Study Scholarships – Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines • DAAD

Objective

This scholarship programme offers you the opportunity to continue your academic education in Germany with a postgraduate course of study.

Who can apply?

Excellently-qualified graduates who have completed a first degree (Bachelor, Diplom or comparable academic degree) at the latest by the time they commence their scholarship-supported study programme.
For applicants from artistic disciplines and the field of architecture, the DAAD offers subject-specific scholarship programmes.

What can be funded?

Participation in a postgraduate programme after a first undergraduate course of study for the purpose of technical or scientific specialisation
Specifically, the following is supported:
a postgraduate or Master’s degree programme completed at a state or state-recognised university in Germany
or
the first or second year of study at a state or state-recognised German university as part of a postgraduate or Master’s degree programme completed in the home country or in another foreign country; recognition of the academic achievements rendered in Germany must be guaranteed. The standard period of study of the postgraduate or Master’s degree programme should not be exceeded as a result of the study year in Germany.

Duration of the funding

For a postgraduate or Master’s degree completed in Germany:

between 10 and 24 months depending on the length of the chosen study programme
The scholarships are awarded for the duration of the standard period of study for the chosen study programme (up to a maximum of 24 months). To receive further funding after the first year of study for 2-year courses, proof of academic achievements thus far should indicate that the study programme can be successfully completed within the standard period of study.
Applicants who are already in Germany in the first academic year of a 2-year postgraduate or Master’s programme at the time of their application may apply for a scholarship for the second year of study. In this case, it is not possible to extend the scholarship.

For a study period in Germany as part of a postgraduate or Master’s degree completed in a foreign country:

usually one academic year; an extension is not possible.

The scholarship usually begins on 1st October, or earlier if the student takes a language course prior to the study programme.

Value

Scholarship payments of 861 euros a month
Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover
Travel allowance
One-off study allowance

Under certain circumstances, scholarship holders may receive the following additional benefits:

Monthly rent subsidy
Monthly allowance for accompanying members of family

To enable scholarship holders to learn German in preparation for their stay in the country, DAAD offers the following services:

Payment of course fees for the online language course “Deutsch-Uni Online (DUO)” (www.deutsch-uni.com) for six months after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter
if necessary: Language course (2, 4 or 6 months) before the start of the study visit; the DAAD decides whether to fund participation and for how long depending on German language skills and project. Participation in a language course is compulsory if the study programme is taught in German.
Allowance for a personally chosen German language course during the scholarship period
Reimbursement of the fees for the TestDaF test which has either been taken in the home country after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter or in Germany before the end of the funding period
As an alternative to the TestDaF for scholarship holders who have taken a language course beforehand: the fee for a DSH examination taken during the scholarship period may be reimbursed.

Selection

An independent selection committee consisting of specialist scientists reviews applications.

Selection criteria:

Academic qualification (documented by: certificates, reference, curriculum vitae, language certificate):

Academic achievements and duration of studies

Quality of the study project (documented by: letter of motivation, information about the preferred Master’s programme, reference, proof of language proficiency, if applicable, letter of admission from the German host university):

Quality of project presentation and preparation (preliminary information, contact with host institution)
Reasons for choosing Germany (academic and personal reasons for the planned study project, choice of the host institution)
Integration of the stay in the academic career and the connection with academic or professional perspectives

Additional criteria (documented by: curriculum vitae, if applicable, certificates):

Additional knowledge and skills (e.g. through professional or voluntary activities, further training)
Involvement in academic self-governance, higher education policy issues
Political, social, cultural, family (parental leave or care periods, etc.), social commitment

For further information on the selection procedure, please refer to the Important Scholarship Information / Section

What requirements must be met?

As a rule, applicants should have taken their final examinations no longer than six years before the application deadline.
Applicants who have been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months at the application deadline cannot be considered.
Notification of admission from the German host university for the desired degree course; please note that you yourself are responsible for ensuring that you apply for admission at the host university by the due date. If notification of admission is not yet available at the time of application, it must be subsequently submitted before the scholarship-supported study begins. A Scholarship Award Letter from the DAAD is only valid if you have been admitted to study at the desired host university.
If the degree programme includes a study period or work placement abroad lasting several months, funding for this period abroad is usually only possible under the following conditions:
The study visit is essential for achievement of the scholarship objective.
The study period is no longer than a quarter of the scholarship period. Longer periods cannot be funded, even partially.
The study period does not take place in the home country.

