Dreaming of studying in Germany? The DAAD Scholarship 2026 is your chance! This amazing scholarship can give you a world-class education, help you meet people from all over the world, and give you financial freedom to focus on your studies. It is a very special scholarship that many students hope to get.
The DAAD Scholarship 2026-2027 is a fully funded scholarship for students from around the world. It helps you get a master’s or PhD degree at top German universities. This scholarship gives you money each month, like 992 euros for master’s students or 1,400 euros for PhD students.
DAAD helps train smart people from many countries. These experts can help their home countries grow, making them better places with less poverty, more education, and better health for everyone. The DAAD programs help foreign students get advanced degrees (Master’s or PhD) in Germany, which is great for their future.
Key Scholarship Details
- Academic Levels: Master’s, PhD (Doctoral)
- Host Institution: DAAD
- Location: Germany
- Courses Offered:
- Economic Sciences, Law
- Agricultural and Forest Sciences
- Art, Design
- Engineering and Natural Sciences
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Language and Cultural Studies
- Mathematics, Natural Sciences
- Medicine, Health Sciences
- Duration: Typically 12 to 42 months, depending on your study program. Some PhD programs can be up to 4 years.
Also read: Yale University Scholarships 2025 (Fully Funded) for international students
Scholarship Coverage
The DAAD scholarship is a fully funded program. It usually covers these important things:
- Monthly Payment: You get money each month to help with living costs. For Graduates, it’s usually 992 Euros. For doctoral candidates, it’s usually 1,300 Euros (1,400 Euros beginning with February 2026).
- Health, Accident, and Personal Liability Insurance: This helps you if you get sick or have an accident.
- Travel Allowance: Money to help you travel to Germany, unless someone else pays for it.
- One-off Study Allowance: Extra money for your studies.
- Extra Help: Sometimes, you can get more money for rent or for family members who come with you.
The scholarship amount is mostly determined by the academic level and the type of program. There aren’t specific income thresholds for full coverage, but the scholarship targets students from developing and newly industrialized countries with a development-related motivation.
Eligibility Criteria:
To apply for the DAAD Scholarship 2026, you need to meet some important rules:
- Working for Change: Most scholarship holders work for the government or a company (public or private) in a developing country. They are often involved in projects that help their country with technology, money, or social issues.
- Good Grades and Experience: You need a Bachelor’s degree (usually from a four-year program) in a subject that fits your chosen course. Your grades should be much better than average (in the top one-third of your class). You also need at least two years of work experience in a related field after you got your first degree.
- Recent Graduate: Your most recent university degree should usually be no older than six years when you apply.
- Living in Germany: If you have been living in Germany for more than 15 months by the application deadline, you cannot get this scholarship.
What About Language Skills?
You need to show you can speak the language of your study program.
- For Programs in German:
- The scholarship includes a special six-month German language course in Germany before your studies begin.
- However, you must already have at least a B1 level of German when you apply. You need to show a current certificate to prove this.
- You will need to pass a German language test called DSH 2 or TestDaF 4 before you can start your university studies. It’s not possible to pass these tests without some basic German knowledge beforehand, even with the preparatory course.
- For Programs in English:
- You need to show that you have good enough English skills. The exact level depends on the rules of the course you choose. You can find more details in the description of each course.
Also read: Chinese Government Scholarship 2026 Step by Step Process
How to Apply
Applying for the DAAD Scholarship 2026 is a straightforward process. Here’s what you need to know:
Where to Send Your Application
Do not send your application to DAAD! You must send your complete application directly to the specific university course you want to attend. Check the website of each course for their exact application process (like if it’s an online application), deadlines, and the documents they need. DAAD will not forward applications sent to them.
Applying for More Than One Course
You can apply for up to three different courses. If you apply for more than one, make sure to list them in order of your preference on the DAAD application forms. Do not change this order on your application forms once you’ve set it!
What Documents Do You Need?
Gather these documents in the following order:
- Checklist: A completed and signed checklist.
- EPOS Application Form: Fill out the EPOS application form. Make sure your answers are typed or very easy to read.
- Resume (CV): Your resume should list your work and education history from most recent to oldest, with no unexplained gaps. Please use the Europass template. Make sure to include exact information about your studies and work experience.
- Letter of Motivation: Write a detailed letter explaining why you want to join the program. Talk about your academic, professional, and personal reasons.
- Important: If you’re applying for more than one course (up to three), explain in this same letter why you chose each course and which is your top priority. Use this one letter for all the postgraduate programs you apply to.
- Letter of Recommendation: Get a recommendation letter from your current boss. It must be on official company letterhead, with a signature and an official stamp. It needs to be a recent letter and should not be in a sealed envelope.
- Employment Certificates: Provide certificates from your employers showing you have at least two years of relevant work experience after your Bachelor’s degree, up to the time you apply. If possible, include a guarantee from your current employer that you’ll have a job when you return home.
- Proof of Language Skills (Recent):
- English: Show proof of English proficiency, usually with an IELTS or TOEFL score. (Note: The institutional TOEFL is not accepted.)
- German: If your course is taught in German, you’ll need proof of German language skills.
- Degree Certificates: Copies of your higher education degree certificates. If they are not in German or English, you’ll need a certified translation. Make sure they are clear and easy to read.
- Transcripts: A copy of your complete academic transcripts. If your transcript doesn’t explain the grading system, include a separate explanation.
- APS Certificate: If you are from the People’s Republic of China, you must include an APS Certificate with your application.
Please Note: Some courses might ask for extra documents. Always check the specific course description in the brochure and on the university’s website for detailed information.
Crucially: All your application documents must be submitted in English or German to be considered. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Application and Selection Steps
Here’s how the application and selection process works:
- Step 1: Apply to the Course: You send your full application directly to the postgraduate course you’ve chosen.
- Step 2: University Suggests Candidates: A special committee at the university will suggest potential students for a DAAD scholarship.
- Step 3: DAAD Contacts You: If you are suggested, DAAD will reach out to you. They will ask you to upload your complete application to the DAAD Portal.
- Step 4: Final Selection: The final selection process will be completed, and you will be told if you received the scholarship.
Very Important: Make sure you have a copy of every document from your application ready. You will need to upload these documents as PDF files to the DAAD Portal if you are selected for a scholarship!
Application Deadlines:
Application deadlines for the DAAD Scholarship 2026 depend on the specific study program. It is very important to check the deadlines for the courses you want to apply for. Many deadlines fall between August and November 2025 for studies starting in 2026. Some programs might have deadlines in March 2026. Always check the individual program websites for the exact dates.
You will typically hear back about your application a few months after the deadline.
Official Website:
To find out more and to start your application, visit the official DAAD website.
The DAAD Scholarships for 2025 present an opportunity to study in Germany, well known for its high standard of education and diverse cultural experiences. With these sch
