DAAD Scholarships 2026: Eligibility, Stipend and Deadlines

DAAD, Germany's academic exchange service, is the biggest scholarship funder for international students in Germany, and South Asian graduates can apply. Its main Master's scholarship pays €992 a month plus a €460 annual study allowance, insurance and travel. Its EPOS scholarships for development-related courses list €934 a month for graduates. DAAD doesn't pay tuition fees, and deadlines fall about a year before you start.

What DAAD scholarships cover

The flagship Study Scholarships for Master Studies in All Academic Disciplines, funded by the Federal Foreign Office, pays €992 a month and a €460 annual study allowance. Scholars can also apply for a monthly rent subsidy and a family allowance, and DAAD pays for online and in-person German courses. Because public universities charge no tuition, the stipend is the main benefit, and it can also count as your funding proof for the visa. What it doesn't cover is tuition fees, which matters if you choose a university in Baden-Württemberg or TUM.

Which DAAD scholarships suit South Asian students?

Three routes cover most applicants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka:

• Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines: funds a full Master's in Germany (10 to 24 months) or one year of study as part of a Master's at home. You apply through the DAAD portal, and funding usually starts on 1 October of the following year.
• EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses): for professionals from development and newly industrialised countries on a list of selected Master's courses, lasting 12 to 42 months. You apply to the course itself, not to DAAD.
• Research grants and doctoral programmes: for PhD candidates and researchers, with a higher monthly rate.

Who's eligible?

For the Master's scholarship, you need a completed first degree by the time funding starts, and it should normally be no more than six years old at the application deadline. You can't use it for a Master's you've already started in Germany, and you can't have lived in Germany for more than 15 months at the deadline. EPOS is stricter: a Bachelor's that is normally four years long, results in the upper third, at least two years of relevant work experience after that degree, and a development-related motivation. Check that your country is on the EPOS list of eligible countries before you start.

How do you apply?

For the Master's scholarship, everything goes through the DAAD portal:

1. Register in the DAAD portal while the application period is open (it opens in June).
2. Generate the recommendation form and send it to a university teacher; you need one recent letter.
3. Upload a tabular CV (up to three pages), a motivation letter (one to three pages), your transcript and degree certificate, proof of the language of instruction (no older than two years) and the form listing your preferred Master's programmes.
4. Submit before the portal closes at midnight German time on the deadline day, and send the admission letter once you have it.

For EPOS, you send your application to each course directly, up to three of them, ranked in one motivation letter that explains your choices. Include the DAAD application form, a Europass CV, employment certificates showing two years' experience, IELTS or TOEFL (the institutional TOEFL isn't accepted) and your certificates. If the course shortlists you, DAAD then asks you to upload everything to its portal.

How to write an application that stands out

DAAD applications are competitive, and the motivation letter is where most people lose. Be specific about why this program, why Germany, and how it connects to what you have done and what you will do after. Generic ambition like wanting to grow as a professional reads like everyone else's. Tie your plan to real work, a real problem, and a real reason to return. The selection committee also weighs your grades, your study plan and your extracurricular commitment, so a clear CV and a strong reference matter as much as the letter.

When to apply

DAAD updates the Master's scholarship deadlines each year in the second quarter, and they usually fall in the same period as the year before, often about a year before you would start. EPOS deadlines are set by each course. The biggest mistake is finding out too late, so check your country's deadline in the database now. Get your documents verified in parallel: HEC attestation for Pakistani degrees, or an APS certificate if your degree is from India.

Next steps

Even with a scholarship you still apply to universities with verified documents: HEC-attested degrees if you studied in Pakistan, or an APS certificate if you studied in India. Use Smart Match to find programs that fit your profile, draft your motivation letter with the SOP generator, and browse other scholarships. If funding doesn't come through, work out your self-funded budget as a backup.

FAQ

How much does the DAAD scholarship pay per month?

The Master's scholarship for all disciplines pays €992 a month plus €460 a year. EPOS lists €934 a month for graduates and €1,300 for doctoral candidates.

Can Pakistani students apply for DAAD?

Yes. Check your deadline in the DAAD database, and have your degrees HEC-attested for university applications.

Is DAAD fully funded?

It covers living costs, insurance and travel, and can add rent and family allowances. It doesn't pay tuition fees.

Do I need work experience for DAAD?

For EPOS, yes: at least two years after your Bachelor's. For the Master's scholarship for all disciplines, it helps but isn't a formal requirement.