DAAD Master and PhD Scholarships 2013

Study scholarships are awarded to provide foreign graduates of all disciplines with opportunities to complete a postgraduate or Master’s degree course at a state (public) or state-recognized German higher education institution and to gain a degree in Germany (Master’s/Diplom).
 

Depending on the length of the chosen degree course or study project, the study scholarship will be awarded for between 10 and 24 months. Initially, scholarships are awarded for one academic year and can be extended for students with good study achievements to cover the full length of the chosen degree course.

Eligibility

• Applications for DAAD study scholarships are open to excellently-qualified graduates who, at the latest when they commence their scholarship-supported studies, hold a first degree (Bachelor’s, Diplom or comparable academic degree). No more than six years should generally have passed between the time when they gained their degree and the time of this application.
• Besides previous academic achievements, the most important selection criterion is a convincing presentation of the applicant’s academic and personal reasons for the planned study project in Germany. Applications must either include the notification of admission issued by the German host institution for the desired degree course, or, if this is not the case, then the notification of admission must be presented to the DAAD before the scholarship-supported studies begin. The scholarship award letter from the DAAD only becomes effective once the holder has been admitted to studies. If the degree programme includes a several month long stay abroad, funding for this stay abroad will generally only be considered if it takes place in an EU Country (not in the home country) and lasts a maximum of 6 months and covers a maximum of 25% of the scholarship term.
• Applicants, who have been resident in Germany for longer than one year at the time of application, cannot be considered.

Scholarships

The DAAD will pay a monthly award of 750 euros. As a rule, the scholarship additionally includes certain payments towards health insurance cover in Germany. In addition, the DAAD generally will pay an appropriate flat-rate travel allowance, unless these costs are covered by the home country or by another funding source. Furthermore, the DAAD will pay a study and research allowance and, where appropriate, a rent subsidy and family allowance.

Application procedure

• Detailed information on what application papers need to be submitted can be found in the Application Form for “Research Grants and Study Scholarships.”
• Besides presenting the academic and personal reasons for the planned study project in Germany, the application must be accompanied by an extract from the host university’s website with concrete details (title of the degree programme, study plan and the expected length of studies, language of instruction, admissions requirements plus information on any tuition fees) for the chosen degree programme.
• The DAAD will not consider incomplete applications. Country-specific information, dates and deadlines, application address and advice

Application deadline

Please note that the scholarships awarded to foreign students differ for each country, meaning that each country has its own deadline for collecting the applications. Country-specific Information on the DAAD Scholarship Programmes 2013/2014 can be found here. This information includes the language skills which applicants from your country of origin must meet, any special age-limit regulations which may apply, as well as information on the exact deadlines for the submission of the application papers and on where applications should be sent.

Written applications will be collected  by the local DAAD-IC office representatives or the German Embassy directly. In January or February of the following year, selection committees and interviews will commence for all applicants.

Selection criteria

1. Selection will be based on academic merit, knowledge of the language required, extracurricular activities, and leadership potential, and will follow a multi-tiered and transparent process. All completed applications will be reviewed and valuated by selection teams representing the universities, DAAD and OSF. Semi-finalists will be invited for an in-country interview between January and February. The interview will be carried out either in German or in English based on selected course of studies.
2. All applicants must be aware that after a 2-4 month language course, an adequate level of German must be demonstrated in order to fulfil all necessary academic requirements.
3. Applicants must present the TOEFL and where needed the GRE test results or proof of registration at the time of an interview.  

For more information please refer to the local DAAD Office contact in the first instance, or the official website.