The DAAD Scholarship: A Complete Guide for 2026
Germany's DAAD funds thousands of international students every year across many programmes. Here's how to navigate it.
Official source — verify hereDAAD — scholarship database ↗The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) is Germany's main scholarship body, running dozens of programmes for international students, researchers and professionals — from full Master's/PhD funding to short research stays.
What it covers (varies by programme)
- Monthly stipend (commonly in the €900-1,300 range depending on degree level)
- Health, accident and personal liability insurance
- Travel allowance in many programmes
- Tuition — most German public universities charge little or no tuition anyway, even without a scholarship
Who is eligible (general pattern)
- A relevant qualifying degree for the programme level (bachelor's for Master's scholarships, etc.)
- Good academic record; some programmes want 2+ years of work experience for professional-development tracks
- German or English proficiency depending on the programme/course language
- Specific programmes target specific countries, fields or career stages — DAAD's database lets you filter by all of these
How the timeline generally works
Unlike a single scholarship with one deadline, DAAD runs many parallel programmes, each with its own cycle — some annual, some rolling. Many Master's scholarship programmes have deadlines in autumn/winter (roughly September to November) for study starting the following autumn, but this varies widely by programme. The only reliable way to find your deadline is DAAD's own database.
How to apply
- Use the official DAAD scholarship database and filter by your country, subject and degree level.
- Read that specific programme's eligibility and deadline carefully — they differ programme to programme.
- Many programmes require you to also apply/be admitted to a German university or hold a letter of invitation, alongside the DAAD application.
- Prepare a motivation letter, CV, references and — depending on the programme — a language certificate.
Tips
- Don't assume "the DAAD deadline" is one date — filter the database for your exact situation first.
- Public German universities are low/no-tuition regardless, so DAAD funding is mainly about living costs, not fees.
- Some DAAD tracks are aimed specifically at developing countries or specific regions — check if a targeted programme fits you better than a general one.
Frequently asked questions
Does DAAD fund all subjects and countries?
DAAD runs many separate programmes, each with its own eligible countries, subjects and career-stage requirements — there isn't one universal DAAD scholarship. Use the official database's filters to find programmes that actually match your profile.
Do German universities charge tuition even with a DAAD scholarship?
Most German public universities charge little to no tuition for international students regardless of a scholarship, so DAAD funding mainly covers living costs, insurance and sometimes travel — check your specific state and university, as a few charge modest fees.
What's the difference between DAAD and Erasmus Mundus?
DAAD is Germany's national scholarship body funding study specifically in Germany across many programmes; Erasmus Mundus is an EU-wide programme funding joint Master's degrees taught across multiple European countries, not just Germany.
Can I apply to DAAD without German language skills?
Yes, for English-taught programmes — many German Master's and PhD programmes, especially in STEM, are taught fully in English. The required language depends on your specific course, not DAAD generally.
References & official sources
Always confirm current deadlines, eligibility and open programmes on the official sites below — they are the authoritative, real-time source, and this guide is only a plain-English summary.
Related tools
⚠️ Deadlines, eligibility and open programmes change every cycle. This guide is general information — always confirm the current details on the official portal linked above before you apply.