Applications are now open for the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (RLS) PhD Scholarship 2026 for eligible candidates from West Africa who want to pursue doctoral studies at a public or government-recognised university in Germany.
The scholarship provides financial support for up to three years and is open to applicants from all academic fields, provided they meet the eligibility requirements and have secured admission to a suitable PhD programme in Germany.
About the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation PhD Scholarship
The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation is a German political foundation that supports education, research, social justice, and international cooperation.
Through its West Africa office in Dakar, the foundation works with civil society organisations, NGOs, universities, and other partners on issues including peace and security, social justice, climate justice, feminism, migration, economy, and labour.
While applicants can come from any academic discipline, candidates whose research or social engagement connects with these areas may find the opportunity particularly relevant.
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
The scholarship can provide financial support for a maximum period of three years.
In addition, the foundation may support scholars who need to improve their German language skills before travelling to Germany. This can include funding for suitable language courses, including courses offered through institutions such as the Goethe-Institut.
However, applicants should carefully review the funding conditions because previous doctoral funding may affect the remaining period of support.
If an applicant has already received doctoral funding for less than 1.5 years, the previously funded period may be deducted from the maximum three-year RLS funding period.
The scholarship also cannot generally be combined with other public funding or certain other forms of financial support.
Who Can Apply?
The scholarship is intended for eligible candidates from West Africa who meet the foundation’s requirements.
Applicants should:
- Be from a West African country
- Have admission to a PhD programme at a public or government-recognised university in Germany
- Hold an excellent academic qualification, normally at Master’s level or an equivalent degree
- Demonstrate strong academic performance
- Show social or community engagement consistent with the values of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation
- Meet the required language proficiency conditions
- Be prepared to reside in Germany during the scholarship period
Academic Fields
One of the major advantages of this scholarship is that applicants can come from any academic field or dissertation topic.
However, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation’s West Africa programme has particular interests in areas such as:
- Peace and security
- Economy and labour
- Social justice
- Climate justice
- Feminism
- Migration
If your PhD research connects with one of these areas, you may want to clearly demonstrate the relevance of your research in your application.
Important Requirement: Secure PhD Admission First
One of the most important things to understand is that this is not a scholarship where you simply apply first and look for a university later.
Applicants are expected to have already secured admission to an appropriate doctoral programme in Germany before applying for the RLS scholarship.
You will also need to identify a potential PhD supervisor.
As part of the process, applicants are expected to develop a research proposal, also known as an exposé, and submit it to a potential supervisor when seeking admission to the doctoral programme.
If you have not yet established contact with a German university, you can seek assistance through your current university, academic networks, or organisations such as the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Language Requirements
Applicants should pay attention to the language requirements.
The scholarship information indicates that applicants may need to demonstrate German language proficiency at B1 level, while English at B1 level or native-speaker proficiency may also be accepted depending on the circumstances.
The foundation also encourages applicants to learn or improve their German before leaving their home country.
This can be particularly useful even when the PhD research itself will be conducted in English or French.
What the Scholarship Does Not Cover
There are some important limitations applicants should understand before applying.
The scholarship:
- Does not fund the final completion stage of a doctorate
- Cannot generally be combined with other public scholarships for the same period
- Does not cover private stays abroad in the applicant’s country of origin or in third countries
- May be reduced if the applicant has previously received doctoral funding from another institution
Applicants should therefore carefully read the official funding conditions before submitting an application.
Scholarship Duration
The maximum funding period is three years.
However, the actual duration may depend on the applicant’s circumstances, including whether they have previously received financial support for their doctoral studies.
If you have already received doctoral funding, make sure you understand how that previous funding could affect your RLS scholarship period.
Application Deadline
The application portal for the 2026 call is open from: 20 August 2026 to 1 October 2026 at 23:59 CEST
Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day to submit their application, particularly because securing PhD admission and a supervisor can take considerable time.
How to Prepare Your Application
Before applying, make sure you have the important academic documents and information ready.
You should focus on:
- Securing admission to a suitable PhD programme in Germany.
- Finding a potential doctoral supervisor.
- Developing a strong research proposal.
- Preparing evidence of your academic qualifications.
- Documenting your social or community engagement.
- Checking the language requirements.
- Reviewing the scholarship’s funding restrictions.
- Preparing and submitting your application before the deadline.
Why This Scholarship Is Worth Considering
For eligible West African researchers, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation PhD Scholarship can provide an opportunity to pursue doctoral studies in Germany while receiving financial support for up to three years.
It may be particularly attractive to candidates whose academic research and social engagement relate to social justice, climate justice, migration, feminism, peace and security, economy, or labour.
Most importantly, you don’t have to be studying one of these subjects to be eligible, as the scholarship is open to applicants from different academic disciplines.
How to Apply for the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation PhD Scholarship 2026
Applications should be submitted through the official Rosa Luxemburg Foundation West Africa website.
VISIT OFFICIAL SCHOLARSHIP WEBSITE TO APPLY
Before applying, carefully review the official eligibility criteria, required documents, funding conditions, and application instructions.
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