What is the DAAD scholarship and can it fund a Masters or PhD in Germany?
DAAD is Germany's fully funded scholarship run by the German Academic Exchange Service, and yes, it funds both Masters and PhD study. It pays a monthly stipend of EUR 934 to 992 for Masters and EUR 1,200 to 1,300 for PhD, plus travel, insurance and tuition coverage.
If Germany is on your list, the DAAD scholarship is the funding route worth knowing inside out. It is not one scholarship but an umbrella of dozens of programmes managed by the German Academic Exchange Service, and it is famous for covering almost every cost of moving to and living in Germany.
What the Scholarship Covers
| Benefit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Monthly stipend (Masters) | EUR 934 to 992 |
| Monthly stipend (PhD) | EUR 1,200 to 1,300 |
| Tuition fees | Full coverage or waivers where applicable |
| Travel allowance | Support for flights to and from Germany |
| Insurance | Health, accident and personal liability cover |
Key Programmes by Level
| Programme | Who it suits |
|---|---|
| EPOS (Masters) | Professionals from developing nations with 2+ years of work experience |
| Helmut-Schmidt (Masters) | Future leaders in public policy, governance, law and social protection |
| Study Scholarships (Masters) | Graduates across STEM, humanities and fine arts |
| GSSP and full doctoral (PhD) | Structured international PhD programmes, funded up to 3 to 4 years |
| Sandwich Model (PhD) | Joint PhD between your home and a German university, 7 to 24 months |
My Advice
Two eligibility rules trip up most applicants, so check them first: your last degree should generally be no older than 6 years, and you need proof of English at IELTS band 6.0 or German depending on your course language. Pick the sub-programme that matches your profile precisely rather than applying broadly, as DAAD selection rewards a sharp, well-aligned application.
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