DAAD Scholarship 2027 in Germany | Fully Funded Master’s & PhD

The DAAD Scholarship 2027 is one of the most prestigious and widely recognized scholarship opportunities in the world for international students and researchers who want to study or conduct research in Germany. Offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) — the world’s largest funding organisation for international academic exchange — the DAAD Scholarship 2027 supports well over 100,000 students and researchers globally every year across Master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral programs at top German universities. With a monthly stipend, health insurance, travel allowance, and language course support, this is one of the most comprehensive academic funding packages available to international applicants from any country.

DAAD scholarships are not a single award — they are a family of programs covering different academic levels, nationalities, and disciplines. The flagship program open to graduates from almost all countries worldwide is the Study Scholarship for Master’s Studies in All Academic Disciplines, which funds a complete Master’s degree at any German university starting in October 2027. Applications for the 2027 intake open in June 2026 and deadlines fall between October and November 2026 depending on the applicant’s country of origin. Now is the right time to prepare.

Key Highlights

Detail Description

The DAAD Scholarship 2027 is administered by the German Academic Exchange Service, founded in 1925 and headquartered in Bonn, Germany. DAAD is the world’s largest funding organisation for international academic exchange, supporting students, researchers, and academics across every continent. Its scholarship programs are funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the European Union, and other public bodies.

The most globally accessible DAAD Scholarship 2027 program is the Study Scholarship for Master’s Studies — All Academic Disciplines, which allows graduates from most countries to pursue a full Master’s degree at any state-recognised German university. Germany is home to some of Europe’s most respected institutions including LMU Munich, TU Munich, Heidelberg University, Humboldt University Berlin, RWTH Aachen, and hundreds of universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) — virtually all of which charge no tuition fees for public programmes, making a DAAD stipend genuinely sufficient to cover living costs.

Major DAAD Scholarship 2027 Programs

Benefits

• Monthly Stipend: €992 per month for Master’s students; €1,300 per month for doctoral candidates; €1,300–€1,750 per month for postdoctoral researchers — paid throughout the scholarship period.
• Annual Study Allowance: €460 per year to support study-related costs including books, materials, and academic fees.
• Health, Accident, and Personal Liability Insurance: DAAD provides full coverage for all scholarship holders throughout their stay in Germany.
• Travel Allowance: A flat-rate contribution toward international travel costs from the scholar’s home country to Germany and back.
• German Language Course: DAAD may fund a preparatory German language course of 2, 4, or 6 months before the study period begins. Online language course fees after receiving the award letter are also covered. If the programme is taught in German, participation in a language course is compulsory.
• Monthly Rent Subsidy: Available on application after the scholarship begins, subject to eligibility.
• Family Allowance: Monthly allowance for accompanying family members, subject to eligibility and program conditions.
• Green Mobility Top-Up: Additional support for scholars who choose climate-friendly travel to Germany, or reimbursement of carbon offset payments for air travel.

Important: DAAD does not cover tuition fees. However, public Master’s degree programmes at German state universities are generally tuition-free for all students regardless of nationality — making this a non-issue for most applicants.

Eligibility Criteria

The following applies to the flagship Study Scholarship for Master’s Studies — All Academic Disciplines:

• Degree Requirement: Must have completed a first degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) recognised in Germany by the time the funding period begins in October 2027.
• Degree Recency: Your most recent university degree should not be older than 6 years at the time of the application deadline.
• Residency Restriction: Cannot have been resident in Germany for more than 15 months at the application deadline.
• Academic Performance: Must demonstrate above-average academic performance — DAAD selection committees assess candidates in the top academic tier of their graduating class.
• Language Proficiency: Must provide proof of proficiency in the language of instruction of the chosen Master’s programme. For German-taught programmes: TestDaF, DSH, Goethe-Zertifikat, or equivalent (minimum B1). For English-taught programmes: IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge English, PTE Academic, onSET English, or equivalent.
• University Admission: Must apply to and receive admission from a German university independently. A DAAD award does not guarantee a university place — both must be secured separately.
• Nationality: Open to graduates from almost all countries worldwide. Specific country availability can be verified at daad.de/scholarship-database.

Required Documents

1. Completed online application form via the DAAD portal at portal.daad.de
2. Full curriculum vitae in tabular form (maximum 3 pages)
3. Letter of motivation explaining academic and personal reasons for the planned study in Germany (1–3 pages)
4. Current transcript of records with individual subject grades
5. University degree certificate(s) with final grade(s) — if not yet completed, must be submitted before funding begins
6. Proof of language proficiency in the language of instruction (not older than 2 years)
7. Letter of admission from the chosen German university — if not yet received, must be submitted before funding begins
8. One letter of recommendation from a university professor or academic supervisor (submitted via the DAAD portal recommendation form)
9. Completed ‘Information about your preferred master programmes’ form if planning a second degree or partial study year in Germany

Note: Documents not in German or English must include a translation. Scanned non-certified copies are acceptable for upload. Applications submitted after the deadline or without all required documents are automatically disqualified.

