For eligible Master's study beginning in 2027, with 10 to 24 months of support. Applicants need a first degree, an eligible new study plan in Germany, language evidence for the chosen course, and a separate university admission application.
Official source: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) •Last updated:
This is not a single October 15 scholarship and it does not pay university tuition fees. DAAD lists country-dependent deadlines and provides a €992 monthly scholarship payment, insurance contributions, travel support on application, and a €460 annual study allowance for eligible 2027/28 applicants.
For eligible Master's study beginning in 2027, with 10 to 24 months of support. Applicants need a first degree, an eligible new study plan in Germany, language evidence for the chosen course, and a separate university admission application.
The first decision is whether this is the correct DAAD programme for your study plan. It is intended for graduates beginning a new postgraduate or Master's course in Germany, or for an eligible year of German study that forms part of a Master's degree based outside Germany. It is not the DAAD EPOS programme, a doctoral research grant, or one of the separate scholarships for architecture, music, performing arts, fine art, design, film, or visual communication.
The official database changes its deadline and sometimes its availability after you select your applicant country. For that reason, a deadline copied from another country is not reliable evidence that you can apply on the same date. Open the official record, select the country where you live and apply, and save the resulting programme details before preparing documents.
The €992 monthly scholarship payment is intended to support living costs during the approved study period. DAAD also lists contributions toward health, accident, and personal liability insurance, an annual €460 study allowance, and a travel allowance when the applicant meets the relevant conditions and applies for it. These benefits make the award substantial, but the phrase fully funded should not be interpreted as a promise that every possible cost will be paid.
DAAD explicitly states that it does not pay tuition fees under this programme. Many public universities in Germany charge no general tuition for standard programmes, but exceptions exist, and students can still face semester contributions, programme fees, or tuition imposed by a university or federal state. Check the exact fee page of every proposed Master's programme before deciding that the scholarship will cover the complete cost of attendance.
Additional benefits are conditional rather than automatic. After funding begins, some scholars may qualify for rent support, an allowance for accompanying family members, disability- or chronic-illness-related costs, or green-mobility support. DAAD decides these benefits under its current scholarship rules, so applicants should budget using the guaranteed programme value and treat conditional support separately.
Language preparation can include an online course after the award letter, a DAAD-selected German course before study, an allowance for a personally chosen German course, or reimbursement for an eligible TestDaF or DSH examination. DAAD decides whether a pre-study German course is necessary and how long it will last. Participation becomes compulsory when DAAD funds such a course for a German-taught degree.
Applicants can propose a complete postgraduate or Master's degree at a state or state-recognised German university. They can alternatively propose one year in Germany as part of a second degree or Master's programme at a university outside Germany, provided the home university recognises the German credits and the exchange does not extend the normal duration of the home degree.
Funding is only for a programme beginning in the relevant future winter semester. A Master's degree that has already started in Germany is not eligible under this call. This distinction is important for students who are already enrolled and hope to convert an existing degree into a DAAD-funded programme.
The general all-disciplines programme does not cover every creative subject through the same call. Architecture, fine art, design, visual communication, film, performing arts, and music have separate DAAD postgraduate scholarship programmes with their own portfolios, deadlines, and evaluation methods. Applicants in those areas should use the official database to locate the correct specialised call instead of applying through this record.
A study or work period outside Germany can only receive funding under limited conditions. It must be necessary for the degree, must not take place in the applicant's home country, and is normally limited to one quarter of the scholarship period. Joint and double-degree programmes may permit a longer proportion when it is formally required by the study regulations, but the applicant should verify this before choosing the programme.
There is no single IELTS rule for every DAAD applicant. The required evidence follows the language of instruction of the proposed degree. For an English-taught programme, DAAD lists examples including IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English, PTE Academic, TOEIC, Duolingo English Test, ISE, and onSET English. The university may accept a narrower set or require a specific minimum score, so both sets of rules must be satisfied.
For German-taught study, commonly accepted evidence can include TestDaF, DSH, Goethe-Zertifikat, DSD, telc Deutsch, the Austrian German Language Diploma, or onSET Deutsch. Applicants to non-German programmes may still need to submit a German-language certificate or the permitted informal declaration stating that they have no German knowledge. The country-specific DAAD application instructions control the exact evidence.
A DAAD application and a German university application are separate processes. Applicants are responsible for researching university admission requirements and meeting every university deadline. If the admission letter is unavailable when the scholarship application closes, DAAD may allow it to be submitted later, but it must arrive before the funding period begins. The award letter is only valid when the applicant is admitted to the host university named in the scholarship application.
An independent committee of academic specialists evaluates applications. Strong grades matter, but DAAD does not describe the process as a grade-only competition. Reviewers consider academic performance, the previous course of study, language ability, relevant internships or professional experience, and the quality of the proposed Master's plan.
The study project should show that the applicant has researched suitable programmes, understands the host university, and can explain how the German degree fits into a coherent academic and professional path. A generic motivation letter that praises Germany without explaining programme choice is unlikely to answer these criteria well.
The committee also considers future potential, personal and academic motivation, the importance of the stay for professional development, extracurricular abilities, and social engagement. Equal-opportunity circumstances can be considered through the relevant part of the application. Applicants should provide context honestly rather than assuming that only conventional academic achievements belong in the file.
DAAD states that its application portal is only available while the call is open and that mobile use is limited. Prepare PDFs in advance and use a desktop computer where possible. Keep a copy of the country-specific call because deadlines and instructions are updated annually.
No. The official programme states that DAAD does not cover tuition fees. Applicants must check the chosen university for any tuition or semester charges.
No. The deadline depends on the applicant's country or location in the DAAD database and is updated each year. Use the official programme record with your correct country selected.
Yes, when the admission result is not yet available, but the admission letter must be submitted before funding begins and the university application remains the applicant's responsibility.
Not universally. Applicants must prove proficiency in the language of instruction using evidence accepted for the chosen programme and DAAD application. English-taught programmes may accept IELTS or other listed English tests.
If this scholarship is on your shortlist, review Germany scholarships 2026 before you decide whether the DAAD postgraduate route is the right first-choice page inside the wider Germany scholarship options.
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