SchoolRegistry Pathways · Scholarships
DAAD Scholarships for Germany
Funded by Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, the German Academic Exchange Service
Germany is the cheapest serious study destination for a Nigerian family already, because public universities charge no tuition. A DAAD award on top of that covers the living costs, which is the part that actually stops people.
We do not run this scholarship, and our advice on it is free.
Apply for it directly through the official body below. If it does not come through, Germany is a destination we apply to on your behalf at no cost to your family, so there is a route either way.
What it covers, and who it is for
What it covers
Varies by programme. Most award a monthly living stipend, travel and health insurance; tuition is often already zero at German public universities.
Level
Mostly master's and PhD, with some research and short-course grants
Where it sends you
Germany
Who qualifies
- A completed first degree, usually within the last six years for the development-related master's awards
- Often two years of professional experience for the development-related programmes
- Admission or eligibility for the German course you apply to
- Language requirement depends on the course, English for English-taught programmes
Deadlines
DAAD is not one scholarship but a database of hundreds, each with its own deadline. Search their scholarship database for your subject and level rather than looking for a single closing date.
We do not print a date on this page on purpose. Scholarship deadlines move every year, and a stale date on somebody else's blog is how people miss them. Go to the official page and check.
If you do not get it
Germany without a scholarship is still the lowest-tuition option on our list. The obstacle is the blocked account rather than the fees, and that is a different problem with different solutions.
Worth saying plainly: most people who apply for a fully funded award do not get one. That is not a reflection on you, it is the number of places. The families who still travel are the ones who had a second plan ready before the intake closed. That is a thirty-minute conversation and it costs nothing.
How Pathways is paid, and what we never promise
Placement is free to families. Universities pay SchoolRegistry a fee when a student we place enrols. It never changes your fee and it never changes which programme we recommend: the shortlist is ordered by fit, then refusal risk, then cost to you, and that rule is printed with every list. We do not promise admission or a visa, to anyone. Pathways is operated by Academic Support Services NG Ltd (RC 9416237), Ikeja, Lagos; write to pathway@schoolregistry.ng.
Questions about the DAAD scholarship
Who can apply for the DAAD scholarship?
A completed first degree, usually within the last six years for the development-related master's awards. Often two years of professional experience for the development-related programmes. Admission or eligibility for the German course you apply to. Language requirement depends on the course, English for English-taught programmes.
What does the DAAD scholarship cover?
Varies by programme. Most award a monthly living stipend, travel and health insurance; tuition is often already zero at German public universities.
What level of study is the DAAD scholarship for?
Mostly master's and PhD, with some research and short-course grants. It covers study in Germany.
When is the DAAD deadline?
DAAD is not one scholarship but a database of hundreds, each with its own deadline. Search their scholarship database for your subject and level rather than looking for a single closing date. We deliberately do not print a date here, because these move every year and a stale one could cost you the application. The official source is https://www.daad.de/en/studying-in-germany/scholarships/daad-scholarships/.
What if I do not get the DAAD scholarship?
Germany without a scholarship is still the lowest-tuition option on our list. The obstacle is the blocked account rather than the fees, and that is a different problem with different solutions. Most people who apply for any fully funded award do not get it, which is not a reflection on them. Having a second plan ready before the intake closes is the difference between going a year later and not going at all.
Does SchoolRegistry Pathways charge for this advice?
No. We are paid by universities when a student we place enrols, so our guidance on scholarships is free and we earn nothing from you applying for one. We do not administer or award any scholarship on this page.
Other scholarships Nigerians apply for
- PTDF Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program
- Chevening Scholarship
- Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship
- Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship
- NNPC and joint venture scholarships
- Commonwealth Scholarships
- All scholarships
Checked on 5 October 2026. SchoolRegistry Pathways does not administer, award or influence any scholarship listed here.