The Catholic Academic Exchange Service (KAAD) is a scholarship organization of the German Catholic Church that provides financial and civic educational support for high potential postgraduate scholars from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

The priority area is scholarships for PhD studies. PhD scholars register at a German University, although their field research can be conducted in Africa.

PhD scholarships are granted for up to 3.5 years (including 6 months German language training) and for all subjects.

KAAD provides support for individuals, i.e. usually scholars cannot be accompanied by their families.

Applications for Master-programs in Germany will be considered primarily for candidates whose professional experience and objectives reveal that a Masters-degree, and not a PhD, is the final goal of their higher education (‘terminal Master’).

If someone changes his/her mind after the Master-program and wishes to apply for a Ph.D. scholarship, he/she must obtain an additional three years of relevant work experience in Africa first.

Rare exceptions from this rule may be allowed for female candidates.

Applications at Masters level may also be considered for programs in Ghana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe (‘in-country scholarships’).

Scholars who pursued Master-studies in one of these partner countries under a KAAD scholarship are entitled to compete for a Ph.D. scholarship for Germany at any time after their Master’s degree (‘second scholarships’).

Masters and PhD Scholarships Eligibility:

• Significant social and religious commitment: A clear preference is given to catholic (or Ethiopian orthodox) applicants.

The ideal candidate should be creative, with a distinguished personal integrity and leadership qualities.

• Academic excellence: A university degree (Bachelor, Master) with very good results (minimum: ‘2nd class upper’ with an average grade of B or above, ‘bien’, CGPA of 3.2/4.0, or equivalent results).
• Upper age limits for Master’s level and doctorates are 32 and 35 years, respectively.

Applicants who don’t receive a reply from KAAD within 8 weeks have not been shortlisted for the next step of the preselection.

Only inquiries containing the information asked for in the Catholic Academic Exchange Service website can be answered.

For more information and application materials, visit: Masters and PhD Scholarships – Catholic Academic Exchange Service (KAAD)