Germany's DAAD is offering scholarships for a two-year Master of Philosophy in Seed Science and Technology at the University of Ghana, open to students from Sierra Leone and across sub-Saharan Africa. The deadline is Thursday, 12 November 2026, at midnight German time (11:00 p.m. in Freetown).
The Balme Library at the University of Ghana, Legon (file photo). Photo: Sarah Shreeves / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
The scholarships are part of the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Programme, funded by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). This call is for the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) at the University of Ghana in Legon, Accra.
Applicants from outside Ghana, including Sierra Leoneans, apply for an In-Region scholarship, which pays more than the In-Country award for Ghanaians and adds travel and health insurance.
- Programme: Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Seed Science and Technology, WACCI, University of Ghana
- Funder: DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), with BMZ funding
- Places: up to 8 In-Region (other African countries) and up to 3 In-Country (Ghanaians)
- Stipend: €500 a month (In-Region) or €400 a month (In-Country)
- Length: up to 24 months, starting 1 November 2027
- Deadline: 12 November 2026, 24:00 German time
- Apply: DAAD portal, plus a separate admission application to WACCI
What the scholarship covers
- Monthly stipend: €500 (In-Region) or €400 (In-Country)
- Tuition fees, paid directly to the university (the amount is set in the award letter and may not cover every fee)
- Study and research allowance: €460 a year
- Thesis printing and publishing: €400, paid once
- Travel allowance and health insurance: In-Region scholars only
The "€6,860 a year" figure in viral posts is the In-Region stipend (€6,000) plus the yearly study and thesis allowances. DAAD advises scholars to bring enough money for at least two months, as the first payment can take time.
Who can apply
- Citizens or permanent residents of a sub-Saharan African country, including Sierra Leone
- A three- or four-year bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Upper Division (lower grades are not eligible)
- Your last degree must have been completed no more than six years ago
- Good knowledge of English, the language of instruction
- Priority groups: university staff, future lecturers and researchers, public-sector workers, DAFI alumni, and fresh graduates or professionals; women, recognised refugees and people from disadvantaged regions are especially encouraged
- You cannot apply if you have already received a DAAD master's scholarship
Documents you need (PDF, in English)
- Online DAAD application form
- CV in table format
- DAAD Letter of Recommendation form, signed by a university lecturer (only this form is accepted)
- Bachelor's degree certificate with final grades (provisional certificates are not accepted)
- Transcript of records
- Motivation letter of 1 to 2 pages (300 to 1,000 words)
- Passport or national ID card
How to apply
- Register and log in to the DAAD portal, then complete and submit your application before the deadline.
- Separately, apply for admission to WACCI through its own process. You can send proof of admission to DAAD later.
- If you apply to more than one DAAD-supported programme, rank them in your motivation letter. DAAD considers a maximum of three applications.
Selection usually runs from April to September 2027. DAAD says final decisions come about six months after applications close.
Faddabah Newsroom tips
- Get the recommendation form signed today. DAAD accepts only its own form, signed by a lecturer, and many applications fail on this.
- Check your degree class. Below Second Class Upper Division is automatically ineligible.
- Other programmes: DAAD's 2027 list also includes other African universities and fields. Each has its own call, so check the DAAD scholarship database for one that matches your degree.
- Applying is free. Use only the official DAAD portal. Nobody can sell you a DAAD scholarship.
Contacts
- DAAD: Pauline Richter, p.richter@daad.de
- WACCI: Mrs Jennifer Saint-Acquaye, jstacquaye@wacci.ug.edu.gh
Sources
- DAAD: Call for Master's scholarship applications 2027, WACCI, University of Ghana (official PDF)
- DAAD Scholarship Database: In-Country/In-Region Programme Sub-Saharan Africa (official)
- Opportunities For Africans: DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme 2027
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