DAAD Master's Scholarship 2027 at the University of Rwanda: Apply by 12 November 2026

DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship 2027: Fully Funded MSc in Electrical Power Systems at the University of Rwanda. 

If you've been looking for a funded Master's in Rwanda, here's one worth your attention. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), supported by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is inviting applications for the 2027 intake of the Master of Science in Electrical Power Systems at the University of Rwanda in Kigali.

The application deadline on the DAAD Portal is 12th November 2026 and applies to all candidates. Please note that scholarship awards depend on the German Federal Ministry providing the funds.

About the programme

The In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa aims to build strong, internationally oriented higher education systems in the region. Scholarships go to people who plan a career in teaching or research at a higher education institution in Sub-Saharan Africa.

By training future academic and professional leaders, the programme hopes to achieve three long-term impacts:

• Qualified professionals getting involved in solving development-related problems in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Graduates strengthening education and research in the region
• Stronger structures and regional networking among partner institutions and universities

To get there, it works toward three objectives:

1. Graduates are qualified to take on responsible positions in their region of origin, or for it.
2. The participation of women and underprivileged groups is reinforced.
3. The organizational, financial and personal capacities of partner institutions are strengthened.

The programme is designed first for university staff, but it also serves the public sector's need for academically trained people.

In-Country or In-Region: what's the difference?

The target group is graduates from Sub-Saharan Africa with a first academic degree who want to do a Master's either:

• In their home country (In-Country): for students who study in their home country, or in the country where they hold a residence permit.
• In another Sub-Saharan African country (In-Region): for students who want to study in a country of their home region, outside their home country or in a country where they don't have a residence permit.

For the 2027 intake, DAAD and the University of Rwanda are offering up to five (5) In-Country scholarships and eight (8) In-Region scholarships.

Who should apply?

DAAD says applicants should be:

• a staff member of a public university,
• a candidate being considered for teaching or research staff recruitment,
• from the public sector, and/or
• an alumnus or alumna of the DAFI programme.

Fresh graduates, professionals and other candidates who don't fit those groups are also invited to apply. Female applicants, refugees with recognised refugee status, and candidates from marginalized regions or groups are especially encouraged.

Eligibility requirements.

To qualify, you must:

• Hold a first academic degree (a three- or four-year university degree) in Electrical Engineering or Electromechanical Engineering, or an equivalent, with above-average results. That means at least Second Class/Upper Division or equivalent, with a cumulative average of not less than 70%, if applicable.
• Understand that applicants from related fields, such as Mechatronics or Renewable Energy Engineering, may also be admitted if they've completed enough core modules relevant to the MSc in Electrical Power Systems. The Admissions and Training Committee will assess this.
• Show clear motivation and strong commitment.
• Have a thorough knowledge of the language of instruction.
• Have completed your last university degree no more than 6 years before the time of application.
• Be a national or permanent resident of a Sub-Saharan African country.

Candidates who can't provide a Second Class/Upper Division or higher result are not eligible.

A few important notes:

• If you've already received a DAAD Master's scholarship, you can't get further Master's funding from DAAD.
• The University of Rwanda may have extra admission requirements.
• If you plan to apply for more than one Master's programme within the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Programme, you must rank your preferences in your Letter of Motivation. A maximum of three applications will be considered.

The programme at a glance

• Programme: Master of Science in Electrical Power Systems
• Place of study: University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
• Format: Full-time, through modular coursework and a dissertation
• Duration: Standard period of study, up to a maximum of 24 months (four semesters)
• Usual start date: 1st September of the following year

In your application, state the entire period you're seeking funding for. For example, if you're planning a two-year programme, you should specify the two full years. After the first year, your academic results will be reviewed as part of the further funding procedure. If you're on track to finish within a reasonable time, the scholarship continues as planned.

The maximum duration covers the year you apply for plus the time left until the end of the regular study period. The standard period of study and start date come from the Affiliate Agreement between the University of Rwanda and DAAD. And if you arrive after the official start date, your scholarship will be shortened accordingly.

What the scholarship covers.

Some things to keep in mind:

• In some cases, DAAD may not be able to cover all fees listed in the institution's official fee structure. This can happen if agreements with the funding organisation prevent certain items from being funded, or if some costs are meant to be paid from your individual scholarship benefits.
• DAAD pays tuition fees directly to the host institution. It can't cover extra fees from repeating exams, and fee increases by the institution may not be covered.
• Monthly scholarship rates are reviewed every year, so amounts may change.

How and when you'll be paid.

DAAD will try to make the first monthly payment as quickly as possible after you arrive and your scholarship officially starts. The first transfer can take a while, especially if you can only open a bank account after arriving. So DAAD recommends bringing enough money to cover at least two months of expenses.

Payments can't be made in advance, before the scholarship starts or before your studies officially begin at the host university. No extra benefits beyond those listed in the call, such as benefits for family members, can be granted. For In-Region scholars, the travel allowance is transferred only together with the first scholarship payment, after arrival in the host country.

Funds go straight to your bank account, and the Letter of Award will give you the details. DAAD can end the scholarship agreement and stop payments immediately if there's good cause, such as violations of the rules of good scientific practice or DAAD guidelines.

Extra benefits for scholars.

Scholarship holders in research-based (or research and coursework-based) Master's programmes are encouraged to apply for a short-term research stay in Germany of 3 to 6 months. A few conditions apply:

• It should be indicated in your initial scholarship application, and it can only be granted if enough funding is available.
• The stay must fall within the regular study period of the programme and can't extend it.
• More information will be shared on request via the DAAD Portal after you receive your scholarship.

