DARE travel grants for Master students and early-career researchers to foster scientific exchange with the Global South

Through the Foundation Dr. Seebohm, the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (DARE) supports students in conducting small research projects and other scientific activities in developing countries that are directly related to the foundation’s purpose:

Promotion of agricultural research addressing global food security, particularly efficient agricultural production in developing countries.

The funds aim to enable students to conduct research or thesis projects that make a tangible contribution to these topics. In particular, travel expenses for research stays or participation in scientific conferences or workshops in the Global South may be covered. This support aims to promote practice-oriented research among young scholars, strengthen international networks, and foster the exchange of knowledge between science and practice.

Who can apply?

• Master’s students supervised at DARE
• Doctoral candidates at DARE who lack other (adequate) sources of funding may be eligible
• In justified exceptional cases: Bachelor’s students conducting their thesis research under DARE supervision

Which activities can be funded?

• Travel expenses for research stays (e.g., fieldwork, data collection)
• Participation in scientific conferences or workshops in the Global South
• Project-related material costs (e.g., procurement of materials in the partner country) may be covered to a limited extent

Only projects that demonstrate a clear link to food security and efficient agricultural production in developing countries are eligible for funding.

How much funding is available?

• One-time grants per project; the maximum funding amount depends on available resources (generally EUR 1,000–1,500 per application)
• Co-funding through additional scholarships or third-party projects is permitted

How to apply?

• Submit your application with the following documents (1 pdf-file) to dare.referent@uni-goettingen.de
  • Short project concept (1–2 pages) including background and objectives, research question, scientific relevance, project partners (e.g., local research institution or NGO), and expected contribution to food security and/or efficient agricultural production
  • Detailed budget (travel expenses, material costs if applicable, other planned funding sources if applicable, timeline)
  • Confirmation of supervision by a DARE faculty member

There are two application deadlines each year: 15 November and 15 May. Funding decisions will be made within one month of each deadline, and the project/travel activity must commence within 9 months of the funding decision being communicated.

What are the selection criteria?

• Scientific quality of the project and expected contribution to the applicant’s academic qualification
• Relevance of the project to the Foundation’s purpose
• Realistic planning and feasibility

Upon completion of the project, recipients are required to submit a brief final report (max. 2 pages) and a contribution for the faculty’s public outreach—such as a blog post, podcast, or article for AgrarAktuell. The DARE science communication officer will assist in selecting the appropriate format and preparing the contribution.