Are you an international student or an indigenous German student searching for financing to do research in Germany? Then you’ve come to the right place. Each year, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) supports approximately 100,000 German and foreign students and researchers from all over the world to study and research abroad, making it the world’s biggest financial institution.
DAAD scholarships are awarded for study and research trips to German universities and non-university research institutes, particularly to graduates, doctoral students, and postdocs. There are also “Sur-place and Third Country Programmes” where students, young scientists, and researchers are awarded DAAD money for a Scholarship in Germany for a graduate program, doctorate program, or post-doctoral time in their area or home country.
Benefits:
The benefits offered by the respective scholarship programme differs and are described in the call for applications in the scholarship database. Generally, it covers:
- A monthly scholarship payment (€ 861 for graduates, € 1,200 for doctoral/PhD students, university teachers are usually € 2,000 for assistant teachers, assistant professors and lecturers, € 2,150 for professors)
- A flat-rate travel allowance.
- Health, accident and personal liability insurance.
- A one-off research allowance, family benefits or funds for language courses.
Eligibility:
Applicants for DAAD Scholarships must:
- Have obtained relevant certificates from recognized institutions of higher learning.
- Applicants from all over the world are eligible to apply.
- Must demonstrate strong academic and leadership abilities.
Selection criteria:
- The quality of the project: for study and research visits, courses of continuing education: a convincing and well-planned project.
- A well-founded choice of course, as documented by the letter of motivation.
- Academic achievements
Depending on scholarship programme, additional selection criteria may be relevant, e.g. language skills.
Application:
There are several things to look-out for while preparing to apply for DAAD Scholarships, such as:
Preparing your Application:
- Letter of motivation that describes your professional and personal reasons for wishing to study in Germany not more than three pages. The content should include your education, skills, academic motivation, personal interest and reasons for applying for a scholarship.
- Proposal: should be detailed and precise having the objective, current state of literature, key research questions, research strategies/methods, ethical issues, research bibliography clearly outlined.
Planning your Project: You need to have obtain a confirmation from a university teacher if you wish to carry out individual research or complete a doctorate in Germany. You have to get a host who can be a university teacher or teachers who work at a state or state-recognized institution of higher learning.
Applicants will have to apply online by registering in the DAAD portal. In the scholarship database, first select your chosen scholarship programme and then the tab “Submit application”. Application procedures may vary depending on scholarship programme. To find out where and how to apply, applicants are to read the “Application Procedures” at scholarship database. Applicants can apply by following the steps below:
- Download the application form for DAAD scholarship.
- Make a personalized CV with your signature.
- Write motivation letter and hand sign it.
- Write detailed Research proposal.
- Get recommendation letter from your previous university
- Get a host from a government or state-recognized institution of higher learning.
Applicants should note that there is no age limit for scholarship applicants interested in applying for DAAD Scholarships. DAAD Scholarships are generally open to all subjects. However, applicants must ensure that their course of study is on the eligible programmes as there are certain restrictions to some subjects (e.g. medicine).
