DAAD - Long-Term Study Scholarships

DAAD Long-Term Study Scholarships

For a full-time Master’s degree programme in Germany, you will receive 992 EUR per month for up to 24 months, depending on the official duration of your programme. In addition to the monthly allowance, you will receive an annual study grant of 460 EUR, health, accident and third-party liability insurance, and, upon application, a travel allowance. You may also be eligible for funding for a German language course before your studies begin. Optional additional benefits include a rent allowance, a family supplement if family members are travelling with you, and a bonus for environmentally friendly travel if you arrive using low-emission transport. The scholarship is awarded by the DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service, and funded by the Federal Foreign Office. Tuition fees are not covered.

Who can apply

• Degree: You must hold a first higher education qualification (e.g. a Bachelor’s degree, Licence or Diplom) at the time the funding commences.
• Where you go: You are studying in Germany, either as part of a full Master’s degree programme at a state or state-recognised German higher education institution, or for an academic year that will count towards a Master’s degree or a second degree at your home university.
• Fresh graduate: Your most recent qualification must not have been obtained more than 6 years ago at the time of the application deadline.
• New to Germany: You have not spent more than 15 months in Germany by the cut-off date and have not yet started this Master’s programme in Germany.
• Field of study: All disciplines with the exception of fine art, design, film, performing arts, music and architecture, for which there are separate DAAD programmes.
• Grades: You are doing very well at school.
• Language: You can demonstrate that you are proficient in the language in which your course is taught – German or English.

How to apply

You apply online via the DAAD portal, submitting your CV, a personal statement, your academic transcripts and your language certificate. The application deadline is 1 December. An independent panel of academic experts will make the decision based on your written application. The selection will take place in the following May, and the funding will commence in October.

How realistic are your chances?

This well-known DAAD scholarship is open to almost all fields of study and therefore attracts many strong applicants. Grades alone are not enough. What sets applicants apart from others is a clear, well-prepared study plan: the right degree programme, contact with the host university and a compelling personal statement linked to your career plans. If you are a recent graduate with excellent academic results and a clear plan, your prospects look good.