CGIAR++ PhD Scholarship 2026: Call for Applications for 10 PhD Candidates at German Universities

The CGIAR++ PhD Scholarship 2026 is now accepting applications from qualified candidates interested in pursuing doctoral research in agricultural sciences and related interdisciplinary fields at a German university. The scholarship provides an opportunity for researchers with an MSc degree to develop a PhD project connected to ongoing CGIAR++ research activities and to work under joint supervision from a senior CGIAR++ scientist and a professor affiliated with a German university.

For the 2026 call, the Hub plans to support 10 PhD candidates. The previous call in 2025 attracted a high volume of qualified applications and had an acceptance rate of just 5%, highlighting the competitive nature of the opportunity.

The application deadline for the current call is 30 November 2026.

CGIAR++ PhD Scholarship 2026 Overview

The programme is designed for candidates who want to undertake doctoral research that contributes to existing CGIAR++ research activities. A particularly important feature of the scholarship is its collaborative structure: applicants cannot apply independently without first establishing the required academic and research partnerships.

Each accepted candidate must form a “tridem” consisting of:

1. The PhD candidate.
2. A senior CGIAR++ scientist.
3. A professor affiliated with a German university.

These three parties are expected to work together to develop the scientific proposal and establish the supervision and research arrangements required for the PhD.

The PhD project must also be connected to an ongoing CGIAR++ research activity and should provide additional value to that research programme.

Deadline for the CGIAR++ PhD Scholarship 2026

Application deadline: 30 November 2026

Applicants should begin preparing their applications well before the deadline because the process requires coordination with both a CGIAR++ senior scientist and a professor affiliated with a German university.

The required supervisory and hosting documents must also be prepared and submitted according to the application instructions.

Who Can Apply for the CGIAR++ PhD Scholarship?

The call is aimed at candidates who already hold an MSc degree in Agricultural Sciences or a related discipline and who meet the academic requirements specified by the programme.

Relevant academic backgrounds can include a broad range of disciplines, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the research supported by the programme.

Examples specifically listed in the call include:

• Agricultural Sciences
• Biology
• Geography
• Sociology
• Veterinary Medicine
• Marine Biology
• Forestry
• Political Sciences
• Law
• Economics
• Other related fields

Applicants are expected to have achieved an above-average final grade in their MSc degree.

Requirements for Non-European Degrees

Candidates holding degrees from outside Europe must additionally provide a ranking from the issuing university.

This requirement allows the programme to assess the academic standing of qualifications obtained outside the European university system.

A Unique Three-Way Research and Supervision Structure

One of the most important requirements of the scholarship is that applicants must establish the appropriate research partnership before submitting their application.

Only applications from the required “tridems” will be accepted.

The tridem consists of:

1. The PhD Candidate

The candidate develops and undertakes the proposed doctoral research and must meet the academic requirements of the programme.

2. CGIAR++ Senior Scientist

The candidate must work with a senior scientist from a CGIAR++ Center. The scientist serves as the CGIAR++ supervisor and must confirm the candidate’s connection to an appropriate CGIAR++ research programme or project.

3. Professor at a German University

The candidate must also identify a professor affiliated with a German university who will jointly supervise the doctoral project.

The scientific proposal is developed collaboratively by these three parties.

This means prospective applicants should not wait until the final stages of the application process to identify their supervisors. Establishing the required research relationships is an essential part of becoming eligible to apply.

PhD Research Must Be Connected to CGIAR++ Research

Another central requirement is that candidates must be hosted by a CGIAR++ Center.

The proposed doctoral research must be attached to an ongoing CGIAR++ research activity.

The call indicates that the project is preferably connected to an international, multidisciplinary research project.

The proposed PhD research should not simply duplicate existing research. Instead, it should be:

• Connected to an ongoing CGIAR++ research activity.
• Complementary to the existing research.
• Designed to provide additional value to the CGIAR++ research activity.
• Supported by an appropriate CGIAR++ Center.
• Developed with the CGIAR++ and German university supervisors.

