The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Scholarships for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses are aimed at foreign graduates from development and newly industrialized countries. This program offers them the opportunity to pursue postgraduate or Master’s degrees at state or state-recognized German universities. In some exceptional cases, this scholarship also supports students in obtaining a doctoral degree. The program is designed to promote the training of specialists from developing and emerging countries, ensuring they play a significant role in their countries’ sustainable development.
Key Information:
- Type: Masters, PhD
- Application Deadline: March 31, 2024
Value and Duration:
Successful applicants can benefit from the DAAD Scholarships with:
- A monthly stipend of €1,200.
- Transport allowance.
- A scholarship duration of 12 to 42 months, depending on the course of study.
- Monthly scholarship rates of €934 for graduate students or €1,200 for doctoral students.
- Benefits for health, accident, and private liability insurance.
- Subsidies towards travel costs, provided they are not covered by the home country or another party.
- Additional benefits like monthly rental assistance and supplements for family members traveling with you can also be granted under specific conditions.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants should:
- Currently work for a public authority or a state or private company in a developing country, involved in the planning and execution of directives and projects related to development policies in technological, economic, or social areas.
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree (typically a four-year degree) in a related field.
- Have completed an academic degree with above-average results (upper third) and at least two years of related professional experience after the first degree (bachelor) at the time of application.
- Ensure their academic degrees are typically not more than six years old.
- For study courses in German (which include a 6-month German language course), successful completion of the language examination DSH 2 or TestDaF 4 before the start of the study course. This requires a minimum German language level of B1 at the time of application, which needs to be evidenced by providing a certificate.
- For courses taught in English, applicants should provide proof of adequate language skills according to the regulations of the respective courses.
How to Apply:
Applications must be submitted directly to the respective course. Interested candidates are advised to visit the official website for access to the application form and complete information on the application process. Application deadlines may vary depending on the course but typically fall around August-October 2023.
Required Documents:
Applicants should prepare the following documents:
- DAAD Application Form, physically signed and dated.
- Up-to-date CV (europass), physically signed and dated.
- A motivation letter (maximum 2 pages), physically signed and dated.
- Certificate(s) of employment from the employer(s) to prove current employment and meet the minimum requirement of two years of relevant employment between completing the Bachelor’s degree and the application deadline.
- Proof of English proficiency.
- Copies of diplomas and transcripts of records in original form, with certified translations into English or German if originally issued in another language.
- Copies of the University Entrance Qualification (secondary school leaving certificate) in original form, with certified translations into English or German if issued in another language.
- A ranking letter if additional proof is required to show that the final grade of the previous degree was above average.
- A recommendation from the current employer on official letterhead, including details on the position and the contact information of the referee, signed and dated.
Please ensure that your application is submitted in English. Good luck to all prospective applicants!