DAAD scholarship in Germany for the academic year 2024-2025

The Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) Scholarship is the biggest funding institute in the world, enabling the exchange of more than 110,000 international and German scholars in 2020.

Overview:

For more than a century, Germany has stood as a beacon of technological excellence and maintained an outstanding academic reputation. Each year, a substantial number of students, predominantly from technical backgrounds, gravitate to this country for their studies. To enhance the student experience in Germany, the German government established the German Academic Exchange Service, known as DAAD in Germany. Since its inception in 1925, this initiative has provided support to well over 100,000 German and international students and researchers worldwide, covering their educational and living expenses in Germany. This has solidified its position as the largest funding organization of its kind on a global scale.

In recent years, a growing number of Bangladeshi students have been granted DAAD scholarships to pursue their studies in Germany. To shed light on their admission journeys and offer guidance to future students, this author connected with two scholarship recipients: Tasnim Hossain Prithi, who completed her Master's in Public Economics, Law, and Politics at Leuphana University of Lüneburg, and Muhtasim Rushdi, currently pursuing a Master's in Photogrammetry and Geoinformatics at Stuttgart Technology University of Applied Sciences.

Fields covered by the DAAD Scholarship in Germany include:

• Economic Sciences, Business Administration, and Political Economics
• Development Cooperation
• Engineering and Related Sciences
• Mathematics
• Regional and Urban Planning
• Agricultural and Forest Systems
• Natural and Environmental Sciences
• Medicine and Public Health
• Social Sciences, Education, and Law
• Media Studies
• For a detailed list of courses available under these fields, please refer to the provided link: https://tinyurl.com/4eexwjsa. 

Eligibility Criteria: 

The DAAD scholarship is undeniably one of the most coveted opportunities for students seeking to pursue their studies in Germany. However, it is essential to thoroughly review the criteria and prerequisites for the DAAD postgraduate scholarship program for international students before commencing the application process.

Eligibility Criteria for the DAAD Scholarship 2024 for Masters and PhD:

1. Applicants must fulfil the DAAD scholarship requirements, particularly in terms of academic qualifications. They should demonstrate the capability to excel in a study program in Germany, exceeding the average performance level for their initial academic examination.
2. A bachelor's degree in a relevant field is a mandatory prerequisite. Typically, this should be a four-year course.
3. For the DAAD scholarship in 2024, candidates should possess a minimum of two years of professional experience.
4. Additionally, applicants are expected to establish a clear connection between their motivation and development. They should display a commitment to taking on social responsibility and initiating, as well as supporting, processes of change in their personal and professional spheres after completing their training or scholarship.
5. The final academic degree, usually a bachelor's degree, should have been obtained no more than six years before the application.
6. Applicants must be citizens of eligible countries. The list of eligible countries can be found on the official website.

Benefits of the DAAD Scholarship:

Having verified your eligibility, you may be eager to learn more about the benefits and financial coverage provided by the DAAD scholarship in Germany. Opportunities Circle has succinctly outlined the most crucial details in this regard:

• Depending on the academic level, monthly stipends of 850 euros for graduate students and 1,200 euros for doctoral candidates under the DAAD scholarship in 2024.
• Coverage of health insurance, accident insurance, and civil liability insurance.
• A subsidy to assist with monthly rent expenses for all recipients.
• Support for travel expenses unless such expenses are already covered by the student's country of origin or other funding sources.
• It's essential to note that the DAAD scholarship does not cover tuition fees.
• This scholarship offers a remarkable opportunity to study in Germany and immerse yourself in European culture.
• It provides a platform for building networks and connections with like-minded individuals from various countries.

DAAD Scholarship Requirements:

• Signed DAAD application form with the current date: https://tinyurl.com/cmhvpjhm
• Personally signed CV (please use the sample Europass format) with the current date.
• A personally signed Letter of Motivation, not exceeding two pages, concerning your current occupation and your choice of postgraduate program(s). Ensure the letter is dated with the current date.
• Important Note: If applying for multiple postgraduate courses (up to a maximum of 3), you must submit one motivation letter explaining why you are pursuing these specific courses and why you have prioritized them.
• A letter of recommendation from your current employer, including letterhead, a signature, and an official stamp. This letter must be dated with the current date and should not be sealed in an envelope.
• Certificate(s) of Employment from your employer(s), confirming a minimum of two years of relevant work experience (acquired after obtaining your bachelor’s degree) at the time of application. If possible, include a guarantee of re-employment from your current employer upon your return to your home country.
• Proof of Language Skills:
• For English-taught courses: IELTS or TOEFL scores. (Please note that institutional TOEFL scores are not accepted).
• For courses taught in German, Proficiency in the German language is required.
• Copies of Academic Degrees.
• Copies of Academic Transcripts, including the grading scale. If necessary, provide certified translations.

Note: Some courses may have additional document requirements. For comprehensive information about the supporting documents required for the DAAD Scholarship, refer to the relevant course descriptions on the respective websites and pages.

The application process for the study-free scholarship in Germany is outlined as follows:

1. Direct Application to Respective Courses: Ensure your applications are submitted directly to the specific course or university you are interested in. Detailed application procedures can be found on their official websites.
2. Exclusivity of Applications Sent to DAAD: Please note that applications sent to DAAD will not be forwarded to the corresponding course or university. They will be retained by DAAD and will not be returned to applicants. Applicants do not have the right to claim any reimbursement.
3. Email Applications: Applications sent via email to DAAD cannot be considered during the selection process. For additional information, kindly refer to the official website.

Required Documents (in the following order):

1. DAAD request form.
2. Hand-signed CV, utilizing the Europass sample form available at Europass.
3. Hand-signed motivation letter, not exceeding two pages, concerning your current occupation.
4. Letter(s) of recommendation, bearing letterhead, signature, and office stamp. These letters should be recent.
5. Professional letter(s) of recommendation from the applicant's employer, including letterhead, signature, and office stamp. These letters should also be current.
6. Confirmation of the applicant's employment in their home country and, if possible, a guarantee of reemployment upon their return.
7. Language Skills Test:
• a) For English-taught courses: TOEFL or IELTS scores (only one academic TOEFL score is accepted).
• b) Proficiency in the German language is required for courses taught in German. If the course is in English, German proficiency is necessary if available.

Note: All complete DAAD Scholarship applications must be submitted in English or German to be considered. Incomplete applications cannot be considered for the selection process.

Deadline:

The deadline varies for every course offered under the DAAD postgraduate scholarship program. You can check the deadline for each course from the list of offered programs