This makes the scholarship particularly relevant to candidates who can demonstrate how their proposed doctoral research fits into a broader research programme.

PhD Study at a German University

Successful candidates must enroll in a PhD study programme at a German university.

However, applicants do not need to be German nationals.

The programme therefore provides an opportunity for qualified international candidates to pursue doctoral studies in Germany while maintaining a research connection with a CGIAR++ Center.

Applicants from CGIAR++ partner countries are welcome to apply.

The call also specifically states that female students are particularly encouraged to apply.

Documents Required from Applicants

Candidates must prepare several documents as part of their application.

1. Letter of Motivation

Applicants must provide a signed letter of motivation.

The letter must be:

• Signed by the applicant.
• No more than one page.

The motivation letter should be prepared carefully because it forms part of the candidate’s application package.

2. Curriculum Vitae

Applicants must submit a tabular CV.

The CV must be:

• No more than one page.
• Signed.
• Dated.
• Presented in tabular form.

Candidates should therefore ensure that their CV follows the format requested by the programme rather than submitting an unnecessarily long academic CV.

3. Research Proposal

A research proposal is required.

Applicants must use the official research proposal template provided by the programme.

Research Proposal Template

The proposal should be developed jointly with the required supervisors because the scholarship specifically requires a scientific proposal created through the tridem structure.

4. MSc Certificate and Academic Transcript

Applicants must submit:

• Their MSc certificate.
• Their transcript of academic records.

These documents must be issued by the examination office.

Applicants with non-European degrees should also remember the additional requirement concerning university ranking.

5. English Proficiency Certificate

Applicants must provide evidence of English-language proficiency.

The call accepts:

• TOEFL
• IELTS
• Another English proficiency certificate

Candidates should make sure that their proof of English proficiency satisfies the programme’s requirements.

Documents Required From the Supervisors

The application also requires documents from the two supervisory sides of the proposed PhD.

These documents must be sent by the respective supervisors as one PDF by email to:

hub@landscapealliance.org

The supervisor documentation includes three important components.

1. German University Professor’s Recommendation and Supervision Confirmation

The professor affiliated with a German university must provide:

• A letter of recommendation.
• Confirmation of supervision.

The programme provides a specific template that should be used.

German University Supervisor Template

2. CGIAR++ Scientist Recommendation and Supervision Commitment

The CGIAR++ Center scientist must provide:

• A letter of recommendation.
• A supervision commitment.
• Confirmation that the candidate is attached to a relevant CGIAR++ research programme or project.

The programme also provides a specific template for this document.

CGIAR++ Supervisor Template

3. Hosting Agreement

The respective CGIAR++ Center must also provide a Hosting Agreement.

This confirms the candidate’s intended hosting arrangement with the CGIAR++ Center.

The official template is available here:

CGIAR++ Hosting Agreement Template

All three supervisor-related documents are to be sent together as one PDF to hub@landscapealliance.org.

10 PhD Candidates to Be Supported

For the current 2026 call, the Hub is seeking to support 10 PhD candidates.

This makes the opportunity highly selective, particularly considering the programme’s previous application experience.

According to the information provided in the call, the 2025 application round attracted a high volume of qualified applications and had an acceptance rate of 5%.

Prospective applicants should therefore pay close attention to the eligibility requirements, research proposal, supervisory arrangements and supporting documentation.

What Makes the Research Opportunity Interdisciplinary?

The list of eligible academic backgrounds demonstrates that the programme is not limited to traditional agricultural science disciplines.

Applicants may come from fields including:

• Biology
• Geography
• Sociology
• Veterinary Medicine
• Marine Biology
• Forestry
• Political Sciences
• Law
• Economics

This interdisciplinary approach can be particularly relevant for research addressing complex agricultural, environmental, social, economic, governance or development-related questions.

The requirement for the PhD project to complement ongoing CGIAR++ research also means that applicants should consider how their research connects with broader research activities rather than developing an isolated doctoral project.

