DAAD-SEARCA Scholarship: Study Agriculture with Full Financial Support

Advance Your Career with the DAAD-SEARCA Scholarship

Table of Content

Overview of DAAD-SEARCA Scholarship Programme
Benefits of DAAD-SEARCA Scholarship Programme
Eligibility Criteria
Application Process and Deadline

The DAAD-SEARCA Scholarship Programme is a joint initiative between the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). This prestigious scholarship is designed to support students from Southeast Asia who wish to pursue master’s and PhD degrees in agriculture and related fields. By fostering advanced agricultural research and innovation, the programme aims to empower future leaders in agriculture to address the pressing challenges of food security, sustainability, and rural development in the region.The first 15 beneficiaries of the DAAD support were graduate students from Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Ten scholarship recipients pursued their Master's degree, while five pursued their PhD.

The DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme, launched in 2018, aims to strengthen higher education systems that are internationally oriented and capable of contributing to sustainable development. It provides scholarships for Master’s or Doctoral studies in development-related fields to individuals planning to pursue careers in teaching and/or research at higher education institutions in their home country or region.

By equipping future academic professionals and leaders, the programme achieves the following long-term impacts:

Engaging qualified professionals in addressing development challenges
Empowering graduates to enhance education and research in Southeast Asia
Strengthening institutional structures and fostering regional collaboration among partner universities and institutions.

Benefits

Covers tuition and other school fees; study and research allowance; printing allowance; stipend for food, lodging and incidental expenses; travel allowance (In-Region only); and insurance.

DAAD In-Country/In-Region scholarship holders are also encouraged to apply for a research grant in Germany for 2 to 6 months, at the time of application. The short-term research scholarship includes:

A monthly scholarship payment for living costs
Health/accident/personal liability insurance
A flat-rate travel allowance

Eligibility Criteria

Open to citizens of Southeast Asian countries including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
Applicants must be pursuing studies related to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, environmental science, natural resources management, or other fields related to agricultural development.
Candidates must meet the admission requirements of the host institution and have a strong academic background.
Must be,
- (a) staff member of a public university,
- (b) or a candidate considered for teaching or research staff recruitment,
- (c) or from the public sector
Must not be more than 40 (Master's Degree) or 45 (PhD) years of age at the time of application.
Have completed their last university degree not more than 6 years ago at the time of application.
Proposed thesis research should focus on SEARCA's overarching theme of Accelerating Transformation Through Agricultural Innovation (ATTAIN). Moreover, priority research topics must fall within the ATTAIN priority areas:
- Agri-Business Models for Increased Productivity and Income
- Sustainable Farming Systems and Natural Resource Management
- Food and Nutrition Security
- Transformational Leadership for Agricultural and Rural Development (ARD)
- Gender and Youth Engagement in ARD
- Enhanced ARD towards Climate Resilience
- EcoHealth/One Health Applications to ARD

Application Process

Choose a Program: Identify a master’s or PhD programme related to agriculture or rural development at a participating Southeast Asian university.
Prepare Required Documents: Prepare and submit your academic transcripts, letter of intent, research proposal, and letters of recommendation. A strong emphasis is placed on the relevance of the applicant’s research to Southeast Asia’s agricultural challenges.
Apply for Admission: Apply to the chosen university and ensure that you meet their admission criteria.
Submit Scholarship Application: After securing admission, submit your application for the DAAD-SEARCA Scholarship through SEARCA’s scholarship portal.

The required documents to be submitted/uploaded should be in English:

DAAD and SEARCA Application forms to be filled up online;
Curriculum vitae, including a list of publications (if any);
Duly stamped (if applicable) and signed recommendation form by university teachers (one for MS, two for PhD);
Notice of university admission or proof of application to the university;
Certified true copies of diploma/certificate and transcript of academic records of each degree completed (BS diploma and TOR for MS applicants; BS and MS diploma and TORs for PhD applicants);
Letter of motivation (1-2 pages for MS or 1-3 pages for PhD) with personal, social motivation as well as your reference to the studies and a Master project (for MS applicant) or PhD project (for PhD applicant);
Copy of bio-page of the passport or a copy of National Identification Card;
Timetable (if applicable, mentioning the planned research stay in Germany);
Brief description of the research the applicant plans to conduct for thesis/dissertation. The research topic must be in line with SEARCA's overarching theme of Accelerating Transformation Through Agricultural Innovation (ATTAIN) with the following priority areas:
- Agri-Business Models for Increased Productivity and Income
- Sustainable Farming Systems and Natural Resource Management
- Food and Nutrition Security
- Transformational Leadership for Agricultural and Rural Development (ARD)
- Gender and Youth Engagement in ARD
- Enhanced ARD towards Climate Resilience
- EcoHealth/One Health Applications to ARD
Certification from a medical doctor that the applicant is in good physical and mental health condition and is fit to undertake graduate studies;
Certificate of Employment;
Result of Test of English as a Foreign Language: TOEFL iBT result (80) or IELTS result (6.0). The TOEFL results must be issued by Princeton, New Jersey, USA. Check the schedule and venue of TOEFL tests in your country at http://www.ets.org/toefl. If this is not available at the moment, a certification from the previous study post that the applicant's English proficiency is in the level of IELTS 6.0 may suffice.
For PhD candidates, the following additional documents MUST be submitted:
- Declaration of acceptance from the academic supervisor or a commitment letter from the intended study post that a supervisor will be assigned
- Detailed and precise PhD proposal (8-10 pages), including detailed work and timetable indicated with months and dates as well as information on when the last exam will take place (if applicable, mention the planned research in Germany). Concept note will not be accepted
- Abstract of the proposal on one page (please include name and title of proposal)

Application Deadline:

SEARCA : 18 October 2024
DAAD: 20 November 2024

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Scholarship at Uniplus Global to apply