DAAD - Scholarships for Summer Courses in German Universities

DAAD scholarship for a summer German course in Germany

You will receive four-week German language course paid in full. You will also be provided with accommodation in a single room (student hall of residence, shared flat or private home), a one-off payment of 475 EUR, a travel allowance for selected countries, and health, accident and third-party liability insurance. The course takes place sometime between June and September and comprises at least 25 teaching hours per week over five days. The lessons cover general German, regional and cultural studies, or subject-specific German. All courses are delivered in person. Funding is provided by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service).

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are studying on a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme.
• Study progress: If you are a Bachelor’s student, you must have completed at least two years of your university studies before the course begins.
• Field of study: Any topic is fine.
• Where you study: You are enrolled at a higher education institution outside Germany in one of the eligible countries at the time of your application and throughout your studies.
• German level: You have at least level B1 (you can follow lectures and take part in group work). You must provide evidence of this in the form of a recognised certificate that is no more than one year old.
• Age: You must be at least 18 when the course starts.
• One time only: This scholarship can only be awarded once.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the DAAD portal between 1 September and 30 October each year. A selection panel, which is usually based in your home country, will carry out an initial screening based on your academic results and your personal statement. The final decision is made by a DAAD committee in Bonn. There is no interview, and the results are usually announced in March.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is open to students from all disciplines and many countries, so there is a large pool of applicants. The German language requirement (B1) narrows this down, and you will also need good grades and a convincing personal statement. Anyone who cannot yet demonstrate their German language skills will be excluded. If you clearly meet these requirements and write a convincing, detailed personal statement, your chances are good.