2026 DAAD Scholarship at University of Ghana for Africans | Fully Funded
The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement didn’t start yesterday — it’s been training plant breeders and crop scientists since 2007, when it was established at the University of Ghana in partnership with Cornell University and with funding from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. The specific MPhil in Seed Science and Technology programme covered by this scholarship runs under the World Bank’s Africa Centres of Excellence Project, developed in collaboration with Iowa State University’s Seed Science Center.
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The application window most recently referenced for this scholarship closed November 27, 2025, though DAAD’s broader In-Country/In-Region programme listings have referenced an April 29, 2026 deadline for WACCI specifically as well — a detail worth flagging, since WACCI-DAAD calls have historically been extended or updated more than once in past cycles. Both dates have now passed regardless. Here’s what this scholarship actually involves for anyone planning toward the next intake.
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A Genuinely Applied Two-Year Programme
WACCI’s MPhil in Seed Science and Technology isn’t structured as two years of classroom study — it’s deliberately split between theory and hands-on application. Students spend the first nine months in coursework at the University of Ghana, engaging with current seed science and technology instruction alongside business management modules, before moving into a three-month experiential attachment at a research institution or private seed company, either locally in Ghana or internationally.
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That attachment component is central to the programme’s design: WACCI’s stated goal is producing broadly trained individuals capable of genuinely improving farmers’ access to high-quality seeds across Africa, not simply researchers working in isolation from the seed industry itself.
DAAD’s In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme, which funds this specific MPhil track, is itself a broader initiative supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), running across dozens of partner institutions throughout Sub-Saharan Africa — WACCI is just one of many hosts within that wider network, though it’s one of DAAD’s longer-running and more established partnerships within it.
DAAD Scholarship at University of Ghana Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | DAAD at University of Ghana |
| Host Country ⇒ | Ghana |
| Study Level ⇒ | Masters |
| Benefits ⇒ | Full tuition, monthly stipend (€400–500), research allowance, thesis grant, travel and health coverage for In-Region scholars |
| Funded by ⇒ | DAAD, in partnership with WACCI, University of Ghana |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | Sub-Saharan African countries |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Most recently referenced as November 27, 2025, though DAAD’s broader listings have also cited April 29, 2026 for WACCI specifically. Both have passed — confirm the current cycle’s exact date directly with WACCI |
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the WACCI-DAAD MPhil scholarship, applicants generally need to meet the following:
- You must hold a Bachelor’s degree, at minimum a Second Class Upper division or equivalent, in Crop Science, Agriculture, Botany, or a closely related field
- You must be a citizen or permanent resident of a Sub-Saharan African country
- You must have completed your last university degree within the past six years
- You should demonstrate strong academic performance, genuine motivation, and clear research interest
- You must be proficient in English, the language of instruction — applicants without prior English-medium instruction generally need a TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based)
- You must fall into one of the following categories: a current university staff member, a potential academic or research recruit, a public sector employee, or a qualified graduate aspiring to build a research or teaching career
Female applicants, refugees, and candidates from disadvantaged regions are specifically and explicitly encouraged to apply, reflecting DAAD’s broader stated commitment to diversifying who has access to this kind of postgraduate research training.
What the Scholarship Provides
Benefits differ slightly depending on whether you’re applying as an In-Country or In-Region candidate:
- Full tuition fees, paid directly to the University of Ghana
- A monthly stipend: €400 for In-Country scholars, or €500 for In-Region scholars, reflecting the added relocation costs In-Region candidates typically face
- A research and study allowance of €460 per year
- A one-time thesis publication grant of €400
- Travel allowance, provided specifically for In-Region scholars relocating from another Sub-Saharan African country
- Health insurance, covered specifically for In-Region scholars
- Access to short-term research stays in Germany, typically three to six months, offering direct exposure to German research institutions
- Participation in DAAD summer schools and online training programmes, extending professional development beyond the core MPhil curriculum
Required Documents
Applications are submitted through the DAAD online portal, with every document required in PDF format, in English or German only:
- Completed DAAD online application form
- Curriculum Vitae, in tabular form
- A motivation letter, one to two pages, explaining your academic goals and why the specific programme fits them
- Bachelor’s degree certificate and academic transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation from university lecturers
- Proof of nationality — passport or national ID card
- Proof of English proficiency, where applicable
- Proof of admission to the WACCI programme, which can be submitted later, before the scholarship formally begins
- Any additional supporting documents — publications, awards, or employment certificates
How to Apply for the Next Cycle
Based on how WACCI-DAAD cycles have historically run, expect a staged, multi-step process rather than a single submission:
- Watch both WACCI’s official website and the University of Ghana’s Graduate Admissions page for the announcement of the next call, since applications typically begin with admission to WACCI itself before DAAD scholarship consideration.
- Complete the online admissions form on the University of Ghana Graduate Admissions Page by whatever deadline that specific cycle sets.
- WACCI reviews applications and submits its shortlisted candidates directly to DAAD.
- DAAD contacts shortlisted candidates directly, at which point you’ll need to complete a separate submission through the DAAD portal itself, by its own specific deadline.
- Prepare your CV, motivation letter, transcripts, recommendation letters, and supporting documents well in advance of both stages, since the process moves through WACCI’s shortlisting before reaching DAAD’s own review.
- Await notification — DAAD has historically confirmed scholarship awardees several months after the final submission stage, so budget for a genuinely long wait between applying and hearing back.
Application Deadline
The most recently and consistently referenced deadline for this specific call was November 27, 2025, though DAAD’s broader In-Country/In-Region programme listings have also cited April 29, 2026, for WACCI specifically — a discrepancy that likely reflects either an extension or a subsequent intake cycle, consistent with WACCI’s own history of updating and extending previous calls (its 2022/2023 cycle, for instance, was extended and restructured after an initial deadline).
Both referenced dates have now passed. Given this history of shifting and multi-stage deadlines, prospective applicants should treat any single cited date with some caution and confirm the current cycle’s exact, up-to-date deadline directly with WACCI before assuming a fixed annual pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the WACCI-DAAD MPhil Scholarship still accepting applications?
The most recently referenced deadlines — November 27, 2025, and April 29, 2026 — have both passed. WACCI has a history of extending or restructuring its calls between cycles, so confirm the current status directly on WACCI’s official website.
How many scholarships are available?
Up to 10 total per cycle — 3 reserved for In-Country candidates (studying in their home country) and 7 for In-Region candidates (from other Sub-Saharan African countries).
What’s the difference between In-Country and In-Region status?
In-Country candidates are studying in their home country or country of residence, receiving a €400 monthly stipend. In-Region candidates come from other Sub-Saharan African countries, receiving a higher €500 monthly stipend along with travel and health insurance coverage to offset relocation costs.
Do I need to apply separately to WACCI and DAAD?
Yes. The process runs through both — WACCI reviews and shortlists applicants for admission first, and DAAD then separately reviews and confirms scholarship funding for shortlisted candidates through its own portal.
How long does the MPhil programme take?
Two years total: nine months of coursework at the University of Ghana, followed by a three-month experiential attachment at a research institution or seed company, locally or internationally.
Is there a minimum degree classification required?
Yes. A Bachelor’s degree at minimum Second Class Upper division, or its equivalent, in Crop Science, Agriculture, Botany, or a related field.
Disclaimer: All programme details, deadlines, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official and publicly available sources as of August 2026. Deadlines for this scholarship have shifted between cycles in the past, so information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on WACCI’s official website or the DAAD portal before applying. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with DAAD or the University of Ghana.
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