DAAD Scholarship | 2025

The DAAD Scholarship offers excellent opportunities for international students and researchers to study and conduct research in Germany.

This guide will cover the types of scholarships available, their benefits, and the application process.

Qualifications:

To be eligible for the DAAD Scholarship 2026 for Masters and PhD in Germany, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Language Requirements:
  • English: For international programs taught in English, applicants must submit proof of English language proficiency (e.g., TOEFL or IELTS).
  • German: For programs taught in German, applicants must submit proof of German language proficiency (e.g., DSH or TestDaF).
• Eligible Countries: Applicants should be from eligible developing countries. Click here for the list of eligible countries.
• Educational Background:
  • Master’s Programs: Bachelor’s degree (usually a four-year course) in an appropriate subject.
  • PhD Programs: Master’s degree in an appropriate subject.
  • Professional Experience: At least two years of relevant professional experience.
• Motivation: Applicants must demonstrate development-related motivation and a commitment to taking on social responsibility and initiating/supporting change in their personal and professional environments after completing their studies.

Typical Scholarship Holder:

• Works for a public authority or state/private company in a developing country, involved in planning and executing development-oriented projects.
• Holds a Bachelor’s degree (normally four years) in a related field.
• Has achieved above-average results in their academic degrees (upper third) and possesses at least two years of relevant professional experience by the time of application.
• Academic degrees should typically be no more than six years old.
• Applicants who have been residing in Germany for more than 15 months at the application deadline are not eligible.

Types of DAAD Scholarship:

Below is the different DAAD scholarships available for master’s and PhD programs.

1. Study Scholarships:
For undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in Germany, covering living costs and other expenses.

2. Research Grants:
For researchers conducting projects in Germany, supporting travel, accommodation, and research-related costs.

3. Short-Term Grants:
For brief stays in Germany, typically for research or language courses, covering short-term expenses.

4. Language Course Grants:
For students needing German language courses before starting their degree program, covering course costs.

Benefits:

Recipients of the DAAD Scholarship 2026 will receive the following benefits:

• Monthly Payments:
• Graduates: 934 euros per month
• Doctoral Candidates: 1,300 euros per month
• Travel Allowance: Provided unless covered by the home country or another source of funding.
• Insurance Coverage: Payments towards health, accident, and personal liability insurance.
• One-Off Study Allowance: A one-time allowance to support study-related expenses.

Additional Benefits (Under Certain Circumstances):

• Monthly Rent Subsidy: Financial support for housing costs.
• Allowance for Accompanying Family Members: Additional monthly allowance if family members are accompanying the recipient.

Requirements:

Applicants must meet specific criteria regarding academic background, professional experience, and language skills to be eligible for the DAAD Scholarship 2026. Ensure you provide the following documents:

Documents for DAAD Scholarship:

• Signed DAAD Application Form: Completed with the current date.
• Personally Signed CV: Use the sample Europass form here, dated.
• Personally Signed Letter of Motivation: Maximum of two pages, dated. If applying for up to three courses, submit one letter explaining your choices and priorities.
• Letter of Recommendation: From your current employer, on official letterhead, with a signature, stamp, and current date (not in a sealed envelope).
• Certificate(s) of Employment: Proof of at least two years of relevant experience post-bachelor’s degree, including a guarantee of re-employment if possible.
• Proof of Language Skills:
• English: IELTS or TOEFL (Note: Institutional TOEFL is not accepted).
• German: Required for courses taught in German.
• Copies of Academic Degrees: Certified translation if necessary.
• Copies of Academic Transcripts: Including grading scale, certified translation if needed.
• Additional Requirements: Applicants from the People’s Republic of China must submit an APS Certificate.

Note: Some courses may require additional documents. Check the relevant course description in the Brochure and on the respective websites. Complete applications must be submitted in English or German.

Language Skills

• For Study Courses in German:
  • Successful completion of a preparatory 6-month German language course in Germany.
  • Proof of passing the DSH 2 or TestDaF 4 language examination before starting the study course.
  • Minimum German language level of B1 at the time of application, proven by a current certificate. Basic knowledge in German (at least B1 Level) is required, even with the preparatory language course.
• For Study Courses in English:
  • Proof of adequate English language skills according to the course’s regulations (e.g., TOEFL or IELTS scores). Refer to the specific course description for detailed requirements.

Application Deadline:

• Annual Deadlines:
  • Varies by scholarship type. Specific deadlines can be found on the DAAD website, typically several months before the intended start date of the program or see it here.

Application Process:

Here’s a quick guide for Step-by-Step Application and Selection Procedure for DAAD Scholarship.

1. Choose Suitable Courses:
   • Select up to three courses of interest that align with your academic and professional goals.
2. Apply to Universities:
   • Submit your applications directly to the universities offering these courses.
3. Send Complete Applications:
   • Forward your complete application package, including all required documents, directly to the universities.
4. Selection by University:
   • A selection committee at the universities will review applications and suggest potential candidates for a DAAD scholarship.
5. Contact by DAAD:
   • If suggested by the university, DAAD will contact you via email with a link to the DAAD Portal.
6. Upload Documents to DAAD Portal:
   • Upload your complete application (including all required documents) to the DAAD Portal as directed by DAAD.
7. Final Selection:
   • The DAAD will finalize the selection process and inform the successful candidates accordingly.

Important Note:

• Ensure you have copies of all application documents ready. If suggested for a DAAD scholarship, you will need to upload these documents as PDF files to the DAAD Portal.

For detailed information about the application process, visit the DAAD website application process here or the full guidelines here.

Contact Information:

• Website: DAAD Scholarship Program
• Email: For specific queries, visit the DAAD website to find contact details related to different scholarship programs.

Final Thoughts:

The DAAD Scholarship provides great chances for students and researchers to advance their education and careers in Germany.

Make sure to prepare your application carefully and meet all the requirements to make the most of this opportunity.

Also, explore other  local, national, and international scholarships program to support your education. For more information, visit the scholarship’s official website.

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