The Bonn International Graduate School for Development Research (BIGS-DR) is the doctoral program at ZEF. BIGS-DR is part of a group of international graduate programs at the University of Bonn, a graduate framework that maintains the highest level of academic quality.

There are two ways in which applicants can fund their studies. The first is through the BIGS-DR internal scholarship. This internal scholarship is funded through the Development-Related Postgraduate Course program (EPOS) of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The deadline for internal scholarship applicants is August 31st annually.

Applicants with a citizenship from a developing country or emerging economy can apply for a DAAD EPOS scholarship directly from ZEF.

About University of Bonn

We are one of eleven German Universities of Excellence, the only university with six Clusters of Excellence and more Nobel Prize winners and Fields Medalists have emerged from our University in the past decades than from any other German university. For 200 years, our University has been shaped by outstanding personalities from a wide range of subjects. We are known for research-led study programs, the international flair of Bonn as German’s city of the United Nations and as part of a dynamic science region in the heart of the liveable Rhineland. With around 35,000 students, 6,000 doctoral candidates, 550 professors and 6,000 employees, we are one of the largest traditional research universities in Germany.

BIGS-DR Doctoral Scholarship Program

• Category PhD
• Organisation University of Bonn
• Country to study Germany
• School to study–
• Course to studyNot specified
• Application DeadlineAugust 31, 2023

Aim and Benefits of BIGS-DR Doctoral Scholarship Program

The scholarship provides monthly allowance, living costs, study fees, health insurance, travel costs and German language courses for the whole course (24 months).

Requirements for BIGS-DR Doctoral Scholarship Program Qualification

• A prerequisite for applying for this DAAD scholarship is having at least two years of relevant professional experience.
• Only applicants who have not lived in Germany yet or have been a resident in Germany for less than 15 months at the time of application can apply for this DAAD scholarship.
• When filling in the DAAD form, select “Scholarship for a postgraduate course with relevance to developing countries”.
• Please make sure that you send one copy of the DAAD scholarship form and one copy of the BIGS-DR application form to BIGS-DR. It is not necessary to send additional copies to DAAD.

Application Deadline

August 31, 2023

How to Apply

• You have to submit a DAAD application form which can be downloaded here, from the DAAD home page, the German embassies, or DAAD offices worldwide.
• Please see the instructions as well as list of required application documents. 

For more details, visit University Of Bonn website.