DAAD

“Leadership for Africa” Programme for Cameroon, Senegal, and

Togo: Master’s Degree Scholarships in Germany • DAAD

Overview

Objective
The scholarship programme “Leadership for Africa” (LfA) aims to support the academic qualification and advancement of young refugees
and national scholars from Cameroon, Senegal, and Togo at higher education institutions in Germany. In times of conflicts and
displacement, this programme intends to contribute to the education of future leaders, who will be essential for the further development
of societies in Africa and beyond. “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, Fine Arts and Architecture as well as Nursing, Midwifery or
similar health care-related academic fields.

Who can apply?

The programme targets two groups:
1) 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 2nd of April 2024. Refugee status must be valid at least until April
2026. In case of renewal of status, please provide sufficient proof.

Country of asylum must be either Cameroon, Senegal, or Togo

Completed Bachelor’s degree at the time of application

2) Highly qualified graduates from Cameroon, Senegal, or Togo who fulfil the necessary qualifications for Master’s studies in Germany.
Applicants must fulfil the following conditions:

Citizenship of either Cameroon, Senegal, or Togo

Country of residence is Cameroon, Senegal, or Togo

Completed Bachelor’s degree at the time of application

Please note:

With a Degree in Medicine, you can apply for Public Health or Biomedical Master related programmes only. A Master's programme in
Medicine is not eligible for funding.

For applicants from artistic disciplines and the field of architecture, the DAAD offers subject-specific scholarship programmes (see
"Further information").

What can be funded?

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 2026
(September/October 2026)

Duration of the funding

Generally, selected candidates will start their German language course in April 2026 at the earliest and begin their studies at a German
institution of higher education by around 1 October 2026. 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.

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German language course (up to 6 months) in Germany before the start of the study programme, including the coverage of the test fees
for a German language certificate (TestDaF or DSH test), pocket money and accommodation (only during the language course). The
DAAD will decide whether to fund participation and for how long based on the applicant's German language skills and study
requirements. Participation in a language course is compulsory.

Monthly scholarship rate payments of 992 euros

Adequate health, accident, and private/personal liability insurance in Germany

Travel allowance

Yearly study allowance

If applicable, monthly rent subsidy and monthly allowance for accompanying family members (spouse and/or children)
Please note that family reunions may be delayed or even not be possible during the duration of the scholarship, due to the length of
the visa process for some home or host countries.

Selection
A pre-selection will be conducted based on the submitted application documents. Only complete applications with all mandatory
documents will be considered. Preselected candidates will be invited to an (digital) interview with an independent selection committee of
university professors.

Selection Criteria
In addition to previous achievements in university (Bachelor's degree), language skills and the general motivation, the main selection
criterion is a convincing description of the planned studies in Germany and the suitable choice of study programmes in the DAAD form
"Study course profile".
To ensure equal opportunities, social criteria such as special life circumstances, migration background or students from non-academic
families may also be considered. Criteria such as social engagement, as indicated in the application form, are also taken into account.

For further information on the selection procedure, please refer to the Important Scholarship Information
[https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/scholarships/important-information-for-scholarship-
applicants/], Section E.

Further information
For applicants from artistic disciplines and the field of architecture, the DAAD offers the following scholarship programmes:

Architecture [https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-stipendiendatenbank/?
status=&origin=&subjectGrps=&daad=&intention=&q=architektur&page=1&detail=57135744]

Fine Art/Design/Film [https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-stipendiendatenbank/?

status=&origin=&subjectGrps=&daad=&intention=&q=bildende%20kunst&page=1&detail=57135742]

Performing Art [https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-stipendiendatenbank/?

status=&origin=&subjectGrps=&daad=&intention=&q=darstellende%20kunst&page=1&detail=50109971]

Music [https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?
status=&origin=&subjectGrps=&daad=&intention=&q=musik&page=1&detail=57135743]

Application requirements

What requirements must be met?

Successful completion of a Bachelor’s degree at the time of application that meets the requirements of German universities for
admission to a Master’s programme.

A Bachelor's degree of at least 2nd class upper division level is required.

