KAAD (Catholic Academic Exchange Service) funds postgraduates and academics from developing and emerging countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America to do a Master's, PhD, or short research stay in Germany. Applications are not handled centrally — they run through KAAD's partner committees in the applicant's home country, which set their own deadlines. Selection rounds happen twice a year (March and September), and the first step on KAAD's own site is an open enquiry form with no closing date attached.
Why it is notable: KAAD publishes no central application deadline anywhere on its own site — the widely quoted 15 January / 30 June dates do not appear on kaad.de, and anyone planning around them is planning around a rumour. The real deadline is whatever your regional partner committee sets, and the real first step is the enquiry form, not a portal.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Scholarship funding for the Master's or PhD at a German university (exact package set via the partner committee — amounts not published on KAAD's own pages; do not quote third-party figures).
German language course of up to 6 months in Germany before the studies begin (confirmed on official programme pages).
Post-doctoral research stays of 2–6 months for established university lecturers.
Note: itemised benefits beyond the language course are not published on KAAD's own site — confirm the full package with your regional partner committee before relying on any figure.
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
Graduationfor MastersMasters/MPhilfor PhD
This scholarship is offered for Master's and PhD programmes at German universities, and for post-doctoral research stays of 2–6 months for established university lecturers.
Who can apply
Postgraduates and academics from developing or emerging countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, or Latin America, currently living in their home country. KAAD works with focus- and partner countries per region; applications from non-partner countries can be considered only in exceptional cases.
Experience
Yes — completed university education and professional/work experience from the home country are required (Programme 1 targets postgraduates and academics who already gained professional experience).
Language Certificate
German language skills are required before starting the studies (KAAD can provide a language course of max. 6 months in Germany). Exact level per programme/committee — confirm with the regional committee.
Other Certificates
University degree certificates and transcripts; proof of professional experience; proof of religious/social commitment.
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
Developing/emerging countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, or Latin America — KAAD's focus/partner countries per region. Non-partner countries:…
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Home-country residence and region
From a developing/emerging country in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, or Latin America, and normally living there at application. Applications go through the partner committee of the home country; non-partner countries only in exceptional cases.
02
Qualification and experience
Completed university degree plus professional/work experience from the home country (Master's track); Master's/MPhil for the PhD track; established lecturer status for the 2–6 month research stay.
03
Religious and social commitment
Generally Catholic/Christian denomination; other religions eligible if proposed by Catholic partners with proven commitment to interreligious dialogue. Active religious and social engagement expected.
04
Language
German language skills before starting the studies; KAAD can fund a language course of up to 6 months in Germany.
05
Reintegration orientation
Studies/research must be oriented toward permanent reintegration in the home region — otherwise the scholarship is converted into a loan.
06
Performance
Above-average performance in studies and research.
Document checklist
01University degree certificates and transcripts.
02Proof of professional experience.
03CV and study/research plan for the German university.
04Proof of German language skills.
05Evidence of religious and social commitment / interreligious dialogue.
06Recommendation/proposal via Catholic partners (for non-Christian candidates).
Application fee
No fee — completely free (no application fee is stated on the official pages).
Visa, kept concise: Study visa type for this destination: German national visa for study purposes (Visum zu Studienzwecken), then a residence permit for study after arrival.
Application Procedure
10 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Identify your region's partner committee via KAAD's
regional contact pages (Africa, Asia, Latin America, Near and Middle East) — this committee is your actual application channel.
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02
Submit the initial enquiry via the open
enquiry form on KAAD's scholarship-application page (kaad.de/en/scholarship-application/) — no closing date is attached to this form.
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03
The partner committee guides the full application
documents are normally submitted to the committee of the applicant's home country.
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06
University degree certificates and transcripts.
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05
If selected, complete visa and enrolment steps
with KAAD/committee guidance.
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04
Committees forward selected applications to KAAD's central selection
which meets in March and September.
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07
Proof of professional experience.
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08
CV and study/research plan for the German
university.
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09
Proof of German language skills.
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10
Evidence of religious and social commitment /
interreligious dialogue.
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official German universities platform.
No — the official DAAD programme entry states "The individual partner committees set their own deadlines." KAAD's own site publishes no deadline; the 15 January / 30 June dates quoted by blogs are not on kaad.de.
Where do I actually send my application?
To the partner committee in your home country — "Applications are submitted to the partner committees in the candidates' home countries" (official programme pages). Start with the enquiry form on kaad.de.
Do I have to be Catholic?
Applicants are generally of Catholic denomination (or belong to a Christian denomination). Candidates from other religions can apply if proposed by Catholic partners and able to prove commitment to interreligious dialogue.
Which degrees can I pursue?
A Master's degree or a PhD at a German university, or a 2–6 month post-doctoral research stay for established university lecturers.
What German do I need?
German language skills are required before starting the studies; KAAD can provide a language course of up to 6 months in Germany.
What happens if I don't return to my home country?
The orientation toward permanent reintegration in the home region is a condition — otherwise the scholarship is turned into a loan.
Can I apply if my country has no KAAD partner committee?
Applications from non-partner countries can be considered only in exceptional cases — contact KAAD/the regional pages first.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
Germany · German universities