The DAAD Study Scholarships - Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines fund graduates who want to continue their academic education in Germany with a postgraduate or Master's course of study. Scholarship holders receive €992 a month, insurance payments, a travel allowance, an annual study allowance of €460 and language support, for 10 to 24 months starting in 2027. The programme is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, and the first application deadline is 16 November 2026, with later dates for some countries. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full DAAD announcement and set out every benefit, requirement, document and country deadline below.
Programme Overview
🏛️ Awarded by: DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst)
💶 Funded by: German Federal Foreign Office
🎓 Level: postgraduate / Master's studies in Germany
📚 Disciplines: all academic disciplines (separate DAAD programmes exist for artistic disciplines and architecture)
⏱️ Duration: 10 to 24 months, depending on your programme
🗓️ Funding start: in 2027, usually on 1 October 2027
💻 Application: online through the DAAD portal
Objective of the Scholarship
This scholarship programme offers you the opportunity to continue your academic education in Germany with a postgraduate course of study. The scholarships are funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.
Who Can Apply
🎓 You can apply if you have completed your first degree (for example a Bachelor's or Diplom) at the latest by the time the funding period begins.
🏠 "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.
👤 The status for this programme is Graduates: people who already have at least one first academic degree, for example a Bachelor.
Separate Programmes for Artistic Disciplines and Architecture
For applicants from artistic disciplines and the field of architecture (including Urban Design), DAAD offers separate scholarship programmes in:
🏗️ Architecture
🎨 Fine Art/Design/Film
🎭 Performing Art
🎼 Music
What Can Be Funded
The programme provides funding for one of two options:
🏫 A whole postgraduate or Master's degree programme completed at a state or state-recognised university in Germany
🔁 One year of study in Germany as part of a second or Master's degree completed at your home university
For the one-year option, the academic credits you gain in Germany must be recognised by your home university, and the standard period of study at your home university should not be exceeded as a result of the study year in Germany.
What Cannot Be Funded
🚫 A Master's degree programme that has already begun in Germany
📅 Funding is only available for degree programmes starting in the winter semester of the following year
❌ DAAD does not cover tuition fees
How Long the Scholarship Lasts
⏳ Depending on the length of your chosen programme, the scholarship is intended for visits of between 10 and 24 months.
📐 Scholarships are awarded for the standard period of study of the chosen programme, up to a maximum of 24 months.
📝 State the entire period you wish to apply for in your application: for a 2-year degree programme, indicate two years as the desired scholarship duration.
📊 After the first year of study, your academic achievements are assessed. If this shows that you will successfully complete your programme within a reasonable period, the scholarship continues as planned.
🚀 Funding must begin in 2027. The scholarship usually begins on 1 October 2027, or earlier if you take a German language course before the study programme.
Monthly Payment and Core Benefits
💶 Scholarship payments of €992 a month
🩺 Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover
✈️ Travel allowance (upon application only)
📖 Annual study allowance of €460
🚲 Green Mobility Top Up (support for climate-friendly travel) or reimbursement of carbon offset payments for air travel
Additional Benefits You Can Apply for After Funding Starts
Under certain circumstances, you can apply for these extra benefits after the start of funding:
🏠 Monthly rent subsidy
👨👩👧 Monthly allowance for accompanying members of family
♿ In case of a disability or chronic illness: on application, a subsidy may be provided for justified additional costs incurred abroad that are necessary to realise the project in Germany and are not covered by a third party; whether and to what extent a subsidy is paid is reviewed individually
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German Language Support
To help you improve your language skills before and during your stay in Germany, DAAD offers:
💻 Payment of course fees for an online language course after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter
🏫 If necessary, a German language course (2, 4 or 6 months) before the start of the study visit in Germany; DAAD decides whether to fund participation and for how long, depending on your German skills and project
⚠️ Participation in a language course is compulsory if the study programme is taught in German
🗣️ 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 your funding period
Selection Committee and Criteria
An independent selection committee of specialist scientists reviews applications. The criteria are:
🏅 Academic qualification: academic achievements, school leaving certificate (if applicable), course of studies, knowledge of the language(s) of instruction or working language(s), and relevant internships or work experience (if applicable)
🧭 Quality of the study project: quality of the project and its preparation (preliminary information, choice of degree programme, host university and establishment of contacts) and integration of the project into your academic career path
🌱 Potential of the applicant: motivation (academic and personal reasons for the stay in Germany, German language skills if different from the working language), prospects (significance of the stay for your further academic, professional and personal development) and extracurricular commitment (extracurricular knowledge and skills, social commitment)
⚖️ The committee also gives due consideration to equal opportunities, on which you can provide information in the application form
Requirements to Check Before You Apply
📆 As a rule, your most recent university degree should not date back more than 6 years at the time of the application deadline.
