DAAD Scholarship

This blog post gives detailed information on the DAAD scholarship requirements and how to apply for them. If you are seeking admission and a Scholarship to study in Germany, then this post is for you.

DAAD Scholarship is an abbreviation for Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst Dienst Scholarship.

Every year, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) supports well over 100,000 German and international students and researchers around the globe – making it the world’s largest funding organization of its kind.

DAAD scholarships are aimed primarily at graduates, doctoral students, and postdocs and are awarded for study and research visits to universities and non-university research institutions in Germany. In some programs, internships are also funded.

DAAD awards Research Grants – Short-Term Grants for Ph.D. students and postdocs and Research Grants – One-Year Grants for Doctoral Candidates from almost all countries of origin.

For a language course in Germany, you can apply to the University Summer Courses and University Winter Courses programs. A grant for a full doctoral program in Germany is offered primarily to applicants from developing and threshold countries (based on the OECD-DAC list).

Scholarships for a Master’s degree in Germany are available, in particular, for persons from industrial countries

This scholarship is the world’s largest funding organization that specializes in awarding Scholarships to international students from developing countries.

What is a DAAD scholarship?

DAAD Scholarship is a Germany Based Funding Organization that specializes in awarding Scholarships to Outstanding Students who wish to pursue their postgraduate degree programs in Germany.

This organization was founded in the year 1925 and ever since then, it has funded around two million scholars in Germany and abroad.

Why was the DAAD scholarship created?

DAAD Scholarship was created to Educate Bright Future Leaders who are visionary and ready to make an impact in the world’s future economy.

They aim to achieve this by providing them with access to some of the best study and research opportunities and helping developing countries establish practical university systems.

Who can apply for a DAAD scholarship?

Bright and Outstanding Students with Good Academic Record Who wish to pursue their postgraduate degree Programs in Germany can apply for DAAD Scholarship and who are Graduates with at least two years professional experience from the following countries list of eligible countries.

Also, students who have mobility disabilities can apply for the DAAD Scholarship.

As the world’s largest funding organization dedicated to international academic exchange, the DAAD Scholarship encourages students and researchers with disabilities or chronic illnesses to spend part of their academic programs abroad, improve their foreign language skills and cultivate international contacts.

To ensure that disabled or chronically ill scholarship recipients are allowed equal access to study and research opportunities abroad, the DAAD can cover usually up to 10,000 euros in additional costs upon request which result from the disability or chronic illness and are not covered by other funding providers.

How much is the DAAD scholarship worth?

The DAAD Scholarship does not cover tuition fees.

However, Successful applicants will receive Stipends that will cover their living expenses, travel expenses, and health insurance.

The following is a list of the worth of the scholarships based on the degree programs involved:

  • Postgraduate students will be given a monthly stipend of 850 Euros.
  • Doctoral degree course students will be given 1,200 Euros.
  • Postgraduate and Doctoral students will receive insurance and health coverage.
  • Postgraduate and Doctoral students might receive a travel grant.
  • Free accommodation in the university dorms is part of the scholarship worth.

What degree levels is DAAD scholarship for?

The DAAD scholarship is available for Masters and Ph.D. Degree programs in Economic Sciences/Business Administration/Political Economics; Development Cooperation; Engineering and Related Sciences; Mathematics; Regional and Urban Planning; Agricultural and Forest Sciences; Natural and Environmental Sciences; Medicine and Public Health; Social Sciences, Education and Law; and Media Studies.

About DAAD scholarship for masters

The DAAD Scholarship offers two years master’s degree program scholarships to aspiring graduates who wish to study in Germany.

This scholarship program offers you the opportunity to continue your academic education in Germany with a postgraduate course of study

To be eligible, Outstanding, and Qualified Graduates who have completed a first degree at the latest by the time they commence their scholarship-supported study program.

For applicants from artistic disciplines and the field of architecture, the DAAD offers subject-specific scholarship programs: Music, Fine Art/Design/Film, Performing Art, Architecture.

The DAAD scholarship funds a postgraduate or Master’s degree program completed at a state or state-recognized university in Germany.

Duration of Funding

  • The Duration of the funding is Between 10 and 24 months depending on the length of the chosen study program.
  • In the case of 2-year courses, further funding is provided after the first year of study, if your academic achievements thus far indicate that you will complete the study program within a reasonable period.
  • If you are already in Germany in the first academic year of a 2-year postgraduate or Master’s program at the time of application, you may apply for a scholarship for the second year of study. It is not possible to extend the scholarship

Value

The DAAD scholarship is valued at the following:

  • Scholarship payments of 861 euros a month
  • Payments towards health, accident, and personal liability insurance cover
  • Travel allowance
  • One-off study allowance
  • Under certain circumstances, scholarship holders may receive the following additional benefits:
  • Monthly rent subsidy
  • Monthly allowance for accompanying members of the family
  • In the case of a disability or chronic illness: subsidy for additional costs which result from the disability or chronic illness and are not covered by other funding providers.