The short-term research scholarship includes a monthly payment for living expenses, health, accident and personal liability insurance, and a flat-rate travel allowance.

All In-Country/In-Region scholarship holders are also invited to take part in further training opportunities, such as E-Trainings. Details come after admission to the scholarship programme.

How to apply

This is a two-part process, and you need to do both parts.

Part 1: Apply for the DAAD scholarship

1. Register on the DAAD portal: https://portal.meindaad.de/sites/personalfunding/#PBFApplication-Start?fundingProgramInstance=57883917
2. Log in to the portal.
3. Read the portal's application instructions carefully.
4. Submit your application by the deadline.

Make sure your application is complete and meets DAAD requirements before you submit; otherwise, it can't be considered. DAAD only reviews applications received through the portal. Anything sent through other channels or to other authorities won't be considered.

Part 2: Apply for admission at the University of Rwanda

You must also apply for admission at the University of Rwanda through its own contact details and procedures. The university sets its own admission deadline, so find out about its application process early.

Also keep in mind that some countries require a document from a Qualifications Authority. For example, In-Region applicants with qualifications obtained outside Rwanda may need recognition or equivalence from the Higher Education Council of Rwanda. These documents take time, and getting them on time is your responsibility.

Documents you need to prepare.

Everything must be in English or German. If a document is in another language, upload the original with a certified translation. All files must be saved as PDF, since only PDFs can be uploaded to the portal. Have everything ready before you start the online application.

Mandatory documents

• Online application form: fully completed and submitted.
• Curriculum Vitae: in tabular format.
• DAAD Letter of Recommendation form: completed, signed and, if possible, stamped by a university teacher who can speak to your qualifications. Download the form, send it to your lecturer to complete and return, then upload it under "Mandatory Attachments, Letter of Recommendation." This specific form is mandatory and is the only format DAAD accepts.
• Copy of your most recent Bachelor's degree certificate (including final grades): at least a successfully completed three- or four-year degree with above-average results (Second Class/Upper Division or equivalent). You can only apply with a final degree certificate, and DAAD does not accept provisional certificates. If you face restrictions beyond your control in getting your certificate issued, submit a statement from the institution explaining why. If available, also include the grading scale of your final degree and information on how your degree is recognised in the host country.
• Transcript of records for your most recent university degree.
• Letter of Motivation: 1 to 2 pages (at least 300 and not more than 1,000 words) covering your personal, social and academic motivation for choosing these studies, together with a possible Master's project. If you're applying for a course-based Master's, outline the time schedule of your studies and your course project. If you're applying to more than one programme, rank them here (maximum of three considered).
• Copy of a valid passport or national ID card: it must be valid at the time of application. In-Region applicants who are selected must make sure their travel documents are valid before departure.

Documents that can come later

These must be submitted no later than the start of scholarship funding:

• Proof of admission: can be uploaded later if you don't have it at application time, but it must be provided before the scholarship begins.
• Semester schedule: for course-based programmes.
• Time schedule: for research-based programmes. If applicable, mention your planned short-term research stay in Germany.

For programmes with both coursework and research, include a semester schedule for the coursework and an approximate schedule for the research part.

Optional documents (if available or relevant)

• A list of publications
• Further university degree certificates and transcripts
• For refugees: a valid Refugee Identity Card and/or UNHCR registration document (you must upload a valid document at the time of application)
• Other supporting documents, such as proof of internships or proof of employment

The selection process.

Once the formal review is done, applications that meet both the University of Rwanda's admission requirements (including its pre-selection ranking) and DAAD's formal criteria go to an independent selection committee. The committee includes international university teachers, experts from German and foreign universities, and alumni.

They'll assess your documents, taking the university's pre-selection ranking into account. The criteria include academic performance and quality, extracurricular activities, motivation, and, if applicable, the relevance of your research topic. Interviews may also be held.

Selection usually takes place between April and September. The final decision for Sub-Saharan Africa is announced about six months after the application process closes. These details can change, and DAAD keeps the right to make final decisions.

Your scholarship only becomes effective after DAAD has received:

1. Proof of admission from the university, and
2. Proof of arrival, for example, an airline ticket, a letter from a supervisor or coordinator, or an admission test, showing you're present at the host university to start your studies. Upload it to the DAAD portal as soon as possible. It's required once you receive confirmation of the scholarship and before your studies begin.

Key dates

• Application deadline: 12th November 2026. The DAAD portal closes at midnight (24:00) Central European Time (CET or CEST) on that day.
• Virtual information sessions: 7 October 2026, 21 October 2026 and 4 November 2026. The 7 October session has already passed, but you can still join the other two. Register through the Webex link on DAAD's call page, where you'll also find the time slots.

My advice is to not leave things for the last day. Portal processing takes time, and getting your recommendation letter signed and your documents translated or recognised can take longer than you'd expect.

Contacts

Questions about the DAAD scholarship
Friederike Schustek, DAAD
Email: icir.nairobi@daad.de
Website: https://www.daad.de/incountry-inregion

Questions about admission and the study programme at the University of Rwanda
Dr. Emmanuel Ufiteyezu
Email: eufiteyezu@ur.ac.rw or ufiteyezuem@yahoo.fr
Websites: https://aceesd.ur.ac.rw/master-of-science-in-electrical-power-systems and https://aceesd.ur.ac.rw/spip.php?article9

Technical problems with the DAAD portal
Email: portal@daad.de

Need help with your application?

If you need support preparing your documents or putting your application together, reach out on +250784868557. You can also join our WhatsApp channel to get new scholarship and job opportunities as soon as we publish them.

This scholarship is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Always confirm details on the official DAAD call and portal before you apply.