As a rule, not more than 6 years should have passed since the completion of the last academic degree (see important information for
scholarship applicants [https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/scholarships/important-
information-for-scholarship-applicants/] / Section A, point 2)
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 information-for-scholarship-applicants/] / Section A, point 2)

Good English or good German language skills

For Refugees: Copy of Refugee ID card issued before 02.04.2024.

Explanatory note: Please note that you are responsible for ensuring to apply for admission at the German host university by the due date.
Please be aware that the application process for the winter term 2026 will not be available at the time of application for the scholarship.
Application periods for winter term programmes at German universities usually start in spring each year. Please be aware that a
Scholarship Award Letter from the DAAD is only valid if you have been admitted to a Master’s study programme at a public German
Institute for Higher Education.

Language skills
The language of instruction in study programmes in Germany is usually German, or in international programmes English and/or German.
To be admitted to a programme, you are generally required to submit an appropriate language certificate (e.g., DSH or TestDaF for
programmes taught in German, or TOEFL/IELTS for those taught in English). The required language skills for the chosen field of study must
be proven at the latest by the start of study programme. Suitable proof of the necessary language skills - or the ability to acquire them
through the German language course - must be submitted with the application documents.
Find more information on the Important Scholarship Information [https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-
germany/scholarships/important-information-for-scholarship-applicants/] / A.9 and A.10.

Application Procedure

Application deadline
10 June 2025

Applications can be submitted from 2 April 2025.

Application deadlines are updated at least once a year. In most cases, they are in the same period as the previous year.

Application documents
Please 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.
Note: The DAAD reserves the right to request certified copies of the documents or the originals at any time in the application process.

Required documents:

Online DAAD application form duly completed (available on the DAAD portal)

Curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages) containing information about your academic education to date, current and previous employment,
former scholarships, current address and relevant language and other skills.

Letter of Motivation (1-3 pages) containing a precise description of your academic/professional and personal reasons for the planned
study project. Please also read our Important Scholarship Information [https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-
germany/scholarships/important-information-for-scholarship-applicants/] / Section B, Point 1.

DAAD Form "Study course profile [https://static.daad.de/media/daad_de/word-excel-nicht-barrierefrei/in-deutschland-

studieren-forschen-lehren/lfa_masterformblatt.docx]" duly completed (please specify 3 Master’s programmes). Please note
that the DAAD will not consider your selection of Master’s programmes that charge tuition fees. This should be taken into account
when deciding on your Master’s programmes. Please also note the information on how to fill in the form 'Study course profile'
[https://static.daad.de/media/daad_de/pdfs_nicht_barrierefrei/der-daad/was-wir-
tun/lfa_hinweise_zum_masterformblatt.pdf]. 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 who 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” [https://static.daad.de/media/daad_de/word-excel-nicht-barrierefrei/in-
deutschland-studieren-forschen-lehren/lfa_form_additional_master_s_degree.docx].

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 Proof of necessary language skills for the desired Master's programmes. Please also read our important information for scholarship
applicants [https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/scholarships/important-information-for-
scholarship-applicants/] / Section A, Point 9.

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's programme).

Please note
Applications have to be submitted exclusively to the DAAD portal.
Applications submitted through other channels or to other authorities will not be considered.
The DAAD portal closes at 24.00 hrs. Central European Summer Time (CEST) on the last application day.
Incomplete applications cannot be considered. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their applications are complete.
Please note that the "Application portal" tab in the scholarship database only appears while the current application period is running.
Once the application deadline is expired, the portal for this programme is not accessible until next year’s application period.

Contact and Consulting

Information and advisory centres

Find helpful information on

https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/courses-of-study-in-germany [https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-
research-in-germany/courses-of-study-in-germany/]

https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/plan-your-studies [https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-
germany/plan-your-studies/]

If you have any further questions, please check our website Leadership for Africa - DAAD [https://www.daad.de/en/the-daad/what-
we-do/sustainable-development/funding-programmes/funding-programmes-for-students-a-z/leadership-for-africa/]

or contact

Section ST32 - Africa

Email: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]

Funded by:

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 Please also take note of our important scholarship information [https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-
research-in-germany/scholarships/important-information-for-scholarship-applicants/].

Copy this link: daad.de/go/en/stipa57596552

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