🏡 Your application cannot be considered if you have been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months at the application deadline.
🎟️ You are responsible for applying for admission to the German university for your chosen programme by the due date, so check admission requirements, application and enrolment deadlines and entry regulations for Germany in good time.
📨 If you have not yet received notification of admission when you apply, you must submit it before the funding period begins. A Scholarship Award Letter is only valid if you have been admitted to the host university named in your application.
Study Periods or Work Placements Outside Germany
If your degree programme includes a period of study or work placement outside Germany lasting several months, this period is usually only funded if:
🎯 The visit is essential for achieving the scholarship objective
🚷 The visit does not take place in your home country
➗ It is no longer than a quarter of the scholarship period (for joint and double-degree programmes up to 50%, if this is specified in the study regulations); longer periods cannot be funded, not even partially
Language of Instruction and Proof of Proficiency
The language of instruction in Germany is German; in international programmes it is English, or German and English. When you apply to DAAD, you must provide proof of your proficiency in the language of instruction of your chosen programme.
🇩🇪 German-taught programmes: TestDaF, DSH, Deutsches Sprachdiplom der Kultusministerkonferenz (DSD), Goethe-Zertifikat, Österreichisches Sprachdiplom, telc Deutsch and onSET Deutsch are usually eligible
🇬🇧 English-taught programmes: Cambridge English, Cambridge Business, IELTS, ISE, TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, TOEIC, PTE Academic, onSET English and Duolingo English Test can be submitted, for example
🔎 The Application documents section of the announcement shows whether specific certification is required for your country of origin
🏛️ German universities usually also require proof of language proficiency for admission and often specify exactly which certificates and levels they accept; these certificates may incur a fee, and the costs are not reimbursed by DAAD
Application Deadlines by Country
According to Youth Works Hub's review of the DAAD database, the deadline depends on the country you live in and apply from:
📅 16 November 2026: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Vatican City (selection in spring 2027, start of scholarship: winter semester 2027/2028)
📅 16 November 2026: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine (selection date in February-March 2027, start of funding from October 2027)
📅 30 November 2026: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden (selection date in February-March 2027, start of funding from October 2027)
📅 01 December 2026: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, France, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland (selection in May 2027, start of funding from October 2027)
📅 01 December 2026: Ireland, United Kingdom (selection in March 2027, start of funding from October 2027)
📅 19 January 2027: Spain (selection in May 2027, start of funding from October 2027)
Applications are possible between 1 June and the stated application deadline. Deadlines are updated annually in the second quarter and are in most cases in the same period as the previous year.
Documents to Upload to the DAAD Portal
📄 Full curriculum vitae in tabular form (max. 3 pages)
✍️ Letter of motivation (1-3 pages) on your academic and personal reasons for the planned study project in Germany, uploaded under "study project/motivation"
📨 Letter of admission to the study programme at the host university in Germany (if not yet received, submit it before the funding period begins)
🗒️ For a second degree or Master's programme in Germany: the form "Information about your preferred master programmes", completed and uploaded under "course profile"
🔁 For study in Germany as part of a degree programme abroad: proof that credits acquired in Germany will be recognised by your home university
📊 Current overview of grades / transcript of records with individual grades, uploaded under "university degree certificates"
🎓 University degree certificate with final grade(s), to be submitted by the time funding starts if you have not yet finished your programme, uploaded under "university degree certificates"
🗣️ Proof of knowledge of the language(s) of instruction (no older than 3 years), submitted via the portal even if the university does not require it; some countries require specific documents
👩🏫 One recent letter of recommendation from a university teacher about your qualifications
➕ Optional: other relevant documents, such as certificates of employment or proof of extracurricular engagement
Rules for Your Documents
🖨️ Documents may be scanned in non-certified form; DAAD reserves the right to request certified copies.
