills for the desired master’s programmes. Also read the important information for scholarship applicants.
- University degree certificate indicating final grade(s) including transcripts of records for all study years with all individual grades incl. explanation of grading system.
- Copies of your passport/national identification card and copies of your passport’s/national identification card’s biodata page and other documents containing information about you and your current residence status
- For refugees: Refugee ID-Card and UNHCR registration or official proof of asylum by authorities or government.
Optional:
Other documents that might be of relevance to your application (e.g., certificates of employment and/or internship, proof of former scholarships, extracurricular engagement, recommendation letters, (expired) admissions to a German master programme).
For more information, visit DAAD Scholarship.
