Can I get a DAAD scholarship from Nigeria or Ghana, and does it change my student visa?
Short answer
Yes, a scholarship can change parts of your visa process. The Federal Foreign Office says a scholarship from public funds can count as proof of funds, and the German Missions in Nigeria waive the visa fee for holders of a scholarship from public funds. The Foreign Office does not award scholarships itself; it points you to the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service).
On this page
Who awards scholarships?
The Federal Foreign Office does not offer scholarships or travel grants itself. It has passed this task to independent organisations that it funds, and its page names the DAAD as the place to start.
Sources for this part2
What does a DAAD scholarship give you, and who is it for?
DAAD scholarships do not have to be paid back. They usually consist of a monthly payment and a flat-rate travel allowance. As examples, DAAD gives EUR 992 a month to students and EUR 1,300 to doctoral students. In many cases it also provides health, accident and personal liability insurance.
DAAD scholarships are aimed mainly at graduates, doctoral students and postdocs. Who can apply depends on the level of study:
- Full doctoral programmes in Germany are offered primarily to applicants from developing and emerging countries.
- Master's scholarships are available in particular for people from industrial countries. Some programmes are aimed at students from developing and emerging countries, for example the study scholarships for STEM subjects and the Development-related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS).
- There are also in-country and in-region programmes, which fund a study or research period in your home country or region.
Sources for this part1
Where do you find the programmes and deadlines?
Each DAAD programme has its own call for applications, and that call describes the benefits. DAAD says to pay particular attention to the deadlines, which you can check in its scholarship database.
Independent selection committees decide who gets a scholarship.
Sources for this part1
How does a scholarship change your visa application?
A scholarship can touch three parts of the process. Each comes from a different official page, and the wording differs, so read each one closely.
- Proof of funds: the Foreign Office FAQ says the funds requirement is also met if the stay is paid by a scholarship from public funds, a scholarship from an organisation recognised in Germany, or a scholarship paid from public funds in the country of origin. The FAQ also adds a condition about who arranged the link to a German university. The FAQ is general. Check your mission's page for the document it wants.
- Visa fee (Nigeria): the German Missions in Nigeria waive the fee for a national visa for foreign nationals who receive a scholarship from public funds during their stay in Germany. Their spouse or partner and minor children are covered as long as the funding covers them. The Accra visa page we checked lists the EUR 75 fee and mentions no waiver. Ask the Accra embassy whether it applies there.
- Lagos category: the Lagos student page lists holding a scholarship financed from German public funds or European supported funds for a study or PhD in Germany as one way to apply under 'Study - Specific qualifications'. All other applicants apply in the other categories, such as 'Study Regular'.
Does a scholarship change where you apply in Nigeria?
As a rule, the Consulate General in Lagos is responsible for visa applications. The Abuja embassy page lists a few exceptions for people who live in certain states, including FCT, Kano, Kaduna and Borno (the page has the full list). One listed case is scholarship holders whose scholarship is paid from public funds.
If you live in one of those states and that case fits you, the page says you can email the embassy to request a visa interview. In all other cases, the Consulate General in Lagos is responsible.
Sources for this part6
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Practise saying it out loudPeople also ask
Does the German embassy or consulate give scholarships?
No. The Federal Foreign Office says it does not offer scholarships or travel grants directly. It points students to the DAAD. 2
Do I still need a blocked account if I have a scholarship?
The Foreign Office FAQ says the funds requirement is also met when a scholarship from public funds or from an organisation recognised in Germany pays for the stay. It is a general FAQ, so ask your mission which document it wants before you decide not to open an account. 3
Do I have to pay back a DAAD scholarship?
No. DAAD says its scholarships do not have to be paid back. 1
Sources
- 1DAAD Scholarships - An OverviewOfficialDAAD · checked 29 Oct 2026
- 2I want to study in Germany. Where can I apply for a scholarship?OfficialFederal Foreign Office · checked 29 Oct 2026
- 3Studying in Germany (FAQ)OfficialFederal Foreign Office · checked 29 Oct 2026
- 4Visa feesOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 29 Oct 2026
- 5University studiesOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 29 Oct 2026
- 6Responsible MissionOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 29 Oct 2026
- 7Visa for studentsOfficialGerman Embassy Accra · checked 29 Oct 2026
Official is the embassy or a German government page. Applicant reports are what applicants say happened at their appointment. Secondary is everything else we checked.
General information, not legal advice. VisaRoom isn't connected to any embassy or government, and only the embassy decides on your visa. Something out of date? Tell us.