DAAD Scholarship (Germany) 2026

Overview

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD — Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) is one of the world’s largest funding organisations for the international exchange of students and researchers. Its scholarship programmes support outstanding international students and graduates who wish to pursue postgraduate studies or conduct research at universities and research institutions across Germany.

DAAD offers a wide variety of scholarship schemes tailored to different academic levels, disciplines, and career stages — from Master’s and doctoral programmes to short research visits and postdoctoral fellowships. Regardless of the scheme, all DAAD scholarships share the same goal: to foster international academic exchange and to build long-lasting partnerships between Germany and the rest of the world.

What’s Included?

DAAD scholarships are designed to be comprehensive, ensuring that international scholars can fully focus on their studies or research without financial stress. The support package typically includes:

• A monthly stipend to cover living expenses (amount varies by level: approx. €934 for Master’s, €1,200 for doctoral candidates, and higher for postdoctoral researchers)
• Travel allowance for flights to and from Germany
• Health, accident, and personal liability insurance
• In some schemes, a contribution towards tuition fees or course fees
• German language course support (preparatory language courses where applicable)
• Study and research allowance (flat-rate support for books and study materials)

Since public German universities generally charge no tuition fees (only a small semester fee), the stipend is primarily intended to support living costs and academic expenses during your stay in Germany.

Eligibility

DAAD scholarship eligibility varies depending on the specific scheme, but general requirements across most programmes include:

• Be a graduate or postgraduate student with an above-average academic record
• Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree (or be in the final year of studies, depending on the scheme)
• Apply to or be enrolled in a recognised German university or research institution
• Demonstrate strong motivation and a clear academic or professional development plan
• Meet the language requirements of the chosen programme (German or English, depending on the degree)
• Not hold German citizenship or permanent residence in Germany (nationality restrictions vary by scheme)

Some DAAD schemes also prioritise applicants from specific regions or countries. It is important to review the eligibility criteria for the particular programme you are interested in before applying.

How to Apply

DAAD applications are typically submitted through the DAAD online portal. The process is straightforward but requires careful preparation. The general steps are:

• Identify the appropriate DAAD scholarship scheme for your level and field of study via the DAAD scholarship database
• Register on the DAAD online portal and complete the application form
• Prepare and upload required documents: academic transcripts, language test certificates (IELTS/TOEFL for English or TestDaF/DSH for German), CV, study or research proposal, and two letters of recommendation
• Submit the application by the relevant scheme deadline
• Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview

As DAAD manages multiple scholarship programmes with different deadlines throughout the year, applicants are strongly encouraged to use the DAAD scholarship database to identify the most suitable programme and to check the specific deadline for that scheme.

Key Dates

Event	Date
Application Deadline (general)	31 October 2026
Programme Start	Varies by scheme and university

Contact Information

For further information about available scholarship schemes, eligibility requirements, and the application process, visit the DAAD official website or contact DAAD directly through the portal.

Official Website: https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/scholarships/