🌐 Documents in your national language need 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; on the scholarship page, select your status and your country to enable the application.
2️⃣ Request the recommendation form: generate it in the portal as a writable PDF under "Create Letter of Recommendation Form" (only during the application period), send it to your university teacher to complete in full, and upload it under "Letter of Recommendation".
3️⃣ Prepare your documents: translate them if necessary and scan paper documents as PDF.
4️⃣ Fill out the online application form, upload your documents under "Attachments" and submit the application online.
Important Notes on Submission
✅ Your application is only valid if you submit all required documents to the DAAD portal by the deadline; incomplete applications cannot be considered.
🕛 The DAAD portal closes at 24.00 hrs (CET or CEST) on the last application day; if possible, do not apply on the final date in case technical problems occur.
🔒 Access to the application portal only appears while the application period is running.
🗄️ Application documents remain with DAAD, and personal data is saved in accordance with the Federal Data Protection Act and the EU Data Protection Regulation.
Technical Help and Further Information
🛠️ For technical questions that your local information and advice centres could not answer, DAAD's portal team can be reached by email or via the technical portal hotline on weekdays from 9-12 and 14-16 (CET/CEST); contact details are listed in the Links section below.
👨🏫 In many countries, DAAD lecturers can answer your questions about studying or conducting research in Germany.
📘 The DAAD website sections "Important information for scholarship applicants", "Study programmes and language courses" and "Plan your studies" help you prepare, alongside the Study in Germany campaign website.
Discover more funding like this in the Scholarships section on Youth Works Hub →.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the DAAD Study Scholarship for Master studies pay?
Scholarship holders receive €992 a month, plus insurance payments, a travel allowance on application and an annual study allowance of €460. Rent and family allowances can be requested under certain circumstances, but tuition fees are not covered.
When is the deadline for the DAAD Master scholarship?
It depends on the country you apply from: 16 November 2026 for 24 countries, 30 November 2026 for Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, 01 December 2026 for 12 countries including Ireland and the United Kingdom, and 19 January 2027 for Spain. The full list by country is in the deadlines section above.
Who is eligible for this DAAD scholarship?
Graduates who have completed a first degree, such as a Bachelor's, by the time funding begins can apply. Your most recent degree should, as a rule, be no older than 6 years, and you cannot have lived in Germany for more than 15 months at the deadline.
Can I use the scholarship for a full Master's degree in Germany?
Yes. It can fund a whole postgraduate or Master's programme at a state or state-recognised German university, or one year of study in Germany within a Master's at your home university. Programmes already begun in Germany are not funded.
How long is the scholarship?
It lasts between 10 and 24 months, matching the standard period of study of your programme. Funding usually starts on 1 October 2027, or earlier if you take a German language course first.
Do I need to speak German?
You need proof of proficiency in the language of instruction, which is German, English, or both. If your programme is taught in German, a language course is compulsory, and DAAD offers several types of language support.
Do I need university admission before applying?
No. If you have not yet been admitted when you apply, you must submit the admission letter before the funding period begins. The award is only valid with admission to the host university named in your application.
What documents does DAAD require?
You upload a tabular CV, a motivation letter, transcripts, your degree certificate, language proof, a recommendation letter and, where applicable, the admission letter and the master programmes form. All files must be PDFs.
Deadline
⏳ 16 November 2026
Links
🔗 Scholarship announcement (DAAD scholarship database): https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?detail=50026200
📝 Short link to the programme: https://www.daad.de/go/en/stipa50026200
🌐 Study in Germany campaign website: https://www.study-in-germany.de/en/
📧 DAAD portal technical support: portal@daad.de
📞 Technical portal hotline: +49 (0) 228 882-8888