Language skills

The language of instruction in study programmes in Germany is usually German, or in international programmes English or German and English.
To be admitted to a programme, you are therefore usually required to submit an appropriate language certificate (e.g. DSH or TestDaF if the language of instruction is German). Ask your chosen host university about this in good time.
DAAD scholars may be offered a German language course in Germany prior to studying in addition to their scholarship for their study programme (cf. section “Value”).
During the scholarship selection procedure, we decide whether you require such a language course and how many months are appropriate (maximum of six).
This is why you must provide proof of your proficiency in the language of instruction (German, English, or German and English) in your chosen study programme when you submit your application.
If you do not yet have a language certificate: You can also take a language test with DAAD lecturers; however, these language tests do not replace the language certificates required by the German university for your study programme.

The required language level depends on the applicant’s study plans and subject: In the arts, social sciences and in law, at least a good knowledge of German is usually expected. For the natural sciences and engineering, proof of good English language skills may also be accepted if English is spoken at the host institute.

The application procedure occurs online through the DAAD portal.Please note that the access to the application portal only appears while the current application period is running. After the application deadline has expired, the portal for this programme is not available until the next application period.
The access to the DAAD portal generally opens about 6 weeks before the application deadline at the latest.

Application documents

Certificates, proof of credits, certifications and translations may be scanned in non-certified form and uploaded to the DAAD portal. The DAAD reserves the right to request certified copies of the documents.

Documents to be uploaded to the DAAD portal:

Online application form
Full curriculum vitae in tabular form (max. 3 pages)
Statement about academic and personal reasons for the planned study project in Germany (letter of motivation; 1 – 3 pages)
Letter of admission to a study programme; this can be subsequently submitted before the scholarship-supported study programme begins if it is not available at the time of application.

For a postgraduate or Master’s degree to be completed in Germany:

Form “Information about your preferred master programmes”

For a study period in Germany as part of a postgraduate or Master’s degree completed in the home country:

Proof that the academic achievements rendered in Germany will be recognised in the home country

Also for all applicants:

University degree certificate indicating final grade(s): the certificate must be subsequently submitted before the scholarship-supported study programme begins if studies have not been completed at the time of application
Proof of knowledge of language(s) of instruction in the chosen study programme (should be no older than 2 years)
Other documents you think might be of relevance to your application (e.g. certificates of employment, proof of placements)
All university certificates on all annual examinations with individual grade(s), incl. explanation of grading system.
German or English translations of documents submitted in the national language
Copy of school-leaving certificate which entitles holders to study at a university in the home country (with all individual grades)
Copy of the passport
Proof of language abilities, not older than 2 years (for English: TOEFL iBT min. 79, IELTS min. 6,5; TOEFL home edition or IELTS indicator (online test) are accepted)

To be submitted by post:
One recent reference from a university teacher which provides information about your qualifications (hand-signed, no digital or scanned signature). Please regard the instructions given on the tab “Submitting an application“.
Current note: Due to the current pandemic situation, applications can be submitted on application dates that lie in 2020 without application reference.

Application deadline

31.08.2020

Application location

DAAD
Section ST33
Kennedyallee 50
53175 Bonn
Germany

Please note

Your application is only valid if you submit all the required documents to the DAAD portal on time.
For submitting references by post, the postmark date serves as proof that they have been dispatched on time.
(If further documents are to be submitted by post, please send them as soon as possible.)
The DAAD portal closes at 24.00 hrs. (CET or CEST) on the last application day.
Incomplete applications cannot be considered. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their applications are complete.
The application documents remain with the DAAD. Data relating to applicants is saved by the DAAD in accordance with the Federal Data Protection Act and with the EU Data Protection Regulation insofar as this data is needed to process the application.