DAAD Scholarships Guide — Complete 2026 Overview
2 August 2026
What is DAAD?
DADD — the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, or German Academic Exchange Service — is the world's largest funding organisation for the international exchange of students and researchers. Founded in 1925, it funds over 100,000 people per year through more than 250 individual scholarship and fellowship programmes. Its headquarters are in Bonn, with a global network of offices in more than 60 countries.
DADD's mission is to promote academic exchange between Germany and the rest of the world. For international students, this makes it one of the most accessible and broad-reaching sources of scholarship funding available: it supports study and research at all levels, in virtually every discipline, at German universities that charge no or very low tuition fees. For many applicants, particularly those from developing countries, DAAD is the entry point to graduate study in Europe.
Why Study in Germany with DAAD?
Germany's research universities consistently rank among the best in the world, and most of them charge no tuition fees to all students — domestic or international. Unlike many other scholarship destinations, where the scholarship is partially offsetting a large fee, a DAAD scholarship in Germany means your stipend goes almost entirely toward living costs, not fees.
Germany is also one of the most internationally open higher education systems in the world. Many programmes at Master's and doctoral level are taught in English, and the country has a large, established international student community, particularly in cities like Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Heidelberg.
For researchers, Germany's network of Max Planck institutes, Helmholtz centres and Fraunhofer institutes represents the densest concentration of research infrastructure outside the United States, and DAAD has specific programmes that open access to these institutions.
Main DAAD Programme Types
Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS)
The DAAD EPOS programme is one of DAAD's flagship awards for applicants from developing and newly industrialised countries. It supports full Master's study in Germany at universities and Fachhochschulen that offer programmes in development-relevant fields.
EPOS covers a wide range of subjects: economics, engineering, agriculture, public health, natural sciences, social sciences, governance and law. The criteria are explicitly aimed at professionals who intend to return to their home country after graduating and apply their expertise to national development challenges.
Who is eligible? Citizens of developing and newly industrialised countries listed in the DAAD country programme who hold a first degree, have at least two years of relevant professional experience, and have been admitted to one of the eligible German programmes.
Research Grants for Doctoral Programmes
The DAAD Research Grants for Doctoral Programmes fund doctoral study in Germany for international students who have already been accepted by a German university supervisor. This is a research grant in the fullest sense: it is not tied to a specific course, but to a research project agreed between the candidate and a German academic host.
Grants cover a monthly stipend, health insurance, travel costs, and in some cases a language course allowance. The duration is typically ten months to three years, depending on the research project.
Helmut Schmidt Programme
The Helmut Schmidt Programme (formerly known as the Public Policy and Good Governance Programme) supports a one-year Master's study at selected German universities for international applicants working in public administration, law, economics or political science. It is specifically aimed at future public sector leaders who will go on to work in government, international organisations or civil society.
Language and Study Visit Programmes
DADD also funds German language courses for international scholars — from intensive summer courses to one-semester language study grants that help researchers build the language skills needed to work in German-language academic environments. These are smaller awards and highly competitive within their category.
Eligibility
Eligibility varies substantially between programmes, but the general requirements for DAAD's main postgraduate scholarships are:
Citizenship — Most DAAD programmes are open to citizens of all countries, though priority is given to applicants from developing and newly industrialised countries for the development-focused programmes. Some programmes (Helmut Schmidt, EPOS) have explicit country lists.
Academic record — A strong academic record is required, typically corresponding to an upper-second-class degree or better. DAAD does not publish a fixed GPA minimum, but in practice the funding is competitive and academic excellence is a prerequisite.
Professional experience — For the EPOS and Helmut Schmidt programmes, at least two years of postgraduate professional experience is typically required. For pure research grants (doctoral), the requirement is more flexible, but evidence of research capacity is expected.
Admission to a German institution — Most DAAD scholarships require that you have already been accepted, or are applying concurrently, to a German university programme or have identified a German academic supervisor willing to host you.
Language requirements — This varies significantly by programme:
- English-taught programmes require proof of English proficiency (IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 as a common baseline).
- German-taught programmes require German language proficiency, usually at B2 level (Goethe-Zertifikat or TestDaF).
- Some research grants are available in English even at German-language universities, particularly at the doctoral level.
How to Apply — Step by Step
Step 1: Choose the right programme. Visit the DAAD scholarship database (daad.de/en/studying-in-germany/scholarships) and filter by your situation: country of origin, degree level, subject area, language and whether you need a programme already identified. There is no single "DAAD scholarship" — each programme has its own criteria, funding level and application process.
Step 2: Identify your target German institution and programme. For most DAAD awards, you need to have already been admitted, or be applying in parallel, to a German university programme or research host. Contact German universities directly — most have international offices that can advise on programme options and DAAD-funding compatibility.
Step 3: Prepare your application documents. Typically: a completed DAAD application form, a motivation letter (up to two pages), a curriculum vitae, academic transcripts and degree certificates, evidence of language proficiency, two to three letters of recommendation, and a project proposal or study plan (for research grants).
Step 4: Submit before the deadline. Deadlines vary by programme and country. For most postgraduate scholarships starting in the following winter semester (October), applications are due in September to November of the preceding year. For the EPOS programme, the deadline is typically in September. For research grants, there are two rounds: October for the following summer semester, and April/May for the following winter semester.
Step 5: Await review. DADD scholarship decisions are made by the relevant German university (for EPOS and similar programmes, the university nominates candidates) or by DAAD's selection committees directly. Notification is typically five to eight months before the scholarship start date.
Stipend Amounts
DADD stipend amounts are standardised by degree level and reviewed annually. As of 2026:
- Master's students: €934 per month
- Doctoral students: €1,200 per month
- Postdoctoral researchers: €1,750 per month
In addition to the monthly stipend, most awards include:
- A travel subsidy (amount varies by distance from Germany)
- Monthly health insurance coverage
- A study and research allowance (€460 per year for most programmes)
- A family allowance where applicable (€276 per month for a dependent spouse; additional amounts for children)
Recall that most German public universities charge no tuition fees — a Semesterbeitrag (semester contribution, typically €150–350) covers student services, public transport passes and administrative costs, but is not comparable to tuition fees at universities in the UK, US or Australia.
Deadlines
| Programme | Typical Application Deadline | |---|---| | EPOS — Development-Related Postgraduate Courses | September–October | | Helmut Schmidt Programme | October | | Research Grants (Doctoral) — summer semester | April–May | | Research Grants (Doctoral) — winter semester | October | | German Language Courses | Varies; usually 3–4 months before start |
Deadlines shift between years. Always verify on the DAAD website or the relevant German university's scholarship page before planning your application.
Tips for a Strong DAAD Application
Identify the right programme first. Applying to the wrong DAAD programme — one for a country you are not from, or for a degree level you have not reached — is the most common avoidable mistake.
Make the "return to contribute" argument clearly. Most DAAD development-focused programmes explicitly want applicants who will use their German education in their home country. If you are applying for EPOS, your motivation letter must make this case clearly and credibly.
Contact the German university directly. DAAD is the funding body; the university is the host. Many candidates wait for a scholarship before approaching a university. Approach in parallel — a letter of interest from a German professor strengthens your application significantly.
Show research capacity, not just grades. For doctoral research grants, a track record of academic publications, conference papers or thesis work is more important than grades alone.
Use the DAAD alumni network. DAAD has over 90,000 living alumni. They are often reachable through LinkedIn or the DAAD alumni portal, and many are willing to advise current applicants about their experience with specific programmes.
Global Scholarships verifies information against official DAAD and partner university pages. Stipend amounts and deadlines change annually — always confirm on daad.de before submitting your application.