Many people have the desire to study or do research in Germany, and one of the most well-liked scholarships that assists researchers and foreign students in realizing this dream is the DAAD scholarship.
From identifying the many kinds of scholarships that are offered to comprehending the requirements for qualifying, completing your application, and passing the interview process, this guide will make the DAAD application process easier.
What Is DAAD?
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service) is what DAAD stands for. It is a sizable company that provides a variety of financing alternatives and scholarship programs rather than just one scholarship.
This guide will concentrate on incoming foreign students who wish to study and do research in Germany. German researchers and students who are eager to study, research, or teach elsewhere. The nation of origin, study field, degree level (bachelor’s, master’s, PhD), and purpose (full-degree study, research stays, short courses, etc.) all influence these scholarships.
Over 100,000 scholarships are given out by DAAD each year, and since its establishment in 1925, almost 3 million scholars have received financial aid.
What DAAD Scholarships Are Available for International Students?
The following categories apply to DAAD grants for researchers and students from abroad visiting Germany:
i. Undergraduates
ii. Graduates
iii. Doctoral candidates/PhD students
iv. Postdoctoral researchers
How to Apply for a DAAD Scholarship?
To apply for a DAAD scholarship, you must register using your email address or sign in if you are already registered, before you can submit your application.
Step 1: Choose a Program
Choose the scholarship of your choice by going to the DAAD scholarship database. Next, pick the “Submitting an Application” tab, which is green. Choose your nation and position as a student (undergraduate, graduate, etc.). Parts of your application are pre-filled.
Step 2: Start Application
You will be sent to the Application page if you are already logged into the DAAD site. Click “Start application” once you have confirmed that all the information about the scholarship you wish to apply for is accurate. To continue, choose that you have read the data protection notice and the application requirements.
Step 3: Fill Out the Form
After that, you must finish the following application sections:
i. Project
This area requires you to indicate if the field of study or research you have selected is interdisciplinary (combining two or more disciplines), the topic group it comes under, and the subject. A brief description of the project and an explanation should also be written.
ii. Target institution
This is the name of the German university or research center where you want to study or conduct research. The name of the institution, the study program or research department, the duration, and other pertinent details should all be included. Keep in mind that only particular colleges or programs are qualified for some programs (such as EPOS), so be careful to follow the program’s rules.
You can specify the other target schools if you’re applying to more than one school, which is frequently advised for study scholarships to increase your chances in the event that your top pick rejects you.
iii. Academic career
This section of the application covers your most recent degree as well as your present academic and/or professional background. You can include details about your current program and university if you haven’t graduated yet.
iv. Language skills
According to the program’s or scholarship’s requirements, you should indicate here how proficient you are in the language. For instance, you can include evidence like the Goethe-Zertifikat C1, TestDaF TDN 5, etc. if your selected master’s program is in German and calls for a C1 CEFR language ability. If necessary, you may easily add more languages.
Step 4: Upload Attachments
The next step is to upload all necessary papers as PDF attachments, as specified in the scholarship program announcement. These include the following, albeit they differ depending on the program:
i. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
ii. Letter of motivation
iii. Information about your preferred master’s program
iv. Transcript of records from previous studies/current overview of grades
v. University degree certificate(s) (can be uploaded later if you haven’t graduated yet)
vi. Proof of knowledge of the language of instruction in the chosen study program (no older than two years)
vii. Proof of credit recognition (if the program you’re applying to in Germany is part of a degree abroad)
viii. Letter of recommendation from a university teacher/supervisor
ix. Translations of all non-English/German documents
Step 5: Review & Submit
After that, go over all the data and submissions to ensure that no necessary data or documents are missing. Before submitting the application, you can make any required adjustments on the DAAD portal’s “Overview” area.
Step 6: Confirmation
A confirmation that your application was received will be sent to you. You only need to wait now, since the selection process often takes a few months. Any updates regarding the application will be sent to you via email.
Post-DAAD Scholarship Application Steps
What happens after submitting an application for a scholarship? What you may need to do next is as follows:
i. Apply to the Study Program in Germany
Before being accepted into a study program, you may need to apply for DAAD financing for certain scholarships.
ii. Attend the Interview
You can be asked to participate in an in-person interview at the DAAD office closest to you or an online (video) interview for certain scholarships. Typically, this entails speaking with a few academics and moderators. The following are some topics the interviewers will discuss:
a. Why do you want to study or conduct research in Germany
b. Why did you select a certain German university or institution?
c. Your particular goals for study and research in Germany, as well as any technical inquiries you may have
d. Plans for the future once your studies and research in Germany are over
iii. Confirm Your Acceptance
You must confirm your acceptance if you receive the scholarship. Following this stage, you might need to provide any other paperwork that wasn’t required during the application process, including your university degree certificate or evidence of acceptance, if it wasn’t already given.
Conclusion
Getting a DAAD scholarship is difficult, no matter where you’re from. This is due to the fact that it is among Germany’s most prominent and competitive scholarships.
Are you eager to know more about DAAD Scholarships or how to apply for it? Then feel free to connect with us for a FREE 15- minute career counselling session.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. How difficult is it to get a DAAD scholarship?
The conditions for DAAD scholarships in Germany are not particularly challenging to fulfill. Applicants must be in their last year of study or have earned a bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible for DAAD support. Although there can be a limited amount of time between completing your bachelor’s degree and applying for a DAAD award, there is no upper age limit.
2. Can Indians apply for a DAAD scholarship?
The question, “Is India eligible for the DAAD scholarship?” may now be on your mind. The good news is that you may also receive a DAAD scholarship if you are an Indian. However, Indian candidates are not eligible for all DAAD scholarship programs.
3. Who is eligible for a DAAD scholarship?
Candidates must be enrolled in the fifth or sixth semester of a four-year bachelor’s program or in the fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth semester of a five-year integrated or dual degree (Bachelor-Master) program. Candidates must have never been awarded the WISE scholarship before.
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