To enable scholarship holders to learn German in preparation for their stay in Germany, DAAD offers the following services:

  • Payment of course fees for an online language course after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter
  • if necessary: German language course (2, 4, or 6 months) before the start of the study visit in Germany; the DAAD decides whether to fund participation and for how long depending on German language skills and project. Participation in a language course is compulsory if the study program is taught in German. Due to the pandemic, German courses may take place online.
  • Allowance for a personally chosen German language course during the scholarship period
  • Reimbursement of the fees for the TestDaF or DSH test which has either been taken in the home country after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter or in Germany during the funding period

Selection Criteria

  • Academic qualification (documented by: certificates, reference, curriculum vitae, language certificate):
  • Academic achievements and duration of studies
  • Quality of the study project (documented by: letter of motivation, information about the preferred Master’s program, reference, proof of language proficiency, if applicable, letter of admission from the German host university):
  • Quality of project presentation and preparation (preliminary information, contact with host institution)
  • Reasons for choosing Germany (academic and personal reasons for the planned study project, choice of the host institution)
  • Integration of the stay in the academic career and the connection with academic or professional perspectives
  • Additional criteria (documented by: curriculum vitae, if applicable, certificates):
  • Additional knowledge and skills (e.g. through professional or voluntary activities)
  • Involvement in academic self-governance, higher education policy issues
  • Political, social, cultural, social commitment

Click here to apply 

About DAAD scholarship for PhD

The DAAD Scholarship also offers a two years doctoral degree Scholarship program to students who wish to study in Germany.

Outstanding and qualified young academics and scientists who have completed a Master’s degree or in exceptional cases a Bachelor’s degree at the latest by the time they begin their grant-supported research can apply for the DAAD scholarship.

The DAAD scholarship funds individual projects under the supervision of a university teacher or academic adviser or participation in a structured doctoral study program.

Duration of the funding

  • A maximum of four years; the length of the grant is decided by a selection committee and depends on the project in question and the applicant’s work schedule.
  • Grants are initially awarded for a maximum of one year. Extensions depend on whether the selection committee considers the previous award period to have been completed.
  • For doctoral projects in Germany that require several years of research, research phases outside Germany can be supported if these are critical for the successful completion of the doctoral degree. Planned stays must be specified in the application in the work and schedule and should not exceed a quarter of the anticipated total funding period.

Value

Depending on the academic level, monthly payments of:

  • Euros 861.- for graduates,
  • Euros 1,200.- for doctoral candidates
  • Payments towards health, accident, and personal liability insurance cover
  • Travel allowance
  • Annual research allowance

Under certain circumstances, grant holders may receive the following additional benefits:

  • Monthly rent subsidy
  • Monthly allowance for accompanying family members
  • In the case of a disability or chronic illness: subsidy for additional costs which result from the disability or chronic illness and are not covered by other funding providers.

To enable grant holders to improve their language skills in preparation for their stay in Germany, DAAD offers the following services:

  • Payment of course fees for an online language course after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter
  • If necessary: Language course (2, 4, or 6 months) before the start of the research stay in Germany; the DAAD decides whether to fund the grant holder’s participation and for how long depending on language skills and project. If a language course scholarship is granted and the working language at the host institute is German, participation is compulsory. Due to the pandemic, German courses may take place online.
  • Allowance for a personally chosen German language course during the grant period
  • Reimbursement of the fees for the TestDaF or DSH test which has either been taken in the home country after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter or in Germany before the end of the funding period

Selection Criteria

This includes:

  • A convincing and well-planned research or training project
  • Outstanding academic achievements
  • In addition, to ensure equal opportunities, the selection committee may take into account special life circumstances, about which you can provide information in the application form.

Click here to apply 

Full Requirements for DAAD scholarship

The following requirements are needed to be eligible to apply for the scholarship. They include:

  • Signed DAAD application form with the current date
  • Personally signed CV with the current date
  • Personally signed Letter of Motivation, two pages maximum with the current date.
  • Letter of recommendation from your current employer; the letter must have letterhead, a signature, and official stamp and must be of the current date (not in a sealed envelope)
  • Certificate(s) of Employment from the employer(s) that prove a minimum of two years of relevant working experience (after the bachelor’s degree) at the time of application and if possible, a guarantee of re-employment from your current employer upon returning home.
  • Proof of Language Skills:
  • English – IELTS or TOEFL (Note: The institutional TOEFL is not accepted)
  • German – Required for courses taught in German
  • Copies of Academic Degrees (certified translation if necessary)
  • Copies of Academic Transcripts, incl. grading-scale (certified translation if necessary)
  • Applicants from the People’s Republic of China are asked to submit an APS Certificate with their application documents.

How to Apply for DAAD scholarship

The Following is the Step by Step Application process for the DAAD Scholarship.

  • Choose suitable courses of your interest. (You can apply for a maximum of three courses)
  • Apply to universities offering that courses.
  • You send your complete application(s) (with the above documents) directly to the universities.
  • A selection committee suggests potential candidates for a DAAD scholarship.
  • The suggested candidates will be contacted by DAAD to upload their complete application to the DAAD Portal. (The link to the DAAD Portal will be provided by DAAD through email)
  • The selection process will be finalized, and the suggested candidates will be informed accordingly.

Click here to apply

How to contact DAAD scholarship Organizers

DAAD Scholarship can be contacted either through calls or email.

Head office in Bonn

Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst e.V. (DAAD)

Kennedyallee 50

D-53175 Bonn

Tel.: +49 228 882-0

Fax: +49 228 882-444

E-Mail: postmaster@daad.de

A detailed list of all official phone numbers and addresses of all DAAD countries, institutes, and offices, can be found here. You can send DAAD a message through their contact form

You can visit the website below to contact them or type a message regarding any questions or inquiries you may have.

Frequently asked questions

Which countries can apply for a DAAD scholarship?

All developing countries can apply for the DAAD Scholarship. See the list of developing countries here.

How do I know when the DAAD scholarship is open for application?

The winter semester application usually begins early may till July 15th and for the summer semester application begins March/April and application runs From early December till 15th January.

What is the DAAD scholarship deadline?

The deadline to apply for the 2022/2023 DAAD scholarship is 15th July 2021.

Recommendation