DAAD Scholarships in Germany for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses

Application is open for the DAAD Scholarships in Germany for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses!

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers foreign graduates from developing and newly industrialised nations with at least two years of professional experience the opportunity to pursue a postgraduate or Master’s degree at a public or state-recognized German university, and in exceptional circumstances to pursue a doctoral degree, and to earn a university qualification (Master’s/PhD) in Germany.

• Application Cycle: August to October 2023 (annual)
• Study In: Germany
• Next course starting: AY 2024/2025.
• Degree: Master’s or PhD
• Host: German universities that provide postgraduate courses on development
• Scholarships Available: Few
• Target Audience: Students from qualified nations.
• Study Level/Field(s):
  Masters or PhD programmes in media studies, regional and urban planning, engineering and related sciences, mathematics, agricultural and forest sciences, natural and environmental sciences, medicine and public health, and political economy, as well as in economics, business administration, and political economy.

Scholarship Value and Duration

The scholarships cover travel fees unless they are covered by the home country or another source of funding, as well as monthly payments of 934 euros for graduates and 1,200 euros for doctoral candidates for health, accident, and personal liability insurance.

• Payments per month ranging from 934 euros for graduates to 1,200 euros for doctorate candidates, depending on academic level
• Payments for personal liability, health, and accident insurance
• Allowance for travel, unless the cost is covered by the home nation or another financial source.

The following extra advantages are possible for scholarship recipients in specific situations:

• Monthly rent assistance
• Monthly stipend for accompanying family members
• For master’s degrees, the scholarship lasts 12 to 24 months (depending on the specific institution), while for PhD degrees, it lasts 42 months.

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Deadline

Check each program’s deadlines for any differences. List of all graduate programmes with 2024–2025 application deadlines.

Eligibility

The typical recipient of the DAAD Scholarships in Germany for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses must meet the following criteria:

• Is currently employed by a governmental authority, a state, a private company, or both in a developing country and is doing so in order to design and carry out projects and directives with a focus on development policies affecting technological, economic, or social fields.
• Has completed a four-year Bachelor’s degree programme in a comparable field.
• At the time of application, has earned a bachelor’s degree with significantly above-average grades (upper third) and at least two years of relevant professional experience.
• His or her academic credentials shouldn’t be older than six years.

Language Skills

• For German-language study courses (the scholarship covers a six-month German language course): passing the language test DSH 2 or TestDaF 4 successfully prior to the start of the study programme. As a result, submitting a certificate as proof of having a minimum B1 level in German at the time of application is required.
• For English-language courses: documentation of sufficient language proficiency in accordance with the requirements of the course.

Selection Requirements & Obligations

1. Candidates are anticipated to successfully complete a study programme in Germany if they meet the essential academic standards (above-average score on the first academic exam, third-place finish, language proficiency).
2. Candidates hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (often a four-year programme).
3. Candidates have a minimum of two years of industry experience.
4. After training or receiving a scholarship, candidates are required to assume social responsibility, start and support change processes in their personal and professional environments, and demonstrate that their motivation is development-related.

Application Documents

Applications must only be sent directly to the relevant course! Please go to their individual websites for information regarding the application process (such as an online application), the application deadline, and the required documents.
Applications sent to the DAAD won’t be sent on to the appropriate programme or university.

For as many as three courses, you may apply. When applying to multiple courses, please specify them in the DAAD application forms in the order of priority and do not change the priorities in the relevant application form!

Documents needed, in the following order:

• “Application for a research/study scholarship” on the DAAD website. (If possible, type your responses or make them simple to read.)
• Aresume in reverse chronological sequence without any gaps that aren’t explained
• One motivation letter that includes specific references to the applicant’s academic, professional, and personal justifications for applying to the programme.

Important: In the letter of motivation, please include specific justifications for your decision to apply for more than one postgraduate course (a maximum of three courses). Please send the same motivation letter to all of your desired postgraduate degree programmes.

• Recommendation letter from your current job; the letter must be on business letterhead, bear your signature, be stamped officially, and be current (not sealed).
• Certificate(s) of Employment from the employer(s) attesting to at least two years of relevant work experience following the completion of a bachelor’s degree up to the application deadline, and if feasible, a promise that your current company would rehire you when you return home.
• Recent evidence of language abilities:
  – IELTS or TOEFL for English (note that the institutional TOEFL is not approved).
  – German is a prerequisite for German-taught courses.
• Copies of the diplomas you received during your graduate studies. If the original is not in German or English, kindly give a certified translation, and make sure these are very legible.
• A duplicate of your complete transcript of records. If this is not included in the transcript, kindly explain the grading scheme.
• The People’s Republic of China applicants must provide an APS Certificate with their application materials.

IMPORTANT:

1. For consideration, the complete applications must be submitted in either English or German.
2. Applications that are incomplete will not be accepted.
3. You must send one motivation letter outlining your reasons for applying for these particular courses and why you prioritised them when you apply for more than one postgraduate course (a maximum of three courses). If this information is overlooked, the application won’t be taken into consideration, or a scholarship that has already been given out may be withdrawn.

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Application Method

Direct applications must be submitted for each course. For information on the application process, the application deadline, and the required documents, please visit the websites for the relevant courses. Depending on the course, the deadline often occurs between August and October 2023.

For comprehensive instructions on how to apply for DAAD Scholarships in Germany for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses, read the FAQs, consult the 2024–2025 booklet, and go to the official website.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Frequently Asked Questions