Germany’s DAAD is funding a fisheries master’s degree — but not in Germany. Under its In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa, DAAD will fund up to 12 master’s students at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) in Malawi for the Master of Science in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science, starting with the 2027 intake. The catch is the clock: applications through the DAAD portal close on 12 November 2026 at midnight Central European Time.
This is the only fisheries programme among the 13 master’s programmes in DAAD’s currently open In-Country/In-Region round — the other 12 cover subjects such as water engineering, seed science, environmental health and geomatics. For a fisheries graduate from Sub-Saharan Africa who wants a funded master’s without leaving the continent, this is the one to watch. And it is genuinely open right now: every date and figure below comes from DAAD’s official call for this programme (edition 08/2026), read in full on 31 October 2026.
At a glance
| Item | Detail (official DAAD call, verified 31 October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme, Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Programme | Master of Science in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science, LUANAR, Lilongwe, Malawi |
| Intake | 2027; scholarship usually begins 1 August 2027 |
| Places | Up to 5 In-Country + up to 7 In-Region = up to 12 scholarships |
| Duration | Standard period of study, up to a maximum of 24 months |
| DAAD portal deadline | 12 November 2026, 24:00 CET |
| Funder | German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), via DAAD |
| Who it is for | Graduates from Sub-Saharan Africa planning a teaching and/or research career at a higher education institution in the region |
What the scholarship actually pays
DAAD does not quote one lump-sum value for this award, and this post does not invent one. The call sets out each benefit separately — and the split between In-Country and In-Region holders matters, because the monthly rate differs.
| Benefit | Amount / terms in the official call |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees | Regularly charged amount, specified in the Letter of Award; DAAD transfers fees directly to LUANAR |
| Monthly scholarship (living costs: accommodation, food, etc.) | €300 per month (In-Country) / €400 per month (In-Region) |
| Study and research allowance | €460 per year |
| Thesis publishing costs | €400 once, towards the end of the scholarship |
| Travel allowance | In-Region holders only; flat rate specified in the Letter of Award, normally paid twice (beginning and end) for programmes longer than 12 months |
| Health insurance | In-Region holders only; details specified in the Letter of Award |
Three honest caveats straight from the call. First, the monthly rates are reviewed annually and may change. Second, DAAD may not be able to cover every item in LUANAR’s fee structure, and fee increases by the institution may not be covered. Third, there are no additional benefits beyond those listed — in particular, no family-member benefits. DAAD also warns that the first payment can take time after arrival, and recommends bringing enough funds to cover at least two months of expenses, because no payments are made before the scholarship and your studies officially start.
In-Country vs In-Region: which one are you?
The distinction decides both your monthly rate and your extra benefits, so get it right before you apply:
- In-Country: you study in your home country, or in a country for which you hold a residence permit. For this programme that means studying at LUANAR as a Malawian national or permanent resident (or a resident-permit holder in Malawi). Monthly rate: €300.
- In-Region: you study in another Sub-Saharan African country — outside your home country and outside any country for which you hold a residence permit. So a fisheries graduate from, say, Zambia, Tanzania or Mozambique studying at LUANAR in Malawi would be In-Region. Monthly rate: €400, plus travel allowance and health insurance.
Up to five awards are reserved for In-Country scholars and up to seven for In-Region scholars, subject to funds being provided by the German ministry. The awarding of scholarships is expressly subject to that funding.
Who can apply
The eligibility bar is specific, and two rules knock out otherwise strong applicants — so check them first:
| Requirement | What the call says |
|---|---|
| Nationality / residence | National or permanent resident of a Sub-Saharan African country |
| First degree | Completed 3- or 4-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with above-average results — at least Second Class/Upper Division or equivalent. Candidates who cannot provide that grade are not eligible. |
| Recency | Your last university degree must have been completed no more than 6 years before the time of application |
| Language | Thorough knowledge of the language of instruction |
| Motivation | Clear motivation and strong commitment; the programme targets people planning a teaching and/or research career |
| Prior DAAD funding | If you have already received a DAAD master’s scholarship, you are NOT eligible for further DAAD master’s funding |
Women, refugees with recognised refugee status, and candidates from marginalised regions or groups are especially encouraged to apply. The call also names a preferred target group — staff of public universities, candidates considered for teaching or research recruitment, public-sector candidates, and DAFI-programme alumni — but it states explicitly that fresh graduates, professionals and other candidates who do not fit those categories are also invited to apply. LUANAR may also have its own additional admission requirements, so the DAAD scholarship application alone is not enough (see below).
How to apply: two applications, not one
This is the single most common mistake with DAAD In-Country/In-Region awards, and the call stresses it twice. You must do both of these:
- Apply for the DAAD scholarship via the DAAD portal by 12 November 2026 (midnight CET). The portal link is given in the official call for this programme. DAAD notes the portal works only to a limited extent on mobile devices — use a desktop computer. All documents must be in PDF format, in English or German (with certified translations for documents in other languages).
- Apply separately for admission at LUANAR, using the university’s own procedure and contact details. LUANAR sets its own admission deadline, which may differ from DAAD’s — familiarise yourself with it early. The scholarship only becomes effective after DAAD receives proof of admission from the university and proof of arrival at LUANAR.
DAAD conducts a formal review of portal applications only, then a final selection organised by DAAD considers applications that meet both LUANAR’s admission requirements (including the university’s pre-selection ranking) and DAAD’s formal criteria. An independent selection committee of international university teachers, experts and alumni assesses academic performance and quality, extracurricular activities, motivation and, where applicable, the relevance of the research topic. Interviews may also be conducted.