MORE INFO. HERE

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Because applicants must establish relationships with both a CGIAR++ scientist and a German university professor, preparation should begin early.

Step 1: Confirm Your Academic Eligibility

First, verify that you have an MSc degree in Agricultural Sciences or an appropriate related field and that your final grade is above average.

If your degree was awarded outside Europe, prepare the required university ranking documentation.

Step 2: Identify Potential Supervisors

You will need both:

• A senior CGIAR++ scientist.
• A professor affiliated with a German university.

The two supervisors must be able to jointly support the proposed PhD project.

Step 3: Develop the Research Idea

The research idea should be developed collaboratively with the supervisors.

Consider how the proposed research:

• Fits into existing CGIAR++ research.
• Complements ongoing work.
• Adds value to the research programme.
• Can be undertaken through a German university PhD programme.
• Benefits from the expertise and research environment of the CGIAR++ Center.

Step 4: Prepare the Research Proposal

Use the official template rather than creating an unrelated format.

Because the proposal is central to the application, applicants should ensure that the proposed research is clearly connected to the ongoing CGIAR++ activity identified by the supervisors.

Step 5: Collect Academic Documents

Prepare your:

• MSc certificate.
• Academic transcript.
• University ranking, if applicable.
• English proficiency certificate.

Step 6: Prepare the Personal Documents

The motivation letter and CV must comply with the specified format.

The motivation letter has a maximum length of one page, while the CV must also be no more than one page and must be signed and dated.

Step 7: Coordinate the Supervisor Documents

The German university professor and CGIAR++ scientist must complete their respective documents, while the CGIAR++ Center must provide the Hosting Agreement.

These documents must be combined into one PDF and sent by the supervisors to hub@landscapealliance.org.

Application Deadline

The deadline for the current CGIAR++ PhD Scholarship call is:

30 November 2026

Since the application requires collaboration among the candidate, CGIAR++ scientist and German university professor, candidates should not leave the preparation of the application until the final days before the deadline.

How to Apply

Applicants should begin with the official Call for Applications and follow the programme’s application instructions and templates.

Call for Applications

The current call is specifically seeking 10 PhD candidates.

Candidates should ensure that all required personal, academic, research and supervisory documentation is prepared before submission.

Key Information at a Glance

Important Points Applicants Should Remember

Before applying, prospective candidates should carefully check the following:

1. You must have an MSc degree in Agricultural Sciences or a related field.
2. Your final grade should be above average.
3. Non-European degree holders must provide a ranking from their issuing university.
4. You must establish the required three-way research partnership.
5. You need a senior CGIAR++ scientist as a supervisor.
6. You need a professor affiliated with a German university as a joint supervisor.
7. Your PhD project must be connected to ongoing CGIAR++ research.
8. You must be hosted by a CGIAR++ Center.
9. Your research should complement and add value to the existing CGIAR++ research activity.
10. You must enroll in a PhD programme at a German university.
11. You must provide the required academic and English-language documentation.
12. Your supervisors must submit their required documents together as one PDF.
13. The complete application process must be completed by 30 November 2026.

Conclusion

The CGIAR++ PhD Scholarship 2026 provides an opportunity for qualified MSc graduates to pursue doctoral research at a German university while becoming part of an ongoing CGIAR++ research activity. Its interdisciplinary eligibility criteria make the programme relevant to applicants from agricultural sciences as well as fields such as biology, geography, sociology, forestry, veterinary medicine, political sciences, law and economics.

A distinctive feature of the opportunity is its required tridem structure, bringing together the PhD candidate, a senior CGIAR++ scientist and a professor affiliated with a German university. The proposed doctoral research must also be connected to an existing CGIAR++ research programme and demonstrate additional value to that work.

With only 10 PhD candidates being supported in the current call and a reported 5% acceptance rate in the 2025 call, applicants should pay close attention to the eligibility requirements, research proposal and supervisory documentation.

Qualified candidates should begin developing their research proposal and establishing the required supervisory relationships well before the 30 November 2026 deadline.

For more opportunity click HERE