German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) - Michael Foster Memorial Scholarship

What the Michael Foster Memorial Scholarship gives you

You will receive a monthly scholarship for one year to study or carry out research at a German university – in a subject of your choice. You will also receive a one-off payment at the start to cover books and other expenses, a travel allowance, and insurance covering accidents, illness and third-party liability. If your spouse accompanies you, an additional allowance is available. If your German language skills are not yet sufficient, an additional grant can cover the costs of a language course at the start of your stay. The scholarship is awarded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), an organisation dedicated to promoting international study. It is valid for one year and may be extended by the DAAD. Only one scholarship is awarded per call for applications. Colleges of art and music are the only institutions where you cannot study.

Who can apply

• Where you study now: You are a member of the University of Oxford, regardless of which college you belong to.
• Study phase: You are a Master’s student in any year of your degree or a Bachelor’s student in your final year.
• Field of study: Any subject.
• Your project: Your planned degree programme or research project is best undertaken at a German university.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously attended school or completed vocational training in a German-speaking country for an extended period.
• German language: Your German is good. If your German isn’t quite up to scratch yet, the language course grant can help you.
• Grades: You have an excellent academic record. Bachelor’s students are generally required to have a projected grade of ‘First’.
• No double funding: This scholarship cannot be combined with any other travel grant.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted via the University of Oxford. Please contact your intended host university in Germany before submitting your application. The selection process will take into account your academic achievements, the quality and feasibility of your project, and the contribution that a stay in Germany will make to your career or research plans. Please note that the scholarship is not available for the academic year 2026/27.

How realistic are your chances?

This is an individual scholarship open exclusively to students at the University of Oxford; the pool of applicants is therefore small, but competition for this single place is fierce. Undergraduate students must be on track to graduate with a ‘First’ classification. The key criteria are a clear, well-justified research project for which collaboration with a German university is genuinely necessary, as well as outstanding academic performance. Please note that the scholarship has been suspended for 2026/27; you should therefore check whether it is being offered again before basing your plans on it.