Short answer: For a degree in Germany there are DAAD scholarships, the Deutschlandstipendium and scholarships from individual universities. The DAAD does not state application deadlines on its overview page. They appear in the scholarship database with each call. The Deutschlandstipendium amounts to 300 euros per month, of which 150 euros come from private funders. Last updated: November 2026.
If you want to study in Germany from abroad, you often look for a scholarship that covers part of your costs first. The range is wide, but not every programme suits every plan. This guide sorts the main routes and shows where you can find binding deadlines and requirements.
The most important points at a glance
- The DAAD runs several programmes whose target groups differ by country of origin, subject and study phase.
- According to the DAAD page, its scholarships are aimed primarily at students who hold a bachelor’s degree.
- The DAAD page does not name a scholarship specifically for a bachelor’s degree in Germany.
- The Deutschlandstipendium requires enrolment or planned enrolment at a state or recognised university. The scholarship database names no nationality as a requirement.
- Application deadlines are published with each call, not in a general overview.
Which DAAD programmes exist for international students?
The DAAD administers a number of scholarship programmes. The overview page names the following programmes, which may be relevant for international students. The page describes each target group separately, so check the original wording before you apply.
| Programme | Target group according to the DAAD page | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Study scholarships for all academic subjects | According to the page, aimed in particular at people from industrialised countries | Check the requirements in the programme |
| Study scholarships, master’s in STEM subjects | Aimed at students from developing and emerging countries | Applies to the master’s stage |
| Development-related postgraduate programmes (EPOS) | Aimed at students from developing and emerging countries | Postgraduate programmes |
| Hilde Domin Programme | For students at risk, nomination by an institution legally based in Germany | No self-application possible |
| Surplace and third-country programmes | Master’s study takes place in the home country or home region, not in Germany | Not a study place in Germany |
The table shows that many DAAD programmes are not designed for study in Germany. In the case of surplace and third-country programmes, the master’s study takes place in the home country or region. Check carefully whether the programme covers your plan.
Does a DAAD scholarship apply to a bachelor’s degree in Germany?
The DAAD page says the scholarships are aimed primarily at students who already hold a bachelor’s degree. The page does not name a scholarship specifically for a bachelor’s degree in Germany. If you plan a bachelor’s programme, look at other routes first, such as university scholarships or the Deutschlandstipendium.
A detailed explanation of the DAAD scholarship, with application, deadlines and requirements, is given in DAAD-Stipendium: Bewerbung, Fristen und Voraussetzungen für Studierende. The overview here does not replace that guide.
How do scholarship, funding and doctorate differ?
A scholarship is a grant that you apply for and that is tied to selection criteria. A loan or financing from your own resources is something different, and a study place with a salary would be a separate case. These terms are often mixed up, so look at the funding conditions closely.
Doctoral candidates follow different rules. The guide Promotion in Deutschland: Wege, Dauer, Finanzierung und Doktortitel (in German) covers the doctorate. This text is written for students in bachelor’s and master’s programmes.
The Deutschlandstipendium at a glance
The Deutschlandstipendium is a grant that universities award. The federal scholarship database states the conditions clearly: enrolment or planned enrolment at a state or state-recognised university, proof of aptitude and performance, and a university that offers the scholarship. Doctoral candidates are excluded.
| Feature | Information from the federal database |
|---|---|
| Funding amount | 300 euros per month |
| Share from private funders | 150 euros per month |
| Nationality | No condition named |
| Application | To the university, whose selection process the university sets |
The page carries the copyright notice 2026 and gives no update date. Check the amount and conditions on your university’s page before you plan.
How do you plan with a scholarship?
A scholarship does not necessarily cover all costs. Plan with several sources and keep deadlines in view. Anyone who researches early can prepare several programmes at the same time and schedule the deadlines side by side.
Assumption: a Deutschlandstipendium is paid for twelve months. The total would then be 3,600 euros, calculated as 12 times 300 euros. The university decides how long the support actually runs.
- List all programmes that match your degree and your country of origin.
- Note the deadlines from the call itself and not from an overview.
- Prepare certificates, a motivation letter and language proof early.
- Check the offer of your university at the same time.
Application points to watch
Scholarship programmes assess applications against fixed criteria, and the documents must be complete before the review begins. Read the call in full before you start writing. Note every requirement on form, length and language of the documents. A motivation letter is more convincing when it is tailored to the specific programme.
Prepare an overview of your education so that details on degrees, grades and periods of study stay consistent. Make sure your certificates are available as originals or certified copies. The guide Zeugnisse übersetzen lassen: Beglaubigt für die Hochschulbewerbung (in German) explains translations.
For a degree in Germany, language proofs are often part of the application. Which proofs apply depends on the programme and the university. An overview is given in Sprachnachweis fürs Studium: TestDaF, DSH und Alternativen.
What is different with a nomination?
The Hilde Domin Programme works through nomination. You cannot apply yourself. Instead, an institution based in Germany has to propose you. If you are denied the right to education in your country of origin, it is worth contacting universities and organisations in Germany. The DAAD page does not set out the requirements further, so ask the programme directly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a DAAD scholarship myself?
Whether self-application is possible is decided by each programme. For the Hilde Domin Programme, self-application is expressly not possible, because nomination is made by an institution legally based in Germany. Read the requirements of each programme.
Where do I find the current deadlines?
According to the DAAD page, the deadlines are published in the scholarship database with each call. The requirements that apply to the specific programme are also listed there.
Are there scholarships for students from countries outside Europe?
Whether a programme is open to you depends on the programme. Some DAAD programmes, according to the page, are aimed at students from developing and emerging countries. A general reference to a region is not enough to decide.
Is a scholarship taxable?
That depends on the type and amount and is not answered in this guide. The guide Stipendium steuerpflichtig? Steuern und Sozialversicherung im Überblick (in German) gives an overview, but it does not replace an individual answer.
What to do next
- Review the list of DAAD programmes and mark the entries that match your plan.
- Note the deadlines from the scholarship database and from the information of your university.
- Apply for the Deutschlandstipendium at your university as well, if it offers one.
Related articles
- Stipendium im Studium finden: Arten, Anbieter und Voraussetzungen (in German)
- DAAD-Stipendium: Bewerbung, Fristen und Voraussetzungen für Studierende
- Erasmus Mundus Master: Bewerbung und Stipendium
- Studying in Germany as an international student: the overview
- Promotion in Deutschland: Wege, Dauer, Finanzierung und Doktortitel (in German)
Sources: Overview of DAAD scholarships, DAAD (no update date), Deutschlandstipendium, federal scholarship database (© 2026)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
