Application Deadline: 24.09.2026
LOCATION: Germany
This scholarship programme offers you the opportunity to complete your doctoral degree in Germany. The scholarships are funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.
ELIGIBILITY:
You can apply if you have above-average qualifications and you completed your Master’s degree or Diplom, or in exceptional cases a Bachelor’s degree, at the latest by the time the funding period begins.
Qualification:
Academic achievements (grade point average, development of grades)
Academic progress
Knowledge of the language(s) of instruction or working language(s)
If applicable, scholarly achievements after graduation, (e.g. publications, lectures, conference papers)
Quality of research project:
Quality of research proposal and preparation (originality, topicality and relevance of the project, choice of host institution and first contacts)
Feasibility and consistency of study plan and schedule
Incorporation of project within the overall doctorate (in terms of content and time), if relevant
Potential of applicant:
Non-study-related activities: non-study-related knowledge and skills, civic engagement
Career prospects: significance of the research project and stay in Germany for further academic, professional and personal development
Motivation: academic and personal reasons for wanting to visit Germany, German language skills (if different from working language)
General information on the application via DAAD portal:
Applications for this scholarship programme are possible between 1 June and the stated application deadline.
Click on ‘Application portal’ at the bottom of the page to go to the DAAD portal. There you will be provided with an online application form to enter your application data.
This is what you have to do:
Register in the DAAD portal (Read notes about registering in the portal >>)
Request recommendation form
You can generate the recommendation form in the DAAD Portal as a writable PDF under ‘Request recommendation form’. It can only be generated during the application period. Please send it to your university teacher and ask him or her to complete the form in full. When you have received it back, upload it in the portal under ‘Letter of Recommendation’.
Applying online in the DAAD portal (Read notes on applying in the portal >>)
BENEFIT:
Value:
Monthly payments of 1,400 euros
Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover (see also our important information for scholarship applicants / section F, point 4)
Travel allowance (upon application only)
Annual research allowance of € 460
Under certain circumstances, you can apply for the following additional benefits after the start of funding:
Monthly rent subsidy (please read the important scholarship information / section F, point 9)
Monthly allowance for accompanying family members. Please also read our important information for scholarship applicants / section F, point 3.
In case of a disability or chronic illness: on application, a subsidy may be provided for justified additional costs incurred abroad that are necessary to realise the project in Germany and that are not covered by a third party; whether and to what extent a subsidy will be paid, will be reviewed and determined on an individual basis (see important information for scholarship applicants, section F, point 8)
To enable you to improve your language skills in preparation for your stay in Germany, DAAD offers the following services:
Payment of course fees for an online language course after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter
If necessary: Language course (2, 4 or 6 months) before the start of the research stay in Germany; the DAAD decides whether to fund the grant holder’s participation and for how long depending on language skills and project. If a language course scholarship is granted and the working language at the host institute is German, participation is compulsory.
Allowance for a personally chosen German language course during the grant period
Reimbursement of the fee for a TestDaF or DSH test, which you can take either in your home country after you have received your Scholarship Award Letter or in Germany during your funding period.
Benefits from third parties are partially credited towards the DAAD scholarship. Information on this can be found in the important scholarship information in section F, point 6.