I. Who can apply?

The scholarship programme is aimed at high-achieving students from developing and emerging countries who would like to complete a Master’s degree in the STEM subjects at a German university.
You can apply if you have completed your studies with a first degree recognised in Germany (e.g. Bachelor's degree) by the application deadline at the latest.
If you already have a Master’s degree by the application deadline, you cannot apply.

II. What can be funded?

Funding is available for a complete Master's degree (full-time, on-campus) at a state or state-recognised university in Germany in the STEM subjects of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and engineering. Study programmes with integrated stays outside Germany are excluded.
Interdisciplinary degree programmes must have a designated STEM focus.
It must be a tuition-free Master's degree programme. Please read point A.15 in the important information for scholarship applicants.
Funding is not possible for a Master’s degree programme that has already begun in Germany. Funding is only available for degree programmes starting in winter term 26/27.

III. Value

• monthly scholarship payments of 992 euros (for Master's programmes) and 1,300 euros (for postdocs programmes)
• payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover (see also our important information for scholarship applicants / section F, point 4)
• travel allowance
• annual study allowance of 460 euros

Under certain circumstances, you can apply for the following additional benefits after start of funding:

• monthly rent subsidy (see important information for scholarship applicants, section F, point 9)
• monthly allowance for accompanying members of family. Please also read our important information for scholarship applicants / section F, point 3
• 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 that are not covered by a third party; whether and to what extent a subsidy will be paid will be reviewed and determined on an individual basis (see important information for scholarship applicants, section F, point 8)
• reimbursement of carbon offset payments for air travel

To allow you to improve your language skills, the DAAD offers the following benefits on application (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: German language course in Germany before the start of the research project; the DAAD decides whether to fund participation and for how long depending on German language skills and project.
• Allowance for a personally chosen German language course during the scholarship period
• Reimbursement of the fee for a TestDaF or DSH test, which you can take either in your home country after you have received your Letter of Award or in Germany during your funding period.

Please note that the DAAD does not cover tuition fees.

IV. Application Deadline

September 03, 2025.

The funding decision will be taken in February 2026. Start of funding: Winter semester of 2026.

V. Application Documents

After registering on the DAAD portal, please complete the online application in full. Then upload the application documents listed below to the DAAD portal in the section ‘Attachments’. If you submit documents in your national language, please include German or English translations.

Documents to be submitted to the DAAD portal:

• Full curriculum vitae in tabular form (max. 3 pages)
• letter of motivation, 1 - 3 pages: statement about the academic and personal reasons for the planned study project in Germany. Please also read our important information for scholarship applicants / Section B, Point 1. Upload the letter of motivation under 'study project/motivation' in the DAAD portal.
• Letter of admission to the study programme at the host university in Germany. If you have not yet received notification of admission at the time of application, you must submit this before the funding period begins.
• Form 'Information about your preferred master programmes'(WORD, 199.68 KB), duly completed (you can enter up to 5 Master‘s programmes). Please note that the DAAD does not consider and formally excludes Master's programmes that charge tuition fees. Upload the form under 'course profile' in the DAAD portal.
• Current overview of grades/ transcript of records with individual grades (to be uploaded under 'transcript of records/academic achievements' in the DAAD portal)
• All university degree certificates already obtained, indicating final grade(s) and transcripts with individual grades for all academic years; if you do not yet have your degree certificate, you must submit it prior to the start of the scholarship at the latest. In this case, upload a provisional doc-ument to the portal instead. Please upload your certificate(s) or the preliminary document under 'university degree certificates' in the DAAD portal.
• Certificate of language(s) of instruction of the chosen study programme (should be no older than 2 years), at least level B1. Please refer to 'Application requirements' to find out which certificates can generally be submitted. Depending on the country, specific documents may be required, which are listed below, if applicable. Please submit certificates via the DAAD portal under 'language certificate', even if the university does not require proof of language skills.
• One recent, supporting letter of recommendation (on a DAAD-form) from a university teacher which provides information about your qualifications. Please regard the instructions given on the tab 'Submitting an application'.
• Passport/national identity card and personal data page of the passport/national identity card and, if applicable, other documents containing information about your identity and your current residence status. For refugees: Refugee ID card and UNHCR registration/official proof of asylum.
  Please upload in the portal under ‘Passport / identity card’.

Optional:

• Other documents you think might be of relevance to your application (e.g. certificates of employment, proof of extracurricular engagement)

The application is made online through the DAAD portal.

VI. Further Information

For more Information and to submit an application, please enter here.

VII. Contacts

• Interested students may contact o[email protected]
• Phone: 560-3201
• Attention in person at the International Relations Office from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm.
• Find us on social networks as @dri_utp