For the scholarship programme 1 of KAAD you can apply if you:

• come from a developing or emerging country in Africa, Asia, the Middle East or Latin America and are currently living there
• have a university degree and professional experience from your home country
• want to acquire a master's degree or a PhD at a German university or do a post-doctoral research project (2-6 months for established university lecturers) at a German university
• are a Catholic Christian (or general belong to a Christian denomination). Candidates from other religions can apply if they are proposed by Catholic partners and can prove their commitment to interreligious dialogue
• possess German language skills before starting the studies (KAAD can provide a language course of max. 6 months in Germany).

What does KAAD expect from you?

• Above-average performance in studies and research
• The orientation of your studies or research towards permanent reintegration in your home region (otherwise the scholarship is turned into a loan),
• Religious and social commitment (activities) and willingness to inter-religious dialogue.

KAAD is working with focus- and partner countries in your region. There are so-called Partner Committees in these countries and applications are channelled via them. Applications from other countries can be considered only in exceptional cases.

Africa

Our programme for sub-Saharan Africa is geared towards development of African countries and societies as well as development of qualified individuals.
Young university graduates, who have already taken over responsibility in church and society, should be empowered to continue along this line and do it in an even more qualified way. Beneficiaries of KAAD-scholarships are predominantly from needy families and display academic excellence. The ultimate aim of our scholarship policy is the promotion of so-called "Agents of Change”.

The focus countries in Africa today are: Ghana, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe andKenya. Uganda and Tanzania are counted to be part of the focus region East Africa, apart from Kenya. There are four Partner Committees which are also responsible for the adjoining countries of the above mentioned. In addition, there are local partner bodies, or contact persons in our partner countryCameroon.

In the focus countries Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, there is – within the S1-programme – also the possibility for Master-scholarships at local universities (so called “in-country scholarships”). The in-country scholars together with the alumni are convening in local KAAD-networks that aim at making an impact in church and society of their home countries.

Interested graduates can download the application questionnaire. It is then to be filled and sent back to af3[at]kaad.de. For detailed information about application requirements and procedures, we recommend to read the Frequently Asked Questions.

KAAD has a long history of working in Asia, a continent characterized by dynamic changes in its economy, societies, cultures, and also religious matters.

Countries of major focus are: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Cambodia,Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and China.

Currently one can observe a generational transition in the fields of politics and the economy in many Asian countries. This process should be accompanied by universities and also the Church. Such measures shall be understood as acts of friendly cooperation between the German and Asian societies and churches.

In Asia the main focus of our work is supporting key multipliers in selected academic fields and we are guided by the idea of setting up networks. One aspect is the development of new forms of financial cooperation in some of our partner countries. "Memoranda of Understanding" were signed with universities in China, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. We also cooperate with selected partner institutions in China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. In Korea a foundation was set up by KAAD-alumni in order to finance additional scholarships for Asian students.

Interested students and scholars are welcome to fill out this form and send it to Dr. Heinrich Geiger, Head, Asia Department, (Geiger[at]kaad.de ) or you turn to the corresponding partner committee.

The main goal of our Latin America engagement is setting up a network of Catholic scientists/academics and institutions of higher learning. We aim at fostering international academic exchange and close cooperation between the Latin American and German churches. At the same time, KAAD understands its scholarship program as a contribution to strengthen civic society and to the “Option for the Poor” of Latin American churches. Countries of major focus areMexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil.

KAAD is firmly rooted in the academic and church lives of many countries which can be seen in the activities of partner committees, alumni-associations and the cooperation with church and state universities (convenios). KAAD-Alumni are engaged in social projects, organize academic seminars, and publish their own journals. Through such activities highly-qualified and socially conscious laypeople guarantee that KAAD is actively present in Latin American societies and regional churches.

Young Catholic academics who are envisioning to do post-graduate studies in Germany and who share our mission in Latin America are welcome to fill out this form and to mail it either to the corresponding partner committee or to Dr. Thomas Krueggeler, Head, Latin America Department (Krueggeler(at)kaad.de).

The Near and Middle East Department covers a wide geographical area ranging from Morocco in the West to Afghanistan in the East. The populations of the countries included are mainly Muslim (with the exception of Israel). Christian communities (about 15 million people) form minorities and often live under rather difficult conditions. That is why KAAD´s regional program for the Near and Middle East aims at two main objectives: Strengthening Christian churches and communities and encouraging interreligious dialogue as well as the encounter of individuals who are working towards a higher level of social integration. As a contribution to a sincere dialogue scholarships can be granted also to Muslim applicants proposed by our Catholic partners. In this context, please, also note KAAD´s Georges-Anawati-Scholarship for research projects on the issue of dialogue between Islam and Christianity

By following the above-mentioned objectives the program wants to make a contribution to the peacefull coexistence in this conflict-ridden region. It also wants to help Christian communities to better root in their traditional social and academic environments and to counter the present tendency towards their exodus.

Countries of focus of our scholarship programs for post-graduate academics are: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine/Israel and Syria. Medical doctors please note: As a matter of principle, KAAD does not sponsor long-term specialization programs (Facharztausbildungen) in Germany.

In the focus countries Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, there is – within the S1-programme – also the possibility for Master-scholarships at local universities (so called “in-country scholarships”/”third country scholarships”).

Individuals interested in our programs may fill out this form and mail it to:
Mrs. Kristina Schumacher (schumacher(at)kaad.de)

Information on our regional partner committees can be found here.