DAAD Scholarships

Depends on the programme. Most DAAD awards are monthly living stipends rather than tuition payments (public universities in Germany charge little or no tuition), and each listing shows its own rate and extras.

• Most programmes are for graduates (people with at least a bachelor's), doctoral candidates and postdocs.
• You apply from the country where you live, normally your country of origin; there are set rules for applying from a third country.
• Most calls limit how long ago you finished your last degree (e.g. six years for the doctoral programme), with extensions for things like childcare or illness.
• You can't have been in Germany for more than 15 months by the deadline, unless the call says otherwise.
• Funding is for full-time, in-person study or research in Germany: distance, online and part-time courses don't qualify.
• You must prove current skills in the language of instruction with a certificate no more than three years old, unless you're exempt.
• You can't hold another scholarship from the DAAD, another German funding organisation or a German state agency at the same time.

Depends on the programme and your home country. Most programmes are for graduates going to Germany for a master's, a PhD or a research stay, and some are limited to certain countries or fields. In 2025 the DAAD ended 13 programmes (about 2,500 fewer scholarships a year) because of rising costs, so check that the programme you want still exists.

1. 1

   Step 1: Search the scholarship database

   Filter the DAAD database by your country, your status (e.g. graduate or doctoral candidate) and your subject, then open the call for the programme that fits.

2. 2

   Step 2: Check requirements and deadline

   Read the call's 'Application requirements' and 'Application procedure' tabs; deadlines and documents differ by programme and country.

3. 3

   Step 3: Arrange your place in Germany

   For a master's, apply for university admission yourself, because a scholarship doesn't guarantee a place. For a PhD or research stay, get a letter from your German supervisor confirming they'll supervise you.

4. 4

   Step 4: Register on the DAAD portal

   Open the call's 'Submit application' tab, which only appears while applications are open, and register. Generate the recommendation form and send it to your referee.

5. 5

   Step 5: Upload and submit

   Upload every document the call lists as PDFs and submit before the portal closes at midnight German time on the deadline. Incomplete applications aren't considered.

6. 6

   Step 6: Selection by committee

   An independent committee of academics assesses your qualifications, your project and your potential. Some programmes invite the strongest applicants to an interview.

• Tabular CV
• Letter of motivation (1–3 pages)
• Research proposal and timetable (research/PhD programmes)
• Supervisor's letter confirming supervision (PhD/research)
• Letter of recommendation from a university teacher (DAAD form)
• Degree certificates and transcripts (in German or English, or translated)
• Language certificate (no more than three years old)
• Any other documents listed in the call

Deadline

Deadlines vary by programme and country and are shown in each call's 'Application procedure' tab; for example, applications for 'Research Grants – Doctoral Programmes in Germany' (funding starting 2027) open on 1 June, and DAAD updates its deadlines each year in the second quarter.

Deadlines depend on the programme and your country, and are listed in the DAAD scholarship database.