Scholarship
Deadline in 38 days
Deadline: November 30, 2026
The CGIAR++ PhD Scholarship 2026 is now accepting applications from qualified candidates interested in pursuing doctoral research in agricultural sciences and related interdisciplinary fields at a German university. The scholarship provides an opportunity for researchers with an MSc degree to develop a PhD project connected to ongoing CGIAR++ research activities and to work under joint supervision from a senior CGIAR++ scientist and a professor affiliated with a German university. For the 2026 call, the Hub plans to support 10 PhD candidates.
A quick overview based on the listing. Review the full details below before applying.
Application link provided with this listing — verify the destination and requirements before submitting.
The CGIAR++ PhD Scholarship 2026 is now accepting applications from qualified candidates interested in pursuing doctoral research in agricultural sciences and related interdisciplinary fields at a German university. The scholarship provides an opportunity for researchers with an MSc degree to develop a PhD project connected to ongoing CGIAR++ research activities and to work under joint supervision from a senior CGIAR++ scientist and a professor affiliated with a German university.
For the 2026 call, the Hub plans to support 10 PhD candidates. The previous call in 2025 attracted a high volume of qualified applications and had an acceptance rate of just 5%, highlighting the competitive nature of the opportunity.
The application deadline for the current call is 30 November 2026.
The programme is designed for candidates who want to undertake doctoral research that contributes to existing CGIAR++ research activities. A particularly important feature of the scholarship is its collaborative structure: applicants cannot apply independently without first establishing the required academic and research partnerships.
The PhD candidate.
A senior CGIAR++ scientist.
A professor affiliated with a German university.
These three parties are expected to work together to develop the scientific proposal and establish the supervision and research arrangements required for the PhD.
The PhD project must also be connected to an ongoing CGIAR++ research activity and should provide additional value to that research programme.
Applicants should begin preparing their applications well before the deadline because the process requires coordination with both a CGIAR++ senior scientist and a professor affiliated with a German university.
The required supervisory and hosting documents must also be prepared and submitted according to the application instructions.
The call is aimed at candidates who already hold an MSc degree in Agricultural Sciences or a related discipline and who meet the academic requirements specified by the programme.
Relevant academic backgrounds can include a broad range of disciplines, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the research supported by the programme.
Applicants are expected to have achieved an above-average final grade in their MSc degree.
Candidates holding degrees from outside Europe must additionally provide a ranking from the issuing university.
This requirement allows the programme to assess the academic standing of qualifications obtained outside the European university system.
One of the most important requirements of the scholarship is that applicants must establish the appropriate research partnership before submitting their application.
Only applications from the required “tridems” will be accepted.
The candidate develops and undertakes the proposed doctoral research and must meet the academic requirements of the programme.
The candidate must work with a senior scientist from a CGIAR++ Center. The scientist serves as the CGIAR++ supervisor and must confirm the candidate’s connection to an appropriate CGIAR++ research programme or project.
The candidate must also identify a professor affiliated with a German university who will jointly supervise the doctoral project.
The scientific proposal is developed collaboratively by these three parties.
This means prospective applicants should not wait until the final stages of the application process to identify their supervisors. Establishing the required research relationships is an essential part of becoming eligible to apply.
Another central requirement is that candidates must be hosted by a CGIAR++ Center.
The proposed doctoral research must be attached to an ongoing CGIAR++ research activity.
The call indicates that the project is preferably connected to an international, multidisciplinary research project.
The proposed PhD research should not simply duplicate existing research. Instead, it should be:
Connected to an ongoing CGIAR++ research activity.
Complementary to the existing research.
Designed to provide additional value to the CGIAR++ research activity.
Supported by an appropriate CGIAR++ Center.
Developed with the CGIAR++ and German university supervisors.
This makes the scholarship particularly relevant to candidates who can demonstrate how their proposed doctoral research fits into a broader research programme.
Successful candidates must enroll in a PhD study programme at a German university.
However, applicants do not need to be German nationals.
The programme therefore provides an opportunity for qualified international candidates to pursue doctoral studies in Germany while maintaining a research connection with a CGIAR++ Center.
Applicants from CGIAR++ partner countries are welcome to apply.
The call also specifically states that female students are particularly encouraged to apply.
Candidates must prepare several documents as part of their application.
Applicants must provide a signed letter of motivation.
Signed by the applicant.
No more than one page.
The motivation letter should be prepared carefully because it forms part of the candidate’s application package.
Applicants must submit a tabular CV.
No more than one page.
Signed.
Dated.
Presented in tabular form.
Candidates should therefore ensure that their CV follows the format requested by the programme rather than submitting an unnecessarily long academic CV.
A research proposal is required.
Applicants must use the official research proposal template provided by the programme.
The proposal should be developed jointly with the required supervisors because the scholarship specifically requires a scientific proposal created through the tridem structure.
Their MSc certificate.
Their transcript of academic records.
These documents must be issued by the examination office.
Applicants with non-European degrees should also remember the additional requirement concerning university ranking.
Applicants must provide evidence of English-language proficiency.
Candidates should make sure that their proof of English proficiency satisfies the programme’s requirements.
The application also requires documents from the two supervisory sides of the proposed PhD.
