The German Academic Exchange Service eV (DAAD) is one of the world’s largest funding organizations for the international exchange of students and scientists. The DAAD is a joint institution of the German universities and student bodies. It was founded in 1925 on a student initiative, and since then over 1.9 million academics have been supported at home and abroad.

Areas of responsibility of the DAAD

The tasks of the DAAD include:

1. promoting the internationalization of German universities
2. strengthening German studies and the German language abroad
3. supporting developing countries in setting up their own universities
4. the award of scholarships to German and foreign students

This granting of scholarships is one of the most important tasks of the DAAD. There is a wide range of different DAAD scholarship programs for German students and graduates who are planning a study or research stay abroad. The offers differ in part according to subject area, study progress or target country. A description of the most popular programs can be found below.

Annual scholarships for students of all subjects

The DAAD supports students from all disciplines with annual scholarships. The award of these scholarships DAAD occurs at high-flying students, who while studying one academic year at an accredited college abroad to share. The scholarships are available for all regions of the world.

At the time of application, students must be in at least the second semester of their home university. The application deadlines can vary depending on the target country. The DAAD annual scholarships include a monthly scholarship installment for support with living expenses, the amount of which varies depending on the country of study. Accruing tuition fees are covered up to a country-specific maximum amount. There is also a flat-rate travel allowance. In addition, the costs for liability and accident insurance and the additional costs of health insurance due to foreign travel are borne.

More information:
DAAD annual scholarships for students of all subjects

In addition to one-year study stays abroad, the DAAD also supports combined study and internship semesters through a DAAD annual scholarship. In this case, a university semester is completed in combination with an internship, the sequence is optional.

This type of scholarship includes a monthly scholarship that is paid for the entire duration of the stay abroad. In addition, tuition fees are covered up to a maximum of half the amount that the DAAD pays for a full academic year in the country concerned. The travel costs for the outward and return journey are also subsidized with this form of DAAD scholarship.

More information:
DAAD scholarships for combined study and internship semesters

HAW.International: semester stays and theses for students

These DAAD scholarships are open to Bachelor, Master and Diploma students who are studying at a German HAW / FH and want to spend three to six months abroad as part of their studies or a one to six month stay abroad as part of their thesis.

The selection of the scholarship holders takes the following criteria into account:

• Quality of the project
• Previous academic qualifications (measured in terms of academic performance and reports)
• linguistic and regional knowledge
• Extra-professional knowledge, interests and extra-professional involvement

The grants include a monthly grant rate determined by the host country. In addition, tuition fees are covered up to a country-specific maximum amount. A travel allowance and health, accident and liability insurance are also included in the scope of services.

More information:
HAW.International-Scholarship of the DAAD

Scholarships for a master’s degree abroad

The DAAD awards scholarships that enable students from all faculties to obtain a master’s degree abroad. The funding period is based on the standard period of study of the chosen course and can be between one academic year and 24 months. The scholarships are available worldwide.

Applicants must already have a degree (e.g. Bachelor, Master, Magister or Diploma) that must not be more than five years ago at the time of application.

The DAAD master’s scholarships include a monthly grant to support you with living expenses, the amount of which varies depending on the destination country. Accruing tuition fees are covered up to a country-specific maximum amount. There is also a travel allowance as well as allowances for health, accident and personal liability insurance.

The duration of the DAAD scholarship is usually one academic year. If the course is longer (18 or 24 months), the duration of the funding can be extended after the first year, provided that the course work achieved up to that point shows that the course can be successfully completed within the standard period of study.

More information:
DAAD scholarships for a master’s degree abroad

DAAD scholarships for an LLM postgraduate course

To receive an LLM scholarship:

1. Lawyers who have passed their first state examination in law
2. Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees in law courses

The funding period for studying in an accredited LLM course is usually one academic year.

The annual grants include a monthly grant installment to help with living expenses, the amount of which varies depending on the destination country. The grant for the tuition fees varies depending on the destination country, as does the travel grant.

The prerequisite is a completion of the first legal examination with at least fully satisfactory. Bachelor and master graduates must be in the top 20% of their final year.

More information:
DAAD scholarships for an LLM postgraduate course