DAAD Research Grants in Germany fund doctoral candidates and early-career postdocs from 135 countries to carry out a research project at a university or research institute in Germany. Grant holders receive €1,400 per month, insurance payments and a travel allowance, with stays of 2 to 12 months for doctoral students and 2 to 6 months for postdocs, all starting in 2027. The next application deadline is 16 November 2026 for applicants from many European and Central Asian countries, with later deadlines for other regions. At Youth Works Hub, we organised the full call, including every country deadline, below.
The Grant at a Glance
🏛️ Funder: DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)
🎯 Purpose: A research project in Germany during a doctorate or in the early postdoc phase
👩🔬 Who: Doctoral candidates and postdocs (up to 4 years after the doctorate)
⏱️ Funding period: 2 to 12 months (doctoral students), 2 to 6 months (postdocs)
💶 Monthly payment: €1,400
🗓️ Funding start: 2027
🌍 Countries: 135 countries, each with its own deadline
⏰ Next deadline: 16 November 2026
What the Research Grant Is For
The research grant offers the opportunity to realise a research project in Germany. The programme supports research stays during a doctorate or in the early postdoc phase.
Who Can Apply
You can apply if you:
📚 Are doing your doctorate at a university or research institution outside Germany, or
🧑🔬 Have already completed your doctorate (postdoc, up to 4 years after completing your doctorate)
You cannot apply if you are doing your entire doctorate at a German university.
What Can Be Funded
The grant funds a research project at a state or state-recognised university or a non-university research institute in Germany, carried out in agreement with a scientific supervisor in Germany.
Duration of the Funding
🎓 Doctoral students: 2 to 12 months
🔭 Postdocs: 2 to 6 months
✂️ The funding cannot be divided up within the funding period
🚫 Research work carried out in different countries outside Germany is not eligible for funding
📝 You indicate your desired funding period in the application form
🗓️ The funding must begin in 2027
⚖️ The selection committee determines the final funding period during the selection process, taking your work schedule into account
🔒 The scholarship cannot be extended
What the Grant Pays
💶 Monthly scholarship payments of €1,400
🩺 Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover
✈️ A travel allowance (an application is required if the funding period exceeds 6 months)
🔬 A research allowance of €460 for a funding period of more than six months
Extra Benefits You Can Apply For After Funding Starts
Under certain circumstances, the following additional benefits can be requested after the start of funding:
🏠 A monthly rent subsidy, only for a funding period of more than six months
👪 A monthly allowance for accompanying family members, only for a funding period of more than six months
♿ In case of a disability or chronic illness, a subsidy may be provided on application for justified additional costs that are necessary to realise the project in Germany and are not covered by a third party; whether and to what extent it is paid is reviewed individually
🚆 A Green Mobility Top Up (subsidy for climate-friendly travel) or reimbursement of carbon offset payments for air travel
German Language Support
To help you improve your language skills before your stay, DAAD offers the following benefits, only for a funding period of more than six months:
💻 Payment of course fees for an online language course after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter
🏫 If necessary, a German language course in Germany before the research project starts; DAAD decides whether and for how long to fund it, depending on your German skills and project
🗣️ An allowance for a personally chosen German language course during the scholarship period
📝 Reimbursement of the fee for a TestDaF or DSH test, taken either in your home country after receiving your Letter of Award or in Germany during the funding period
Benefits from third parties are partially credited towards the DAAD scholarship.
Eligibility Limits to Check First
⌛ Doctoral students: the start of your doctorate should not be more than 3 years ago at the application deadline
📅 Postdocs: you should not have completed your doctorate more than 4 years before the application deadline
🏥 Applicants from human medicine, veterinary medicine and dentistry are subject to further regulations
🏡 Your application cannot be considered if you have been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months at the application deadline
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Application Deadlines by Country
Deadlines depend on the country you live in and apply from. The 2026 first-round dates listed below have already passed; the open deadline for each group is the second date.
Group 1: Next deadline 16 November 2026
Earlier round 31 July 2026 (closed). The 16 November 2026 round has selection in March 2027 for funding starting from June 2027.