Application Process

Step 1: Choose Your Program and German University

Browse the DAAD scholarship database at daad.de/scholarship-database and identify the program matching your academic level, country of origin, and field of study. Simultaneously research German universities and Master’s programmes that suit your background. University admission deadlines may fall before the DAAD deadline — start early.

Step 2: Check Your Country-Specific Deadline

DAAD application deadlines vary by country and are confirmed in the second quarter of each year. For the 2027 intake, deadlines fall between October and November 2026. Check your exact deadline by visiting the call for applications in the DAAD scholarship database and selecting your country of residence. The portal opens in June 2026 and closes at midnight CET on the deadline date.

Step 3: Register and Apply via the DAAD Portal

Register at portal.daad.de, complete the online application form in full, generate the recommendation form for your professor, and upload all required documents as PDFs. Do not submit on the final day — the portal performs completeness checks on submission, and technical support is not available outside office hours or on weekends.

Step 4: Apply Separately to German Universities

Submit your application for admission to your chosen German Master’s programme through the university’s own admissions portal. A DAAD scholarship award alone does not grant you a university place. Apply to multiple universities to maximize your chances. Resources include the DAAD database for international programmes and the Higher Education Compass.

Step 5: Await Results and Prepare for Germany

After the deadline, DAAD’s independent selection committees review all applications based on academic qualification, study project quality, and personal potential. Successful candidates receive a Letter of Award and begin visa and entry preparations. Non-EU nationals should start the German student visa process immediately after receiving their award letter.

Deadline

Important: Deadlines are country-specific and confirmed in the second quarter each year. Always verify your exact deadline in the DAAD scholarship database by selecting your country of residence. The portal closes at exactly midnight CET on the final day.

How to Apply

To apply, visit the official website below:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the DAAD Scholarship 2027 fully funded?

The DAAD Scholarship 2027 covers a monthly stipend (€992 for Master’s students, €1,300 for PhD candidates), health and accident insurance, a travel allowance, and an annual study allowance of €460. It does not cover tuition fees — however, German public universities generally charge no tuition for Master’s programmes, making the scholarship effectively comprehensive for most applicants.

2. What is the monthly stipend for the DAAD Scholarship 2027?

The official DAAD stipend is €992 per month for Master’s/graduate students and €1,300 per month for doctoral candidates, as confirmed on the official DAAD scholarship program page. Postdoctoral researchers receive €1,300 to €1,750 per month depending on the program. Note: the DAAD overview page mentions €934 as an approximate general example — the program-specific confirmed rate for Master’s students is €992.

3. When does the DAAD Scholarship 2027 application open?

The application portal opens in June 2026 for the 2027 intake. Deadlines fall between October and November 2026 depending on your country. Deadlines are confirmed in the second quarter of 2026 and published in the DAAD scholarship database. The portal is only accessible during the active application period.

4. Do I need to speak German to apply for the DAAD Scholarship 2027?

Not necessarily. Many Master’s programmes in Germany are taught in English, and DAAD funds these too. If your programme is English-taught, you provide English proficiency proof (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge, PTE, etc.). If German-taught, German certificates (TestDaF, DSH, Goethe-Zertifikat, etc.) are required with a minimum of B1 at application.

5. Can I apply if I am currently living in Germany?

You can apply if you have not been resident in Germany for more than 15 months at the application deadline. If you have exceeded 15 months of German residency, your application cannot be considered for this program. Contact your nearest DAAD office to confirm eligibility based on your specific situation.

6. Does the DAAD award guarantee German university admission?

No. A DAAD scholarship award and university admission are completely separate processes. You must apply to your chosen German university independently. If you do not receive university admission, your DAAD scholarship is forfeited. Apply to multiple universities to maximize your chances of securing a place.

7. How competitive is the DAAD Scholarship 2027?

DAAD is highly competitive globally. Selection committees assess academic achievement, study project quality and coherence, and personal potential — including motivation, extracurricular engagement, and career relevance of the planned degree. Applicants from the top academic tier with a clear, well-prepared study project and strong language skills are most competitive.

Final Thoughts

The DAAD Scholarship 2027 is one of the most reliable, well-funded, and globally respected academic scholarships available to international students. With a confirmed stipend of €992 per month for Master’s students and €1,300 for PhD candidates, full health insurance, travel support, and access to Germany’s world-class tuition-free university system, it represents a genuinely comprehensive funding package for motivated applicants from around the world.

The application portal opens in June 2026. Use the time between now and then to identify your target German programme, check your country-specific deadline in the DAAD scholarship database, secure a strong recommendation letter, and prepare a focused motivation letter. Apply at daad.de/scholarship-database.