DAAD Scholarship 2026-27: Eligibility, Amount, Documents and How to Apply

DAAD Scholarship is Germany's largest funding route for Indian students. It pays a monthly stipend and covers insurance and travel. Check the eligibility, amount, documents and full application process below.

DAAD Scholarship 2026-27: Eligibility, Amount, Documents and How to ApplyDAAD Scholarship 2026-27 : The DAAD Scholarship for Indian Students is the best known funding option for anyone planning to study in Germany. DAAD stands for the German Academic Exchange Service. It is a German government funded body that supports over 100,000 students and researchers every year. Many students think the DAAD Scholarship is one award. It is not. It is a menu of more than 20 programmes. Some are for summer language courses. Some are for a full Master’s degree. Others are for PhD work, research stays and faculty exchange.

Germany has more than 400 universities. Close to 470,000 of their students come from other countries. Indian applicants often begin by shortlisting a course at Technical University of Munich, RWTH Aachen University or Heidelberg University, and then look for the DAAD programme that fits it. This article explains each part of the process in simple steps. You will find the scholarship list, the eligibility rules, the stipend amount, the documents you need and the reasons most applications get rejected.

DAAD Scholarship Overview

Here are the key details in one place.

What is the DAAD Scholarship

This section explains who runs the scholarship and what it offers.

German Academic Exchange Service and Its Role

DAAD is a funding body, not a university. It pays for study and research visits at German universities and research institutes. It is one of the largest funding organisations of its kind in the world.

The money does not have to be paid back. It is a grant, not a loan. A DAAD award letter also helps when you apply for your student visa.

DAAD Support for Students from India

DAAD Regional Office in New Delhi handles this region. It also runs Information Centres in Bengaluru, Chennai and Pune. These offices give free counselling on courses and scholarships.

Some DAAD programmes are open to every country. Others are meant only for students from developing and emerging countries. India is in that group. This is why programmes like EPOS matter so much for Indian applicants. Students aiming for a place at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich can check with these offices which programme suits their course.

DAAD Scholarship List for Indian Students

The table below groups the main DAAD programmes by who can apply.

DAAD Scholarships for Students

HSK programme is the main option. It funds a four-week German language and culture course. Courses run between June and September. Each course has at least 25 teaching hours a week.

Classes are held only in German. You have to attend in person. Online attendance is not allowed. The grant cannot be extended.

DAAD Scholarships for Graduates and Doctoral Students

EPOS funds Master’s and PhD courses linked to development work. Here you apply to the German university running the course, not to the DAAD. The Helmut-Schmidt Programme funds a Master’s in public policy and good governance. Separate scholarships cover architecture, music, performing arts and fine art. KOSPIE mixes study with a practical stay for engineering students.

DAAD Scholarships for Post Docs and Faculty

Teachers and researchers have their own set of grants. Short term scholarships pay for research stays in Germany. The DAAD-IIT and DAAD-CSIR schemes fund exchange of academics between the two countries. Visiting professorships and DLR-DAAD research fellowships also sit in this group.

DAAD Funding for Alumni

Past scholarship holders can come back for more support. The Re-Invitation Programme funds a short research stay in Germany. Alumni can also apply for help with material resources and for funding to hold academic events.

Choosing the Right DAAD Scholarship for Your Study Level

Start by finding your own stage. The route changes a lot from one level to the next.

Options After Class 12

A Class 12 certificate alone is not enough for Germany. You first need a one-year course called Studienkolleg. It ends with an exam called the Feststellungsprüfung. For this you need German at about B2 level. Students going into medicine, biology or pharmacy must pick the M Kurs.

Students with Class 10 followed by a diploma cannot join a Studienkolleg. There are three other ways in. You can finish the first year of a bachelor course at a recognised Indian university. You can clear JEE Advanced for technology and science courses. You can also finish the IB or a similar international exam with the right subjects. DAAD funding is limited at this stage. The HSK summer course is the realistic choice.

Options for Master's Study

A four-year Bachelor degree from India makes you eligible to apply. With a three-year degree, speak to the course coordinator or the international office first. EPOS and the Helmut-Schmidt Programme are the main funded routes. Subject-based scholarships cover the creative fields. Before you apply, compare course pages at University of Freiburg and the Technical University of Berlin to see which one fits your subject.

Options for PhD and Research

A Master's degree holder from India can generally apply for a PhD. There are two paths. An individual doctorate means working under one supervisor who agrees to guide you. It takes about three to five years. A structured PhD programme has a fixed curriculum and several supervisors. It takes about four years.

The Research Grants programmes fund both paths. You can do your research at a university or at a research institute. You can check with institutions such as Free University of Berlin and the  Humboldt University of Berlin whether they run a structured programme in your subject. Universities of applied sciences do not award doctoral degrees.

DAAD Scholarship Eligibility for Indian Students

The rules change from programme to programme. These are the points that apply to most of them.

Academic Eligibility

You need a finished degree one level below your target course. For a Master's scholarship, that means a completed Bachelor degree. For a doctoral scholarship, it means a completed Master's degree.

Your last degree should be recent. Most DAAD programmes expect it to be no more than six years old at the time of applying. Your marks should be above average. For the HSK summer course, undergraduate students must have finished at least two academic years before the funding starts.

