German MSc thesis research grant

UKUDLA, the African German Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems and Applied Agricultural and Food Data Science, is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with resources from the Federal Foreign Office. It offers scholarships to support MSc-thesis research projects in southern Africa in cooperation with partner institutions.

About the grant

The primary aim of UKUDLA is to develop MSc students’ expertise in sustainable and resilient food systems and applied data science. Applications from disciplines that integrate both themes are particularly encouraged. Only MSc thesis projects with UKUDLA’s partnering countries and institutions can be financed.

Grants are awarded to highly qualified students enrolled in an MSc study programme at the University of Hohenheim in a scientific field relevant to UKUDLA’s research topics, specifically in Food Systems and Data Science. The UKUDLA Management Committee selects projects based on the review process and the candidate’s application.

Applications can be submitted at any time, but no later than two months before the intended start of travel; retroactive approval is not possible. The research stay must be completed in 2025.

Duration and location

The duration of stay in the target country should be planned for three months. Longer or shorter research periods (but not less than two months) may be accepted only in exceptional and well-justified cases.

Benefits

• Travel costs to the partner institution (flights and local travel, as well as visa expenses)
• Country-specific lump sum for accommodation and health insurance:
  • South Africa: 1,175.00 EUR per month
  • Malawi, Namibia: 1,225.00 EUR per month

Requirements

• Completed application form, including project proposal and schedule, duly signed by the applicant and supervisor. The schedule must ensure the thesis can be completed within six months as prescribed by examination regulations.
• Transcript of records of the Master’s degree programme (issued by the examination office).
• Applicants must have completed all lecture modules and exams before starting thesis work.
• Grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 (“good”) or better across all modules. If not all modules are completed, the average will be calculated from available results.
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form (one page, dated and signed).
• Letter of recommendation from the supervisor (a lecturer at the University of Hohenheim), explicitly stating:
  • Acceptance of the applicant as a Master’s thesis candidate
  • The scientific concept behind the project proposal
  • Feasibility of the MSc research project, including working possibilities, supervision by the partner organisation abroad, financial support, and coverage of research costs
  • Qualification and suitability of the applicant
  • Relevance of the proposed project to UKUDLA’s objectives, transfer of results to stakeholders, networking, synergies, and cooperation with partners
• Signed letter of invitation from the partner organisation linked to UKUDLA, confirming the possibility of carrying out the proposed research during the envisaged period and the readiness of a local supervisor to support the scholar.

Obligations of grantees

• Take out health insurance, including air emergency and accident insurance, while abroad.
• Follow recommended vaccinations, disease prophylaxis, and the latest safety and travel advice from the Federal Foreign Office for the target country. Non-German speakers must obtain an up-to-date translation of this information.
• Collect original tickets, boarding passes, and receipts related to the project for accounting purposes.
• Submit a bound copy of the Master’s thesis to the UKUDLA Centre (as submitted to the examination office). The thesis must:
  • Be written in English
  • Include a chapter on knowledge transfer to stakeholders in the project region or broader context
  • Contain the following acknowledgement on the title/cover page: “This work was carried out in the frame of the African German Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems and Applied Agricultural and Food Data Science (UKUDLA) at the University of Hohenheim, funded by DAAD with funds from the Federal Foreign Office.”
• Provide a Word document including the title/cover page, abstract, and summary of the project, along with at least three pictures illustrating the MSc project (with captions). The applicant agrees this material may be used for internal and external documentation, including websites.
• Submit a digital copy of the master’s thesis to the partner organisation abroad (responsibility of the supervisor at the University of Hohenheim).
• Inform the Institute of Agricultural Sciences of any change of address, even after leaving the University of Hohenheim, to foster alumni networking.

Application process

Applications, including all required documents, must be submitted in a single PDF to ukudla@uni-hohenheim.de. Only formally correct applications will be considered. Application forms are available at www.ukudla.uni-hohenheim.de.

The decision on acceptance or rejection is based on two reviewers’ comments and their final recommendations (accepted, revision, or decline). Applicants may be asked to address reviewers’ suggestions before a final decision. The grant is paid in one lump sum upon receipt of all documents, and airline tickets are purchased by the UKUDLA Centre.

Contact

Dr. Marcus Giese (project management), email: ukudla@uni-hohenheim.de.