🗺️ Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Türkiye, Vatican City
Group 2: Next deadline 16 November 2026
Earlier round 17 August 2026 (closed). The 16 November 2026 round has a selection decision in March 2027 for funding starting from June 2027.
🗺️ Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Group 3: Next deadline 01 February 2027
Earlier round 01 October 2026 (closed, selection in February 2027, funding from April 2027). The 01 February 2027 round has selection in May 2027 and funding from October 2027.
🗺️ France
Group 4: Next deadline 23 February 2027
Earlier round 01 October 2026 (closed, selection in February 2027, funding from April 2027). The 23 February 2027 round has selection in June/July 2027 and funding from October 2027.
🗺️ Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Group 5: Next deadline 11 March 2027
Earlier round 03 September 2026, or 06 August 2026 for Argentina and Chile (closed, selection decision in February 2027, funding from May 2027). The 11 March 2027 round has a selection decision in June 2027 and funding from September 2027.
🗺️ Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
Group 6: Next deadline 17 March 2027
Earlier round 24 September 2026 (closed, selection presumably in February 2027, scholarship from May 2027). The 17 March 2027 round has selection presumably in July 2027 and the scholarship starting from September 2027.
🗺️ Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Group 7: Next deadline 30 April 2027
Earlier round 30 October 2026 (closed, selection in spring 2027, funding from 1 June 2027). The 30 April 2027 round has selection in summer 2027 and funding from 1 October 2027. DAAD publishes important country-specific application information for these applicants (link at the end of this post).
🗺️ Canada, United States
DAAD updates application deadlines annually in the second quarter; in most cases they fall in the same period as the previous year.
How Applicants Are Selected
An independent selection committee of specialist scientists reviews the applications using three groups of criteria.
Academic Qualification
🏅 Academic achievements (grade point average, development of grades)
📈 Academic progress
🗣️ Knowledge of the language(s) of instruction or working language(s)
📰 If applicable, scholarly achievements after graduation (e.g. publications, lectures, conference papers)
Quality of the Research Project
💡 Quality of the research proposal and preparation (originality, topicality and relevance of the project, choice of host institution and first contacts)
🧮 Feasibility and consistency of the study plan and schedule
🧩 Incorporation of the project within the overall doctorate (content and timing), if relevant
Potential of the Applicant
🚀 Career prospects: the significance of the research project and stay in Germany for your further academic, professional and personal development
💭 Motivation: academic and personal reasons for wanting to visit Germany, and German language skills (if different from the working language)
🤝 Non-study-related activities: knowledge and skills outside your studies, and civic engagement
The selection committee also gives due consideration to equal opportunities, and you can provide relevant information in the application form.
Documents to Upload to the DAAD Portal
After registering on the DAAD portal, complete the online application in full and upload these documents in the "Attachments" section:
📄 A full curriculum vitae in tabular form (max. 3 pages)
📚 A list of your published publications (max. 10 pages; mandatory for postdocs)
✍️ A letter of motivation of 1 to 2 pages on the academic and personal reasons for the planned project in Germany, answering: what do you hope to gain from your project in Germany (personally, professionally, for your career)? Upload it under "study project/motivation"
🧪 A research proposal (max. 10 pages in total), prepared and written by yourself and discussed with your academic adviser in Germany; upload it under "research project"
🗓️ A time schedule of the planned research work
🎓 Proof of admission to or enrolment in doctoral studies (doctoral students), uploaded under "proof of admission"
🏛️ Confirmation from the academic host in Germany that refers to your project and guarantees a workplace at the host institute, uploaded under "acceptance of host institution"
🛡️ A declaration from the scientific supervisor in Germany on safety-relevant and ethical aspects of the project, uploaded under "Scientific ethics/research safety"
🎖️ All university degree certificates already obtained (e.g. Bachelor's, Master's, doctorate) with final grades, uploaded under "university degree certificates"; if your most recent certificate is not yet available, upload a provisional document and submit the certificate before the scholarship starts
📊 Transcripts of Records (undergraduate and postgraduate) showing individual grades, uploaded under "transcript of records/academic achievements"
💌 One recent letter of recommendation on a DAAD form from a university teacher (for doctoral students, from your thesis supervisor)
