DAAD Scholarships

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) funds a wide range of scholarships for international students at all academic levels. DAAD offers multiple programme lines including development-related postgraduate courses (EPOS), research grants, and study scholarships.

• Completed undergraduate degree (bachelor's or equivalent) with above-average results
• At least two years of professional experience (for EPOS programmes)
• Motivation aligned with development goals of home country (for EPOS)
• Programme-specific language requirements (German or English)

• Monthly stipend (€934 for Master's, €1,300 for PhD)
• Health, accident, and liability insurance
• Travel allowance
• Study and research allowance

• DAAD online application form
• Curriculum vitae (tabular format)
• Letter of motivation
• Two academic reference letters
• Certified copies of academic transcripts and degree certificates
• Language proficiency certificate (IELTS/TOEFL for English; TestDaF/DSH for German)

• English-taught programmes: IELTS 6.0+ or TOEFL 80+
• German-taught programmes: DSH-2 or TestDaF 4x4 or equivalent

1. 1Search for suitable DAAD scholarship programme on daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/scholarships/
2. 2Apply through the DAAD online portal
3. 3Some programmes require parallel application to the university
4. 4Applications reviewed by DAAD selection committees
5. 5Results communicated several months after the deadline

• Academic achievement
• Quality of motivation letter and study/research plan
• Relevance of proposed studies to home country development (EPOS)
• Recommendation letters

• DAAD has many different programmes — find the right one for your level and field
• The CV must be in tabular (not narrative) format as DAAD requires
• Connect your study plan to development impact in your home country for EPOS
• Apply to the university programme separately if required

Last verified: April 30, 2026

DAAD runs multiple scholarship programmes with different deadlines and requirements. The EPOS deadline is typically October. Check the DAAD scholarship database for your specific programme.