These documents must be sent by the respective supervisors as one PDF by email to:
The supervisor documentation includes three important components.
A letter of recommendation.
Confirmation of supervision.
The programme provides a specific template that should be used.
A letter of recommendation.
A supervision commitment.
Confirmation that the candidate is attached to a relevant CGIAR++ research programme or project.
The programme also provides a specific template for this document.
The respective CGIAR++ Center must also provide a Hosting Agreement.
This confirms the candidate’s intended hosting arrangement with the CGIAR++ Center.
All three supervisor-related documents are to be sent together as one PDF to [email protected].
For the current 2026 call, the Hub is seeking to support 10 PhD candidates.
This makes the opportunity highly selective, particularly considering the programme’s previous application experience.
According to the information provided in the call, the 2025 application round attracted a high volume of qualified applications and had an acceptance rate of 5%.
Prospective applicants should therefore pay close attention to the eligibility requirements, research proposal, supervisory arrangements and supporting documentation.
The list of eligible academic backgrounds demonstrates that the programme is not limited to traditional agricultural science disciplines.
This interdisciplinary approach can be particularly relevant for research addressing complex agricultural, environmental, social, economic, governance or development-related questions.
The requirement for the PhD project to complement ongoing CGIAR++ research also means that applicants should consider how their research connects with broader research activities rather than developing an isolated doctoral project.
Because applicants must establish relationships with both a CGIAR++ scientist and a German university professor, preparation should begin early.
First, verify that you have an MSc degree in Agricultural Sciences or an appropriate related field and that your final grade is above average.
If your degree was awarded outside Europe, prepare the required university ranking documentation.
A senior CGIAR++ scientist.
A professor affiliated with a German university.
The two supervisors must be able to jointly support the proposed PhD project.
The research idea should be developed collaboratively with the supervisors.
Fits into existing CGIAR++ research.
Complements ongoing work.
Adds value to the research programme.
Can be undertaken through a German university PhD programme.
Benefits from the expertise and research environment of the CGIAR++ Center.
Use the official template rather than creating an unrelated format.
Because the proposal is central to the application, applicants should ensure that the proposed research is clearly connected to the ongoing CGIAR++ activity identified by the supervisors.
MSc certificate.
Academic transcript.
University ranking, if applicable.
English proficiency certificate.
The motivation letter and CV must comply with the specified format.
The motivation letter has a maximum length of one page, while the CV must also be no more than one page and must be signed and dated.
The German university professor and CGIAR++ scientist must complete their respective documents, while the CGIAR++ Center must provide the Hosting Agreement.
These documents must be combined into one PDF and sent by the supervisors to [email protected].
Since the application requires collaboration among the candidate, CGIAR++ scientist and German university professor, candidates should not leave the preparation of the application until the final days before the deadline.
Applicants should begin with the official Call for Applications and follow the programme’s application instructions and templates.
The current call is specifically seeking 10 PhD candidates.
Candidates should ensure that all required personal, academic, research and supervisory documentation is prepared before submission.
You must have an MSc degree in Agricultural Sciences or a related field.
Your final grade should be above average.
Non-European degree holders must provide a ranking from their issuing university.
You must establish the required three-way research partnership.
You need a senior CGIAR++ scientist as a supervisor.
You need a professor affiliated with a German university as a joint supervisor.
Your PhD project must be connected to ongoing CGIAR++ research.
You must be hosted by a CGIAR++ Center.
Your research should complement and add value to the existing CGIAR++ research activity.
You must enroll in a PhD programme at a German university.
You must provide the required academic and English-language documentation.
Your supervisors must submit their required documents together as one PDF.
The complete application process must be completed by 30 November 2026.
The CGIAR++ PhD Scholarship 2026 provides an opportunity for qualified MSc graduates to pursue doctoral research at a German university while becoming part of an ongoing CGIAR++ research activity. Its interdisciplinary eligibility criteria make the programme relevant to applicants from agricultural sciences as well as fields such as biology, geography, sociology, forestry, veterinary medicine, political sciences, law and economics.
A distinctive feature of the opportunity is its required tridem structure, bringing together the PhD candidate, a senior CGIAR++ scientist and a professor affiliated with a German university. The proposed doctoral research must also be connected to an existing CGIAR++ research programme and demonstrate additional value to that work.
With only 10 PhD candidates being supported in the current call and a reported 5% acceptance rate in the 2025 call, applicants should pay close attention to the eligibility requirements, research proposal and supervisory documentation.
Qualified candidates should begin developing their research proposal and establishing the required supervisory relationships well before the 30 November 2026 deadline.
The DAAD University Summer Courses Scholarship 2027 allows eligible international university students and graduates to spend about four weeks at a German u...
All Bachelor’s and Master’s level students, regardless of discipline, are encouraged to participate in the DAAD summer exchange program. The German languag...
The United Nations University (UNU) and University of Bonn International Joint Master’s Program are now accepting applications for 2027. This Joint Master’s degree is one of a select group of international postgraduate…
Deadline: October 31, 2026 Applications are open for the ABCD Future Environmental Leaders Scholarships 2027. Two ABCD Future Environmental Leaders Schola...
