DAAD Graduate Scholarships for Study/Research in Germany

This scholarship programme offers you the opportunity to continue your education in Germany with a postgraduate or continuing course of study in the field of architecture. The scholarships also promote the exchange of experience and networking amongst colleagues.

Who can apply?

You can apply if you have gained a first university degree in the areas of Architecture, Interior Design, Monument Conservation and Building in Existing Contexts/Reconditioning of Old Buildings, Urban Design/Urban Development, Landscape Architecture, Landscape Planning at the latest by the time they commence their scholarship-supported study programme.

What can be funded?

In this study programme, you can complete

• a Master’s degree/postgraduate degree leading to a final qualification
  or
• a complementary course that does not lead to a final qualification (not an undergraduate course)

at a state or state-recognised German university of your choice.

• More information

This scholarship programme offers you the opportunity to continue your studies in the field of music in Germany with an advanced postgraduate course.

Who can apply?

The programme is aimed at graduates from the field of Music. You are eligible to apply if:

• you will have obtained a first degree in music by the time the scholarship begins
• or you have exhausted all training opportunities for your instrument or subject in your home country if no degree is offered in your country of origin.

What can be funded?

In this scholarship programme, you can complete the following courses of study at a state college of music (Staatliche Musikhochschule) in Germany of your choice:

• Degree studies: A Master’s degree/postgraduate course leading to a degree. Funding for postgraduate studies is available for the so-called 2nd cycle (Master’s degree) or 3rd cycle (Konzertexamen, Meisterklasse).
• Advanced studies without a degree, either as part of graduate studies at your home university that include a stay abroad in Germany, or as part of an independent project or advanced studies with a university/college lecturer in Germany. A connection to a college of music in Germany is mandatory and must be proven by a written confirmation of supervision.

• More information

This scholarship programme offers you the opportunity to continue your education in Germany with a postgraduate or continuing course of study. The scholarships also promote the exchange of experience and networking amongst colleagues.

Who can apply?

You can apply if you have gained a first university degree in the field of the Performing Arts at the latest by the time you commence your scholarship-supported study programme.

What can be funded?

In this study programme, you can complete

• a) a Master’s degree course/postgraduate degree course leading to a final qualification at a state or state-recognised German university of your choice,
  or
• b) a complementary course without degree (not an undergraduate course) at a state or state-recognised German university of your choice. This can be either a study year in Germany as part of your study programme at your home university or an independent project or complementary study course with a professor/an instructor in Germany. The connection to a university in the fields of art in Germany is mandatory and needs to be verified with the confirmation of supervision.

• More information.

This scholarship programme offers you the opportunity to continue your education in Germany with a postgraduate or complementary course of study in the fields of Fine Art, Design, Visual Communication and Film. The scholarships also promote the exchange of experience and networking amongst colleagues.

Who can apply?

You can apply if you have gained a first university degree in the field of arts.

What can be funded?

In this study programme, you can complete:

• a) a Master’s degree course/postgraduate degree course leading to a final qualification at a state or state-recognised German university of your choice
  or
• b) a complementary course without degree (not an undergraduate course). This can be either a study year in Germany as part of your study programme at your home university or an independent project or complementary study course with a professor/an instructor in Germany. The connection to a university in the fields of art in Germany is mandatory and needs to be verified with the confirmation of supervision.

• More information.

UIC undergraduates and alumni should pursue the “priority” process below. If unable or not selected, then follow the process here with a deadline of October 30, 2026.

• More information.

The program funds research visits to universities or non-university institutes, archives and research institutes in Germany and is open to undergraduates (at least third year German major or minor), MA-level students in the humanities and social sciences, and doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences who are preparing their dissertation proposal/prospectus. If not a US citizen or permanent resident of the US or Canada, must have lived in US >6 months prior to the deadline. be from North America who are carrying out research projects on German cultural studies. The program is designed to encourage research and promote the study of cultural, political, historical, economic and social aspects of modern and contemporary German affairs from an inter- and multidisciplinary perspective. Must be nominated by a supervising professor.

• More information.

The research grant offers the opportunity to realize a research project in Germany. The program supports research stays during a doctorate or in the early postdoc phase. UIC students seeking 7-12 months of support are encouraged the priority process if they fit the eligibility factors.

Who can apply?

You can apply if you:

• are doing your doctorate at a university or research institution outside Germany or
• have already completed your doctorate (post-doc, up to 4 years after completing your doctorate)

What can be funded?

A research project at a state or state-recognized university or a non-university research institute in Germany, which is being carried out in agreement with a scientific supervisor in Germany.

Duration of the funding (1,400 euros/mo + allowances)

• doctoral students: 2 to 12 months
• postdocs: 2 to 6 months

• More information.

• More information.

This program is for undergraduate students in their final year and those who have received an undergraduate degree, who seek a full master’s degree program at a German university or to study at a German university as part of a postgraduate or master’s degree program completed in the home country. All academic fields except the arts (see section I.) Campus deadline: October 1. Revisions permitted following UIC campus review and then an absolute deadline of October 30. Foreign nationals must have been living in the USA or Canada for one year prior to the October deadline and have obtained their last [most recent] degree in the USA or Canada. See the “Study Checklist” below. Prior to the campus deadline, applicants should communicate with Benn Williams, the DAAD official at UIC, regarding campus processes.

When applying through UIC as a designated DAAD partner university and seeking “priority candidate” status, complete but do NOT submit the application in the DAAD portal until the national deadline. The campus process provides 48 hours to revise materials. You will be responsible for contacting Benn Williams, the DAAD advisor at UIC, for the sharing of application components for the campus review process well before the campus deadline. He does not have access to the application portal.

