Applications are open for doctoral students from developing countries to undertake an international research stay in Germany through the ABCD Future Environmental Leaders Scholarships. Organised through the Global Water and Climate Adaptation Centre – Aachen, Bangkok, Chennai, Dresden (ABCD-Centre), the scholarship will support two doctoral students for nine-month research stays at leading institutions in Germany.
Applications are open until 31 October 2026. Global South whose research contributes to addressing major challenges related to water security, climate adaptation, ecosystem resilience and sustainable development.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must have:
- Started their PhD within the last three years.
- Be registered as full-time doctoral students at a university in a developing country.
- Have a research topic aligned with the ABCD-Centre’s research priorities.
- Demonstrate strong academic merit and motivation to contribute to their field.
- Have the ability to communicate effectively in English.
- Demonstrate adaptability and readiness to conduct research in Germany.
- Applicants are encouraged to spend the full nine-month period in Germany, and preference will be given to candidates interested in translating their research findings into policy papers.
During the application process, applicants can choose from any of these three universities for their research. As shown on the website, available research destinations are: RWTH Aachen University, Technische Universität Dresden, and UNU Resource Nexus.
Every successful applicant receives scholarship. The scholarship package includes:
- €1,200 per month for accommodation and living expenses.
- Up to €105 per month as an insurance allowance.
- Up to €1,000 as a one-time travel grant.
- Up to €1,000 for research materials and equipment, allocated through the host institution.
The scholarship welcomes proposals from diverse environmental research fields. However, priority will be given to projects addressing five specific areas: water infrastructure and digitalisation, Ecosystem resilience, Urban water extremes, Unconventional water resources, and Sustainable materials and buildings.
To apply, applicants must compile their documents into a single PDF file.The application should include a 2–3 page personal motivation statement, a sample of a written scientific paper and a recent CV.
Applicants must also indicate their preferred host university and provide a support letter from their home institution. An invitation letter from a prospective host scientist is preferably included where possible.
Other required documents include a statement confirming the applicant’s ability to work online if remote work becomes necessary, an enrolment certificate, a current transcript of records that is not older than six months, and a passport copy.
Before applying, the applicant’s supervisor and home university must also agree on the research topic, the overall doctoral project timeline, the research to be undertaken in Germany and plans for future externally funded research. Applicants should also outline their anticipated contribution to ABCD-Centre outreach activities.
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Author
Paul Olayioye
