DAAD GROW Scholarships 2026: Fully Funded Research Opportunities in Germany for Global South Researchers

Imagine advancing your research career with a fully funded stay in Germany. The DAAD GROW – Global Research Opportunities for the South Scholarships 2026 offer early career researchers from developing countries a chance to build skills and networks. This program targets doctoral candidates, postdocs, and academics from Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

Who Can Apply?

This scholarship welcomes doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, university teachers, and established scientists. You must work at a university or research institute in your home country, which should be on the OECD DAC list. These countries mainly include those in Sub-Saharan Africa, but also parts of Latin America and Asia. Check the full list on the DAAD website.

Women, people from low-income backgrounds, and those from underserved areas or groups get special encouragement to apply. You cannot apply if you are already in Germany or doing your full PhD or postdoc there. Postdocs qualify if their PhD was finished no more than four years before April 30, 2026.

Focus on Sustainable Development Goals

The program ties directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. These goals cover issues like health, education, climate change, good governance, social inclusion, and innovation. Your research project must link to at least one SDG and show clear benefits for development in your home country. This focus helps judges pick projects that matter for real-world change.

Two Programme Lines

The DAAD GROW scholarships split into two main types of funding.

Programme Line 1: Preparatory and Cooperation Visits

This line supports short trips to Germany to plan joint research. You work with hosts at public universities or research institutes to pick topics, develop project ideas, and plan publications or funding bids. The goal is to build strong partnerships with high impact for development. These visits help set up networks that last.

Programme Line 2: Research Stays

Here, you conduct your own research project in Germany. It must have strong development relevance and a plan to bring results back home. You coordinate with a host supervisor at a German university or institute. These stays can include some planning time if needed. Note that travel for conferences or talks does not qualify under either line.

Funding Duration

Timelines are strict to fit the 2026 schedule.

For Programme Line 1, preparatory visits last 1 to 2 months. For Line 2, research stays run 2 to 6 months. All funded periods start in 2026 and end by January 31, 2027. No extensions are possible, so plan carefully.

What the Scholarship Covers

Funding matches your career stage. Doctoral candidates and postdocs receive 1,400 euros per month. Assistant professors and lecturers get 2,000 euros monthly. Full professors earn 2,150 euros each month. Postdocs count if their PhD is recent, within four years of the deadline.

You also get coverage for health, accident, and liability insurance. Plus, there is a travel allowance to cover your trip costs. Check DAAD guidelines for exact details on these benefits.

Application Details

Submit by April 30, 2026. Applications opened recently, so start preparing now. The program comes from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, or BMZ. It aims to boost skills, networks, and visibility for researchers. After your stay, you return home to share knowledge through teaching, research, and institution building.

Visit the official DAAD webpage for the full application process and forms. Make sure your project shows SDG links and development impact to stand out.

Frequently Asked Questions