➕ Optional: other relevant documents, such as certificates of employment or proof of extracurricular engagement
Rules for Documents
🖨️ Documents may be scanned in non-certified form and uploaded; DAAD reserves the right to request certified copies
🌐 Documents in your national language must be accompanied by German or English translations, uploaded together with the original
📁 Only PDF files can be uploaded to the portal
How to Apply Through the DAAD Portal
1️⃣ Register in the DAAD portal
2️⃣ Generate the recommendation form in the portal as a writable PDF under "Create Letter of Recommendation Form" (only possible during the application period), send it to your university teacher, and upload the completed form under "Letter of Recommendation"
3️⃣ Prepare your documents: translate them if needed and scan paper documents as PDF
4️⃣ Fill out the application form, upload all documents and submit the application online
Important Portal Rules
🔓 Access to the DAAD portal opens at least 6 weeks before the application deadline and only appears while the current application period is running
✅ Your application is only valid if all required documents are submitted to the portal by the deadline
🕛 The portal closes at 24.00 hrs (CET or CEST) on the last application day, and DAAD recommends not applying on the final day in case of technical problems
❌ Incomplete applications cannot be considered, and applicants are responsible for completeness
🗄️ Application documents remain with DAAD, and applicant data is stored under the Federal Data Protection Act and the EU Data Protection Regulation
Where to Get Help
DAAD-lecturers in many countries can answer questions about studying or conducting research in Germany. For technical portal problems that local information and advice centres cannot solve, DAAD runs a technical portal hotline on weekdays from 9-12 and 14-16 (CET/CEST) at +49 (0) 228 882-8888, and also offers support by email (address in the Links section). Allow for processing times when planning your application.
For more detailed information, DAAD points to its "Important information for DAAD scholarship applicants" page, the DAAD website section "Doing a PhD and Research in Germany", the "Research in Germany" website and the "GERiT (German Research Institutions)" website.
Who Counts as Applying From a Country
"Country" means the country in which you are living and from which you are applying. If you come from another country, DAAD asks you to contact it to find out whether you are eligible. If your status or country is not on the programme's list, you cannot apply for this scholarship programme.
Browse more research funding in the Fellowships section on Youth Works Hub →.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the DAAD Research Grant pay?
Grant holders receive €1,400 per month, plus payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance and a travel allowance. For funding periods of more than six months, there is also a research allowance of €460.
Who is eligible for the DAAD Research Grant?
Doctoral candidates at a university or research institution outside Germany whose doctorate started no more than 3 years before the deadline, and postdocs who completed their doctorate no more than 4 years before the deadline. Applicants doing their entire doctorate at a German university, or resident in Germany for more than 15 months at the deadline, cannot apply.
How long can I stay in Germany with the grant?
Doctoral students can be funded for 2 to 12 months and postdocs for 2 to 6 months. The funding must begin in 2027, cannot be divided up and cannot be extended.
When is the deadline for my country?
It depends on the country you live in. The next deadline is 16 November 2026 for Groups 1 and 2, 01 February 2027 for France, 23 February 2027 for Group 4, 11 March 2027 for Latin America and the Caribbean, 17 March 2027 for African countries, and 30 April 2027 for Canada and the United States.
Do I need a host in Germany before applying?
Yes. You need confirmation from an academic host in Germany that refers to your project and guarantees a workplace, plus a declaration from your scientific supervisor in Germany on safety-relevant and ethical aspects.
Do I need to speak German?
The selection considers knowledge of the language of instruction or working language. For stays over six months, DAAD can fund online and in-person German courses and reimburse TestDaF or DSH test fees.
How do I submit the application?
The application is made online through the DAAD portal, which opens at least 6 weeks before the deadline and closes at 24.00 hrs CET/CEST on the last day. All documents must be uploaded as PDF files.
Deadline
⏳ 16 November 2026
Links
Programme page: https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?detail=57742121
Short link to the programme: https://www.daad.de/go/en/stipa57742121
Country-specific information for applicants from Canada and the United States: https://www.daad.org/en/find-funding/country-specific-information-for-us-applicants/
Technical portal support: portal@daad.de