Documents checklist
Have every file ready before you start the portal application — incomplete applications cannot be considered. Mandatory documents for the DAAD portal application:
- Completed online application form
- Tabular curriculum vitae (CV)
- DAAD Letter of Recommendation form — completed, signed and, if possible, stamped by a university teacher who can comment on your qualifications. This specific DAAD form is mandatory and the only format accepted.
- Copy of your most recent bachelor’s degree certificate, including final grades — final certificate only; no provisional certificates are accepted (unless restrictions beyond your control prevent issuance, in which case submit an institutional statement explaining why)
- Transcript of records of your most recent university degree, plus grading scale if available
- Letter of motivation, 1–2 pages (at least 300 and not more than 1,000 words), covering personal, social and academic motivation plus a possible master’s project — or, for a course-based master’s, the time schedule of your studies and course project
- Copy of a valid passport or national identification card, valid at the time of application
Two documents may follow later, but must arrive before funding starts: proof of admission from LUANAR, and (for course-based programmes) a semester schedule, or (for research-based programmes) a time schedule. Optional attachments include a list of publications, further degree certificates and transcripts, and proof of internships or employment. If you apply for more than one master’s programme in this DAAD programme, you must rank your preferences clearly in your motivation letter — a maximum of three applications will be considered.
Timeline: what happens after 12 November
| Stage | Date / window (official call) |
|---|---|
| DAAD portal deadline | 12 November 2026, 24:00 CET — applications through other channels will not be considered |
| Selection process | Typically April to September (of the following year) |
| Final decision announced | Approximately six months after the application process has concluded; dates are subject to change |
| Scholarship usually begins | 1 August of the following year (1 August 2027 for this intake) |
| First-year review | After the first year, academic achievements are reviewed; funding continues as planned if you are on track to complete within a reasonable period |
| Maximum funding | Up to 24 months; arriving after the official start date shortens the scholarship accordingly |
That timeline is why the November deadline matters even though study starts the following August: selection alone runs into the next year, and the final decision lands roughly six months after the call closes. Apply now; plan the wait.
Two bonuses worth knowing about
First, DAAD In-Country/In-Region master’s holders in research-based (or research-and-coursework-based) programmes are encouraged to apply for a short-term research stay in Germany of 3 to 6 months, with its own monthly payment, health/accident/personal-liability insurance and flat-rate travel allowance — but only if sufficient funding is available, only if you flag it in your initial application, and only within the regular study period (it must not extend it). Second, all holders are invited to further training opportunities such as E-Trainings. Neither bonus is guaranteed, and neither should be the reason you apply — the LUANAR degree is.
Five traps that disqualify good applicants
- Only applying to DAAD and forgetting LUANAR admission — the scholarship cannot start without proof of admission from the university.
- Uploading a provisional degree certificate — DAAD accepts final certificates only.
- Applying with a degree older than six years — the six-year rule is a hard eligibility cut-off in the call.
- Missing the midnight-CET cut-off — the portal closes at 24:00 CET on 12 November 2026, not your local midnight. Submit early; DAAD warns to allow for processing times.
- Assuming the monthly rate covers everything — bring at least two months of living funds for the gap before the first payment, and budget for items the call does not cover, such as repeat-exam fees.
How this compares with other funded fisheries degrees
If Malawi is not the right fit, Fisheries India has recently covered three other funded routes — compare them before you commit to one application, remembering you may rank up to three DAAD programmes in one motivation letter:
- £7,000 off Stirling Aquaculture MSc — first scholarship round closes 15 December 2026 (Scotland, September 2027 start)
- Fully funded ocean degree in China — CSC scholarship, deadline 1 February 2027 (Shanghai Ocean University)
- Europe’s marine master’s across 11 universities — IMBRSea Cohort 2027 opens 1 December 2026
- A$10,000 UTAS marine science scholarship — applications close 8 January 2027 (Tasmania)
The Malawi award is the only one of the four that funds study inside Africa itself — a deliberate design choice by DAAD, whose stated aim is to strengthen higher education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa so graduates can take up teaching and research roles in their own region.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a scholarship to study in Germany?
No. This is an In-Country/In-Region scholarship: you study at LUANAR in Malawi. The Germany element is only the optional 3–6 month research stay described above, if funding allows.
Can Indian or other non-African students apply?
No — the call requires applicants to be nationals or permanent residents of a Sub-Saharan African country.
Do I need LUANAR admission before 12 November?
No. Proof of admission may be submitted later, but it must be provided before the scholarship begins, and LUANAR has its own admission deadline — check it separately and early.
What if my degree grade is below Second Class Upper?
The call states candidates who cannot provide Second Class/Upper Division or equivalent are not eligible.
Is the €400 monthly rate guaranteed?
€400 is the In-Region rate in the current call; €300 is the In-Country rate. The call notes monthly rates are reviewed annually and may change, and the exact tuition and travel amounts are specified in each scholar’s Letter of Award.
Official links — verify before you apply
- DAAD scholarship database: In-Country/In-Region Programme Sub-Saharan Africa (official programme page, deadline 12 November 2026)
- Official call for applications: LUANAR MSc Aquaculture and Fisheries Science 2027 (DAAD PDF, edition 08/2026)
- LUANAR programme page: MSc Aquaculture and Fisheries Science
Fact-check note: all dates, amounts, place numbers and eligibility rules in this post are taken from the official DAAD call for the LUANAR Aquaculture and Fisheries Science programme (edition 08/2026) and the official DAAD scholarship-database page, both verified on 31 October 2026. The deadline — 12 November 2026, midnight CET — is still open on the date of publication. Amounts are as stated in the call and are subject to annual review; always confirm the current details on the official call before applying. The images in this post are illustrations.