Master's Scholarship•Germany

DAAD Study Scholarships – Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines

Funding

Fully Funded

Program dates

Oct 1, 2027

The DAAD “Study Scholarships – Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines”, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, supports international graduates to complete a full master’s degree at a state-recognised German university. It covers nearly all academic fields (artistic disciplines and architecture have their own DAAD programmes) and provides a monthly living stipend, insurance contributions, and a yearly study allowance for the standard length of the chosen programme. Scholarship holders relocate to Germany to study; funding under the current call begins on 1 October 2027 (or earlier if a German language course precedes the programme).

Benefits & funding

  • Monthly scholarship payment of €992 for graduates.
  • Contributions towards health, accident, and personal liability insurance.
  • Annual study allowance of €460.
  • Possible additional support (on a case-by-case basis): a monthly rent subsidy, a family allowance for accompanying dependants, a subsidy for applicants with disabilities or chronic illness, and “Green Mobility” travel support.
  • A travel allowance is available on application.
  • Funding for the standard period of study of the chosen programme — between 10 and 24 months.
  • Note: the DAAD does not cover university tuition fees (most public German universities charge little or none).

Eligibility

  • Open to international students who have completed (or, in their final undergraduate year, will complete) a first degree — a Bachelor’s or Diplom — by the time the funding period begins.
  • The most recent university degree should date back no more than 6 years at the application deadline.
  • Applicants must not have been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months at the application deadline.
  • All academic disciplines are eligible except artistic subjects and architecture, which have separate DAAD schemes.
  • Proof of proficiency in the language of instruction (German, English, or both) is required — for example TestDaF, DSH, IELTS, TOEFL iBT, or Cambridge English certificates, depending on the programme.
  • Eligibility and exact deadlines are set per country of residence through the DAAD scholarship-database selector; applicants must confirm their country and status are listed before applying.

Application process

  1. 1
    Choose a master’s programme at a state-recognised German university and check the country-specific deadline and document list in the DAAD scholarship database.
  2. 2
    Prepare the required documents: CV, motivation letter, proof of admission or intended programme, academic transcripts, language-proficiency certificate, and a letter of recommendation.
  3. 3
    Submit the application as PDF uploads through the DAAD online portal within the application window (opens 1 June; closes on the country-specific deadline, commonly 30 October 2026 for the 2027 funding round).

Program timeline

  1. Application window opens (online portal).

    Jun 1, 2026

  2. Application deadline for most countries (country-specific; updated annually).

    Oct 30, 2026

  3. Selection decisions announced.

    2027 (spring)

  4. Scholarship and study programme begin (or earlier with a preceding German course).

    Oct 1, 2027