NEXtra Scholarship

sunset green sunrise sun grass truck vehicle bridge transportation sunlight outdoors bangladesh meadow development dawn rural scene — Source: Kabiur Rahman Riyad on Unsplash.

DAAD has suspended funding for new intakes in 2026 and beyond.

NEXtra (Resource Nexus for Sustainability Transformations) offers opportunities for doctoral studies in a joint programme of UNU-Resource Nexus (previously UNU-FLORES), IOER and TU Dresden. Through the EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses) programme, the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) provides a stipend for 3.5 years. NEXtra fellows fulfil TUD and UNU-Resource Nexus requirements, and gain unique access to the UN system. In addition, NEXtra doctoral researchers, whose primary supervisor is at IOER/ TUD, are hosted at DLGS and subject to similar expectations as their DLGS peers.

The programme focuses on sustainability transformations through a Resource Nexus perspective, examining interlinkages between environmental resources and their management's synergies and trade-offs. Doctoral students from the Global South and diverse disciplines are trained to become agents of transformation who will contribute to sustainable development both in their home regions and globally.

Please note: All questions and enquiries should be directed to UNU-Resource Nexus who manage the application process.