Overview

The DAAD, or Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, is the German Academic Exchange Service. Established in 1925, its primary aim is to promote international academic exchange and cooperation. With its extensive network of universities, research institutions, and partners across the globe, DAAD offers numerous opportunities for students to pursue higher education in Germany DAAD supports students through various scholarship programmes, fostering international collaboration and cultural understanding. It provides financial aid, academic guidance, and a wide range of resources to help students succeed in their academic pursuits.

DAAD Scholarship 2025-2026 is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is available to pursue masters or PhD at the top German Universities. DAAD scholarships cover monthly payments of 934 euros for graduates or 1,300 euros for doctoral candidates.

Well-trained experts, who are networked with international partners, play an important part in the sustainable development of their countries. They are the best guarantee for a better future with less poverty, more education, and health for all. With its development-oriented postgraduate study programs, the DAAD promotes the training of specialists from developed and newly industrialized countries.

Who Can Apply?

• Applicants must meet the DAAD scholarship program requirements, necessarily the academic requirements and are expected to successfully complete a study program in Germany (higher than the average result for the first academic exam – third higher performance, language skills).
• They must have a bachelor’s degree (usually a four-year course) in an appropriate subject.
• For the DAAD Postgraduate Scholarship Program 2025, applicants must have at least two years of professional experience.
• Furthermore, applicants can demonstrate that their motivation is related to development. They are expected to assume social responsibility and initiate and support processes of change in their personal and professional environment after their training/scholarship.
• The last academic degree (usually a bachelor’s degree) should have been completed no more than six years before.
• Applicants must be from eligible countries. You can check the list of DAAD-eligible countries on the official website.

Application Procedure

• Applications must be sent directly to the corresponding course! Check their respective websites for the application procedure.
• Applicants must select a course of their choice and apply to universities offering that course.
• Each applicant can select up to three courses.
• Applicants will send their complete applications with all the required documents directly to their selected universities.
• A selection committee will select the scholars for this DAAD fully funded scholarship program.
• The selected applicants will be contacted by DAAD to submit their complete application to the DAAD Portal. They will get the DAAD Scholarship application portal link by DAAD through email.
• Applications sent to DAAD will not be sent to the corresponding course/university. They become the property of DAAD and will not be returned. The applicant has no right to claim reimbursement.
• Applications sent by email to DAAD cannot be considered during the selection process. For more details, visit the official website.
• Required documents (in the following order):
• DAAD request form
• CV signed by hand motivation letter signed by hand (with reference to the current occupation) maximum 2 pages letter (s) of recommendation (s) (the letters must have a letterhead, signature, and stamp from the office and must be of recent date.
• Professional letter (s) of recommendation from the applicant’s employer (the letters must have a letterhead, signature, and stamp from the office and must be of recent date). Confirmation of employment of the employer in their country of origin and, if possible, a guarantee of reemployment upon return home.
• Language skills test:
  a) English – TOEFL or IELTS (only one academic TOEFL is accepted)
  b) German: necessary for courses taught in German; for courses taught in English, if available

What Financial Support is Available?

• The scholarship payment is based on the academic level of the scholarship holders and on the scholarship programme. Scholars taking a Master's programme typically receive EUR 934, doctoral candidates and postdocs EUR 1,300. 
• Payments for health insurance, accidents, and civil liability will be provided.
• Subsidy for monthly rent for all applicants.
• Travel expenses, unless these expenses are covered by the country of origin or other sources of funding.
• However, the DAAD scholarship for international students does not cover tuition fees.

Other Details

• Scholarship applications are reviewed by an independent and voluntary selection committee. This may be made up of local and/or German university teachers, researchers and DAAD Lecturers. Depending on scholarship programme and the local situation, the best applicants may also be required to introduce themselves personally. This can take place either on site, face-to-face, or virtually.
• Depending on programme, the selection decision is made either by the local selection committee directly or – in the case of a two-stage selection procedure – by another independent committee of academics in Germany. DAAD staff are not entitled to vote in the scholarship selection procedure.

For More Information

For more information click here.