SEARCA's Education program is built on the conviction that education is a powerful force for driving sustained transformation and innovation within Southeast Asian agricultural systems. At the heart of this program are its graduate scholarships, through which SEARCA endeavors to cultivate a new generation of leaders and professionals. These individuals will be crucial in steering the future of agriculture across the region.
Since it began in Academic Year 1968-69, SEARCA has awarded over 1,700 scholarships to highly qualified individuals from SEAMEO member countries. These scholarships have empowered recipients to pursue advanced studies in agriculture, forestry, and related sciences that equipped them with the knowledge and skills to address the region's most pressing challenges.
SEARCA Joint Scholarship Program
Recognizing the multifaceted nature of agricultural and the need for specialized expertise, SEARCA proactively builds strong partnerships with leading institutions to offer scholarships across a diverse range of fields related to agriculture. This strategic approach ensures unique opportunities for scholars to engage in focused learning and cutting-edge research.
SEARCA's current joint scholarship projects include:
- All
- Active Joint Scholarship Programs
- Exclusive Joint Scholarship Programs
- Filled Joint Scholarship Programs
DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme
(Open slots)
MARDI-SEARCA Joint Graduate Scholarship
(Slots available only for the partner institutions' staff members)
Bulacan State University (BulSU)-SEARCA PhD Scholarship
(Slots available only for the partner institutions' staff members)
PhD Research Scholarship
SEARCA established the PhD Research Scholarship on November 2005 to provide financial support for qualified PhD students to conduct research and produce their dissertation relevant to the priority thrusts of SEARCA.
Scholarship Statistics
By the end of Academic Year 2024-2025, SEARCA has granted a total of 1,991 full MS/PhD scholarships and PhD Research scholarships to nationals of SEAMEO member countries, namely: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam to pursue advanced studies leading to master's and doctoral degrees in agriculture, forestry, and related sciences.
SEARCA follows a set of general eligibility criteria across all full degree scholarships unless indicated otherwise under a specific scholarship program:
- Open to nationals of SEAMEO member countries who are regular employees of academic or research institutions or government agencies;
- Must not be more than 40 (Master's Degree) or 45 (PhD) years of age at the time of application;
- Areas of specialization that scholarship applicants must pursue should be in agriculture or related sciences. Check the joint scholarship programs to determine the specific degree/s eligible for support.
- Proposed thesis research should focus on SEARCA's overarching theme of Accelerating Transformation Through Agricultural Innovation (ATTAIN) with the following priority areas:
- Agri-Business Models for Increased Productivity and Income
- Sustainable Farming Systems and Natural Resource Management
- Food and Nutrition Security
- Transformational Leadership for Agricultural and Rural Development (ARD)
- Gender and Youth Engagement in ARD
- Enhanced ARD towards Climate Resilience
- EcoHealth/One Health Applications to ARD
Visit the joint scholarship pages and PhD research scholarship page to know more about the specific eligibility criteria.
For joint scholarships, benefits granted to scholars are shared by SEARCA and the funding agency/institution. These include, but are not limited to:
- Tuition and other school fees
- Travel allowance
- Thesis/dissertation support
- Book and supplies allowance
- Health insurance
- Stipend for food, lodging, and incidental expenses
For the PhD Research Scholarship, SEARCA provides a maximum support of USD 4,500 for research purposes.
The universities which may serve as study posts for Master's and PhD scholars vary depending on the specific joint scholarship projects. Visit the joint scholarship pages to know which universities in the table below may accommodate scholars under the specific scholarship project.
| University | Country |
|---|---|
| Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) | Bogor, Indonesia |
| Universitas Brawijaya (UB) | Malang, Indonesia |
| Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) | Yogyakarta, Indonesia |
| Kasetsart University (KU) | Bangkok, Thailand |
| Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) | Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia |
| University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) | Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines |
| Sejong University | Seoul, South Korea |
| Tokyo University of Agriculture | Tokyo, Japan |
| National Taiwan University | Taipei, Taiwan |
The PhD Research Scholarship allows Southeast Asian nationals from any reputable higher education institutions in the world to apply.
