The 2026 AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for Junior Researchers fund 1 to 2 month research stays in another sub-Saharan African country, with up to €3,000 for a two-month stay. The African-German Network of Excellence in Science (AGNES) accepts applications until 16 October 2026 at 23:59 GMT. If you are a registered doctoral candidate with a published article behind your thesis, the publication rule is the first test to pass.
At a glance
| Deadline | 16 October 2026, 23:59 GMT |
| Who can apply | Registered doctoral candidates at universities or tertiary institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, who are nationals of a sub-Saharan African country |
| Grant | Up to €2,300 (1 month), €2,650 (1.5 months) or €3,000 (2 months) |
| Format | Research stay of 1 to 2 months at a host institute in another sub-Saharan African country, between 1 March and 31 July 2027 |
| Cost to apply | No fee mentioned on the programme page |
| Official page | AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants 2026 |
Who can apply
The programme page sets these criteria. You must be a currently enrolled doctoral candidate at a university or tertiary institution in sub-Saharan Africa, and a national of a sub-Saharan African country. You also need at least one article from your thesis work in a non-predatory journal, indexed in Scopus or Web of Science.
All disciplines are welcome, including the sciences, humanities, law and social sciences. AGNES offers general grants for male and female candidates, plus special grants for female candidates only. The page says it especially welcomes applications from 29 under-represented African countries and names them, so check that list on the official page.
What you get
The page lists the grant amounts above, which cover travel, subsistence and a research allowance paid to the host institute (€100 to €200 per month depending on the field). It states that AGNES is supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Treat the amounts as maximums, since the page words them as “up to”.
How to apply
- Confirm your eligibility, including the Scopus or Web of Science article, on the official programme page.
- Secure a letter of invitation (in English) from a scientific host in another sub-Saharan African country.
- Assemble the documents: a research proposal of up to 5 pages in English with a work schedule, the CV in the AGNES template, proof of doctoral registration, academic transcripts, a single PDF listing your published articles with their Scopus or Web of Science URLs and first pages, two travel cost quotes, and a living cost estimate.
- Submit through the online form linked from the programme page by 16 October 2026, 23:59 GMT. The page sets a 12 MB maximum file size.
- Wait for the selection meeting in December 2026. The page says selected candidates are notified afterwards.
Advice from the Africapreneurs team
- Francophone and Lusophone doctoral candidates should plan for English throughout. The proposal, the CV and the host’s invitation letter must all be in English, so start the translation work early.
- Line up your host first. The invitation letter and the host institute’s fee request are part of the file, and a host needs time to respond.
- Check your article against the rule before anything else. It must come from your thesis work, sit in a non-predatory journal and appear in Scopus or Web of Science.
- Get realistic travel quotes. The page asks for two, in land or economy class, so a budget built on flexible fares will not match the format.
- Think about what your findings could mean beyond the lab or library. Research stays that connect with local enterprise, policy or industry questions give your proposal a clear purpose, within the 5-page limit.
FAQ
Is there a fee to apply?
The programme page mentions no application fee.
Can I go to my own country?
No. The grant funds a stay at a host institute in another sub-Saharan African country.
When must the research stay take place?
The page gives a research period of 1 March to 31 July 2027.
Who should I contact with questions?
The page lists the AGNES programme manager at info@agnes-h.org.
