ABCD Future Environmental Leaders Scholarships 2027
Overview
The ABCD Future Environmental Leaders Scholarships 2027 provide two nine-month scholarships for doctoral students from Developing Countries. The aim is to support research that can be turned into practical solutions. Applicants state a preferred host from three options in Germany: RWTH Aachen University in Aachen, Technische Universität Dresden, or UNU Resource Nexus, the UNU Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and Resources, in Dresden. The research stays run from March 1, 2027 to November 30, 2027.
Proposals should align with the themes of ABCD-Centre Clusters I, II and III. The call is open to a wide range of topics, but priority goes to proposals on modelling water infrastructure, digital twins and habitat modelling; innovative monitoring for ecosystem resilience and nature-based adaptation; climate-driven water extremes in urban areas; sustainable business models for unconventional water resources; and eco-friendly materials and sustainable building solutions for climate adaptation.
What you get
The scholarship pays €1,200 per month for accommodation and living expenses and an insurance allowance of up to €105 per month. It also includes a one-time travel stipend of up to €1,000. In addition, up to €1,000 can be allocated through the host institution for research project materials and equipment.
Who can apply
Applicants must be full-time PhD students registered at universities in Developing Countries who began their doctoral studies within the last three years.
How to apply
Applicants compile a single PDF containing a personal motivation for the research stay of 2 to 3 pages, a sample scientific paper, a recent CV, the preferred host university, a support letter from the home institution, preferably an invitation letter from a host scientist, a statement of ability to work online if remote work is required, an enrolment certificate and transcript of records not older than six months, and a passport copy. At application stage the supervisor and home university must agree on a research topic aligned with the clusters' themes, a detailed timeline of the doctoral project, a description of the research to be done in Germany with a timetable and plans for future third-party funded projects, and planned contributions to the ABCD-Centre's outreach activities.
Key dates
The application deadline is October 31, 2026. The research stays run from March 1 to November 30, 2027.