1. Brief summary of the Scholarship
The DAAD International Postgraduate Scholarship 2026 is a fully funded programme offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for international students wishing to pursue postgraduate studies in Germany (Master’s, MPhil or specialised postgraduate courses).
The scholarship covers living expenses, health insurance, travel costs and other essential fees, enabling recipients to fully focus on their studies at recognised German universities. It particularly targets qualified and motivated students from developing and emerging countries and remains one of the most prestigious opportunities to study in Germany.
2. Purpose of the Scholarship
- Type of support: full funding for university studies, international mobility and postgraduate academic development.
- Targeted study level: postgraduate studies (Master’s, MPhil, selected postgraduate programmes).
- Eligible fields: all academic disciplines available in the DAAD database (humanities, social sciences, business, engineering, technology, etc.).
3. Eligibility criteria
- Nationality or residence: open to international applicants from developing and newly industrialised countries.
- Academic requirement: a first university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent).
- Professional experience: typically a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience is required for certain programmes.
- Language: application in English or German, depending on the course; language proof required (IELTS/TOEFL/TestDaF/DSH).
- Recent graduation: in many programmes, the last degree must not be older than six years.
- Other programme-specific criteria may apply.
4. Benefits offered
- Duration: usually 12 to 42 months, depending on the programme.
- Monthly allowance: approximately €992 for Master’s students, according to DAAD’s current funding rates.
- Costs covered:
- Monthly stipend
- Health/accident insurance
- Round-trip travel allowance
- Accommodation or family-related allowances (if applicable)
- Fully funded German language courses before or during the programme
- Possibility of renewal depending on academic performance and programme duration.
5. Application procedure
- Required documents (may vary with programme):
- Curriculum Vitae
- Motivation letter
- Academic transcripts and certificates
- Two recommendation letters
- Proof of language proficiency
- Valid passport
- Portfolio (for arts/design courses)
- Submission: via the official DAAD scholarship portal.
- Important dates: deadlines vary depending on the course, usually between September and November 2025 for the 2026 intake.
- Interview or test: may be required depending on the programme.
6. Obligations of the Scholarship Holder
- Maintain strong academic performance throughout the programme.
- Comply with all DAAD regulations (progress reports, participation in academic activities, etc.).
- For development-related programmes, scholars may be encouraged to contribute to the development of their home country after graduation.
7. Funding Organisation
- Institution: DAAD – German Academic Exchange Service
- Mission: promote international academic cooperation, strengthen research and education capacity, and support student and researcher mobility.
- Partners include German universities, government agencies, and international academic networks.
8. Tips to Strengthen Your Application
- Apply early and carefully check the specific deadline for each programme.
- Tailor your motivation letter to clearly demonstrate the relevance of the chosen course to your academic or professional goals.
- Ensure you obtain strong recommendation letters from academic or professional supervisors.
- Improve your English or German proficiency if needed.
- Make sure all documents are complete, translated and certified when required.
- Carefully read the specific requirements of the chosen programme in the DAAD database before applying.
Useful Official Links
- DAAD scholarships overview:
https://www.daad.de/en/studying-in-germany/scholarships/ - DAAD EPOS programme:
https://www.daad.de/en/information-services-for-higher-education-institutions/further-information-on-daad-programmes/epos/ - DAAD scholarship database:
https://www.daad.de/stipdb-redirect/
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