The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides scholarships aimed at professionals from developing and newly industrialised countries.
These scholarships support postgraduate (master’s) or doctoral studies in Germany at public or officially recognised universities.
Applicants must have at least two years of professional experience. In select cases, funding is also available for doctoral programs, enabling recipients to earn a master’s or PhD qualification in Germany.
Host Institutions:
Eligible universities across Germany that offer development-orientated postgraduate programs.
Eligible Study Areas:
DAAD supports a wide range of academic disciplines, including:
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Economic Sciences / Business / Political Economy
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Development Cooperation
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Engineering and Technical Fields
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Mathematics
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Urban and Regional Planning
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Agricultural and Forestry Sciences
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Environmental and Natural Sciences
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Public Health and Medicine
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Social Sciences, Law, and Education
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Media and Communication Studies
(The full list and application deadlines for the 2026/27 academic year can be found online.)
Number of Awards:
Scholarships are limited in number.
Who Can Apply:
Open to applicants from eligible developing and emerging economies as listed by the OECD-DAC.
What the Scholarship Covers:
Recipients receive:
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A monthly stipend: €992 for Master’s students and €1,300 for PhD candidates
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Health, accident, and personal liability insurance
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Travel allowance (unless already covered by another source)
Additional support may include:
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Rent subsidy
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Monthly allowance for accompanying family members
Funding Duration:
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Master’s programs: 12–24 months
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PhD programs: Up to 42 months
Who Should Apply:
Ideal candidates:
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Work in a public or private sector role in a developing country, ideally involved in development-related planning or projects
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Hold a relevant Bachelor’s degree (typically four years)
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Have graduated with strong academic performance (top third of their class)
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Have at least two years of relevant professional experience post-degree
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Earned their degree within the last six years
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Are citizens of countries listed on the current OECD-DAC list (excluding certain countries such as Turkey and the Western Balkans)
Language Requirements:
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For German-taught programs: A minimum B1-level German language certificate (no older than two years) is required at the time of application. The scholarship includes up to six months of preparatory German language instruction in Germany, culminating in required proficiency exams such as DSH 2, TestDaF 4, or Telc C1 Hochschule.
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For English-taught programs: Proof of English language proficiency must meet the standards set by the specific course.
How to Apply:
Candidates must apply directly to the individual postgraduate programs. Each course has its own application process, documents, and deadlines—usually between August and October 2025. Be sure to consult the respective program websites for complete details.
For further guidance, consult the 2026/27 program brochure, read the FAQs, and visit the official DAAD scholarship portal:
Official DAAD Website:
https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?status=3&origin=190&subjectGrps=F&daad=&intention=&q=&page=1&detail=50076777
