Top five US, Germany scholarships and fellowships for Rwandan youth
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) Scholarship. Courtesy

As a fellow youth, I understand the challenge of finding the right opportunity to advance your career. Recognizing this, many organizations are now offering valuable opportunities.

Here is a curated selection of scholarships and fellowships for Rwandan youth, facilitated by Rwanda's partnerships with the US and Germany. Explore these five opportunities to further your studies or secure a fellowship abroad.

ALSO READ: Top six scholarship, fellowship opportunities for Rwandan youth

Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program

The 2025-2026 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program will offer a one-year, fully funded scholarship for mid-career professionals.

This program targets people working at the policy level who have a record of leadership, a commitment to public service, and the initiative to design a self-defined program of independent study at a leading American university.

The Humphrey Fellowship aims to foster an exchange of knowledge and mutual understanding between Americans and professional counterparts from Rwanda.

Eligible candidates must have a bachelor's degree, five years of substantial professional experience, a demonstrated commitment to public service, a leadership position with policy impact responsibilities, and fluency in English.

Successful applicants will be placed at participating universities for the August 2025—June 2026 academic year.

Benefits: round-trip international travel, tuition and university fees, settling-in and monthly maintenance allowances, funding for books and professional activities, and limited accident and sickness insurance (excluding pre-existing conditions and pregnancy).

Fellowships are available in fields like Human and Institutional Capacity, Rights and Freedoms, and Sustainable Lands and Thriving Communities.

For more information, or to apply, by August 9, click here.

Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)

The U.S. Embassy in Kigali is inviting organizations to implement the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Program. This includes facilitating a Global Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business course and hosting a regional AWE conference.

Eligible organizations include non-profits and educational institutions. The program runs for 6-12 months with grants ranging from $25,000 to $32,500 (Approx Rwf42.6 million).

For more information or to apply by August 23, click here.

DAAD: Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) Scholarship

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers development-oriented postgraduate study programs aimed at training specialists from developing and newly industrialized countries.

Recognizing the importance of well-trained local experts in sustainable development, DAAD provides scholarships for Rwandans to pursue postgraduate or Master's degrees at state-recognized German universities, with the possibility of obtaining a doctoral degree. Available programs include:

- Master in International and Development Economics at HTW Berlin - University of Applied Sciences

To be eligible for admission, applicants must hold a first university degree equivalent to 180 ECTS credits, which is the standard for a Bachelor's degree. Additionally, applicants should have completed at least 15 ECTS in Economics (equivalent to three Economics modules for international applicants).

Applications for the April 2025 intake are due by August 31. Click here to apply.

- PhD at the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn

The Bonn International Graduate School for Development Research (BIGS-DR), part of the Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn, offers a scholarship for its interdisciplinary doctoral program.

ZEF's doctoral program is ideal for those pursuing careers in sustainable development, including research, project development, implementation, or policy-making.

Areas of special interest at ZEF include agriculture, land use, climate change, water resource management, biodiversity, food and nutrition, health, gender, migration, mobility, urbanization, governance, conflict, markets, services, innovation, and science policy.

The program is designed for junior researchers who will join an international and interdisciplinary community of scholars, including senior researchers, professors, and alumni.

For more information or to apply by August 31, click here

- International PhD Program for Agricultural Economics, Bioeconomy, and Sustainable Food Systems (IPPAE) at Justus-Liebig-University Giessen and the University of Hohenheim

This program is designed for students from developing countries in Africa, Asia, or Latin America who wish to pursue a PhD in agricultural economics, bioeconomy, or sustainable food systems. Applicants should have an M.Sc. degree with an excellent grade in agricultural economics, rural sociology, agricultural sciences, natural resource management, or a related field.

To apply by August 31, click here for Justus-Liebig-University Giessen or here for the University of Hohenheim.

Maximize these opportunities by either applying yourself or sharing them with potential candidates. Stay updated on the latest opportunities throughout Rwanda by visiting The New Times' Jobs and Tender profile, the largest job market in the country, and follow our social media platforms for daily postings.