English and German Language Requirements

Your language proof depends on the language of the course. English-taught Master's courses usually ask for TOEFL 98 to 100 iBT or IELTS 6.5. PhD applicants are often asked for TOEFL 90 or IELTS 7.

German-taught courses need a German certificate such as TestDaF or DSH. Medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine are taught only in German. The HSK programme has its own rule. You need German at B1 level or above. Accepted certificates are onSET-Deutsch, TestDaF, Goethe-Institut, DSD, DSH, telc Deutsch and the ÖSD-Zertifikat. The certificate must not be more than one year old.

Work Experience Requirements

EPOS is built for working professionals. Fresh graduates without the required experience are filtered out early. Research grants and academic study scholarships usually do not ask for work experience. Read the call for applications for your own programme.

Am I Eligible?

Run through this quick check before you start.

DAAD Scholarship Amount and Benefits

The DAAD Scholarship is a full package, not just a monthly payment.

Monthly Stipend

The amount depends on your study level. Students receive EUR 992 per month. Doctoral and PhD candidates receive EUR 1,300 per month. The exact figure is set by the programme you apply under. The HSK summer course works differently. It pays a one-time allowance of EUR 475 instead of a monthly stipend.

What the Scholarship Covers

Most programmes add these benefits on top of the stipend.

• A flat-rate travel allowance

• Health, accident and personal liability insurance

• A one-off research allowance in some programmes

• Family benefits where they apply

• Money for a language course

PhD awardees get one extra benefit. After selection they receive funding for a language course of their choice. HSK scholars get their course fee paid. The course provider arranges their accommodation. The DAAD sends the money to the course provider, who then pays the scholar on the spot. This amount is not sent abroad.

Cost of Studying in Germany with a DAAD Scholarship

Most German public universities charge no tuition fee. Doctoral students are usually exempt too. You do pay a semester contribution. It ranges from EUR 100 to EUR 350. The amount depends on the university and the services included.

Apart from that, you need about EUR 900 to EUR 1,000 a month. This covers housing, food, study material, insurance and daily costs. The figure changes from city to city. The stipend is designed to cover this gap. That is why students heading to Karlsruhe Institute of Technology or the University of Stuttgart treat the DAAD Scholarship as a fully funded option.

How to Apply for the DAAD Scholarship?

Start about a year in advance and follow these steps.

1. Shortlist your programme. Use the DAAD scholarship database. Filter by your status, subject and country.

2. Read the call for applications. Check the eligibility, benefits and document list for that one programme.

3. Contact the university or supervisor. PhD applicants need an acceptance letter from a supervisor or an admission letter from the university.

4. Register on the DAAD portal. Fill the online form completely.

5. Upload your documents. Attach every file in the attachments section.

6. Submit early. The portal closes at 24:00 hours CET or CEST on the last day. Incomplete applications are not looked at.

7. Track your application. Reply quickly if the DAAD asks for anything extra.

Applying Through the University Instead of the DAAD Portal

EPOS does not follow the steps above. You apply directly to the German university running the course. Each course has its own document list and its own timeline. The university shortlists candidates first. The DAAD committee then confirms the awards.

APS Certificate and TestAS

APS India is part of the German Embassy. It checks your documents and issues a certificate. You need this certificate for your student visa.

TestAS is an aptitude test for foreign students. You need a TestAS score to apply for the APS certificate. Apply for your visa as soon as your admission letter arrives. The process takes eight to twelve weeks. You also have to show proof of funding for the first year. Students joining TU Dresden should start this paperwork early.

Documents Required for DAAD Scholarship

Keep your file ready well before you submit.

Common Documents

These are asked for in almost every DAAD programme.

• Completed online application form from the DAAD portal

• Curriculum vitae in table form

• Letter of motivation explaining why you chose this course and Germany

• Degree certificates from all your past institutions

• Academic transcripts with a note on the grading system

• Valid language certificate as per the course language

Papers in an Indian language need a German or English translation. Scanned copies are fine at the application stage. The DAAD can ask for certified copies later.

Programme-Specific Documents

Some programmes ask for more.

• Research proposal for PhD and research grant applications

• Acceptance letter from a German supervisor for individual doctorates

• Admission letter from the host university

• Course-specific papers listed by the university for EPOS

• No Objection Certificate from your institution for exchange and short-term programmes

DAAD Scholarship Selection Process

The DAAD does not pick the winners on its own. Independent committees do it.

Role of the Selection Committee

These committees work on a voluntary basis. They look at two things above everything else. The first is how well you did in your last degree. The second is your letter of motivation. A strong letter names the exact course, the university and what you plan to do after the degree.

A general letter about Germany being a good country does not work. Committees also take equal opportunity factors into account, which you can mention in the form itself. This matters as much for a place at University of Göttingen as for any other university.

Interview Stage for Indian Applicants

Not every programme has an interview. Shortlisted PhD applicants from India are called for an in-person interview. Applicants from Bhutan and Nepal are interviewed online. Check the selection tab of your programme to see if this step applies to you.

Common Reasons for DAAD Scholarship Rejection

Most applications are cut before anyone reads the motivation letter. Here is what goes wrong and how to fix it.

DAAD India Contact and Helpline

Reach the office closest to you for free counselling and scholarship queries.

There is life after the degree too. You can stay in Germany for up to 18 months to look for a job. As a student you may work 140 full days or 280 half days in a year. Graduates from University of Bonn and the University of Mannheim often use this window to move into full-time work.