DAAD Study Scholarships for Graduates

What the scholarship covers

• Monthly payment of €992
• Health, accident and liability insurance
• Travel allowance
• Study and research allowance
• German language course before study in many cases

Eligibility requirements

• Bachelor's degree completed within the last six years
• Above-average academic results
• Language proficiency matching the course (German or English)
• Not resident in Germany for more than 15 months at application

Documents you will need

• DAAD portal application
• Curriculum vitae in Europass format
• Letter of motivation
• Academic transcripts and degree certificate
• Language certificate
• One academic reference

How to apply, step by step

1. 1

   Search the DAAD scholarship database

   Filter by your country and subject; the exact call and deadline differ by both.

2. 2

   Shortlist German universities

   You apply for the scholarship and to universities separately. Start the admission process in parallel.

3. 3

   Register on the DAAD portal

   Create an account and work through the form over several sessions rather than one sitting.

4. 4

   Write the motivation letter

   Explain why Germany and why this specific programme, not why you want a master's in general.

5. 5

   Arrange a language certificate

   German-taught courses need TestDaF or DSH; English-taught courses need IELTS or TOEFL.

6. 6

   Submit before the country deadline

   Deadlines are set per country and usually fall between August and November.

When to do what

Counting backwards from the deadline. Applications rushed in the final fortnight are the ones that fail.

1. 20 weeks before

   Search the DAAD database for calls open to your country.

2. 16 weeks before

   Shortlist universities and check their admission requirements.

3. 12 weeks before

   Book a language test if you have no valid certificate.

4. 10 weeks before

   Draft the motivation letter for each shortlisted programme.

5. 7 weeks before

   Request an academic reference and order transcripts.

6. 3 weeks before

   Complete the portal application and upload documents.

What the panel is actually looking for

• Academic record relative to your cohort
• Clear reasons for choosing Germany and the specific programme
• Language readiness for the course
• Coherence between your background and stated goals

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming one deadline applies worldwide when calls are country-specific.
• Leaving university admission until after the scholarship result.
• A motivation letter that could describe any country.
• Applying more than six years after finishing the bachelor's degree.

Fields of study

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