Check list:

1. Online application (please register for the Online Portal via DAAD scholarship database)
2. Curriculum vitae  (max. 3 pages)
3. Study proposal (max. 3 pages): should include a narrative about academic and personal reasons for the planned study explaining why a particular program has been chosen and how it will further your educational and career goals. No format restrictions regarding font, spacing and paragraphs. [Pro-tip: single-spaced, full justification, 10- or 11-point TNR font with one-inch margins.]
4. Letter of admission to a study program in Germany: If this is not available at the time of the application deadline, this can be subsequently submitted before the scholarship-supported study program begins.
5. Information about your preferred master program:
   Additional info for master’s degree applicants:
   • Applicants who will be starting their master’s program in Germany: submit this form ‘Information about your preferred master programmes’ [see link below]. When completing the DAAD recommends listing up to 5 potential degree programs to avoid a situation in which you are granted a scholarship but end up not getting accepted into a master’s program. However, when writing your proposal, you should focus on your first choice, and briefly mention additional programs at the end of your proposal.
   OR
   • For a study period in Germany as part of an American or Canadian postgraduate or master’s degree: submit proof that the academic credits earned in Germany will be recognized by your home institution (e.g., letter from your department’s director of graduate studies).
6. University degree certificate(s), if applicable (e.g. Bachelor or Master): If your studies have not been completed at the time of the application deadline, the certificate must be submitted before the scholarship-supported study program. [Many Registrars can provide a certificate of completion; or scans of diplomas.]
7. Transcripts of ALL university studies, making sure that individual grades are listed as well as the explanations of the grading system which are usually on the back.
8. DAAD German language evaluation form / Sprachnachweis (see link below): If you have any knowledge of German, submit this document signed by a faculty member (professors or teaching assistants) of the German Department at your institution. If you have no knowledge of German and your study language in Germany is English, be sure to submit this certificate anyway, indicating that your study language is English, and write at the top “No knowledge of German”.
9. One recent, supporting letter of recommendation from a university professor in your major subject or discipline. Please regard the instructions given on the tab ‘Submitting an application’ for uploading the recommendation. As an alternative, in the current application procedure the recommendation can be sent to the DAAD New York office by post rather than uploading it on the portal.

Disregard the following requirement on our head office’s website:
Other documents you think might be of relevance to your application (e.g. certificates of employment, proof of placements).

• Check list (pdf)
• DAAD's US-specific database
• Studiengangsprofile - Study course profile
• Sprachnachweis

Doctoral students in a US university interested in a research project in Germany for funding of 7-12 months. See the “Research Checklist” below. Prior to the campus deadline, applicants should communicate with Benn Williams, the DAAD official at UIC, regarding campus processes. For funding to start as early as June 2027: Campus deadline: October 1. Revisions permitted following UIC campus review and then an absolute deadline of October 30.

When applying through UIC as a DAAD partner university and seeking “priority candidate” status, complete but do NOT submit the application in the DAAD portal until the national deadline. The campus process provides 48 hours to revise materials. You will be responsible for contacting Benn Williams, the DAAD advisor at UIC, for the sharing of application components for the campus review process well before the campus deadline. He does not have access to the application portal.

Check list:

1. Online application (please register for the Online Portal via DAAD scholarship database)
2. Curriculum vitae  (max. 3 pages).
3. List of publications (max. 5 pages), if applicable.
4. Letter of motivation (1-2 pages) : Description of academic and personal reasons for your planned project in Germany, answering the following question: What do you hope to gain from your project in Germany (personally, professionally, for your career)?
5. Extensive and detailed description of the research proposal (max. 5 pages) which has been discussed with the academic adviser and a description of previous research work.  [Pro-tip: single-spaced, full justification, 10- or 11-point TNR font with one-inch margins.]
6. Schedule of planned research work
7. Proof of admission to doctoral studies:
   • for currently enrolled doctoral students, Nr. 11 below (all university transcripts) fulfills this requirement.
   • for those who will be enrolled by the beginning of funding but not at the time of the application deadline, please upload a confirmation of admission before the funding starts.
8. Letter confirming supervision by an academic adviser in Germany, which refers to the applicant’s proposal and confirms that the host institute will provide a workplace.
9. Declaration from the scientific supervisor in Germany : on safety-relevant and ethical aspects of the research project.
10. University degree certificate(s), if applicable (e.g. Bachelor or Master) [Often available via a college Registrar; or scans of diplomas.]
11. Transcripts of ALL university studies; make sure that individual grades are listed as well as the explanations of the grading system (which are usually on the back).
    • Doctoral level transcripts (if applicable)
    • Master’s level (or JD) transcripts (if applicable)
    • Undergraduate transcripts
12. DAAD German language evaluation form / Sprachnachweis (see link below): If you have any knowledge of German, submit this document signed by a faculty member (professor or teaching assistant) of the German department at your institution. If you have no knowledge of German and your research language in Germany is English, be sure to submit this certificate anyway, indicating that your research language is English, and write at the top “No knowledge of German.” (Please note that German is not a requirement for the Research Grant.)
13. One recent, supporting letter of recommendation from a university professor in your major subject or discipline. Please regard the instructions given on the tab ‘Submitting an application’ for uploading the recommendation. As an alternative, in the current application procedure the recommendation can be sent to the DAAD New York office by post rather than uploading it on the portal.

Disregard the following requirement on our head office’s website:
Other documents you think might be of relevance to your application (e.g. certificates of employment, proof of placements).

• Research check list (pdf)
• DAAD's US-specific database
• Sprachnachweis

No known cotutelle agreements with German institutions available to UIC students. 

• UIC's current international partnerships