€934–€1,400/month to study in Germany — the DAAD playbook for 2026
DAAD Study Scholarships pay €934/month for Master students, €1,200–€1,365/month for PhDs, plus health insurance, travel and study allowance. Here's how non-EU applicants actually win one in 2026.
€934–€1,400/month — the DAAD playbook
DAAD is the world's largest funder of international academic exchange. For Master and PhD students from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and beyond, it's the single most generous route into Germany — if you understand how the selectors think.
DAAD monthly stipend, 2026
€934–€1,400
Master Study Scholarship: €934/mo base + €120 health insurance allowance + travel allowance (~€1,200 from South Asia) + ~€460 study/research allowance. PhD: €1,200–€1,365/mo on similar terms. Acceptance hovers near 10% — preparation, not luck, drives outcomes.
What DAAD actually is
DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) is jointly funded by the German Foreign Office and the BMBF and runs over 250 programmes. The flagship for international Master and PhD students is the Study Scholarship for Graduates and the Research Grants for Doctoral Programmes. Non-EU applicants are explicitly welcomed — DAAD operates country offices in New Delhi, Islamabad and Dhaka.
The headline numbers
€934/mo
Master stipend
2026 base rate
€1,365/mo
PhD stipend
Top tier programmes
~10%
acceptance rate
Competitive cohorts
12+ mo
lead time
Apply by Oct 31
Which DAAD scholarship matches your profile
| Provider | Programme | Who it's for | Monthly | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Study Scholarship — Master Best Default route for international Master applicants. Most flexible across subjects. | Bachelor graduates aiming for a Master in Germany | €934/mo + allowances | 10–24 months | |
Research Grants — PhD Requires invitation from German supervisor before applying. | Master graduates with a supervisor at a German university | €1,200–€1,365/mo + family allowance | 7–48 months | |
EPOS — Development-Related Postgrad Fixed list of ~50 Masters in dev-relevant fields (public health, engineering, water mgmt). | Working professionals from developing countries, 2+ yrs experience | €934/mo + allowances | 12–36 months | |
Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Cotutelle agreements — best for candidates who don't want to leave home institution entirely. | PhD candidates splitting time between home and German institution | ~€575/mo for German months | Up to 24 months in Germany |
Default route for international Master applicants. Most flexible across subjects.
- Programme
- Bachelor graduates aiming for a Master in Germany
- Who it's for
- €934/mo + allowances
- Monthly
- 10–24 months
- Duration
Requires invitation from German supervisor before applying.
- Programme
- Master graduates with a supervisor at a German university
- Who it's for
- €1,200–€1,365/mo + family allowance
- Monthly
- 7–48 months
- Duration
Fixed list of ~50 Masters in dev-relevant fields (public health, engineering, water mgmt).
- Programme
- Working professionals from developing countries, 2+ yrs experience
- Who it's for
- €934/mo + allowances
- Monthly
- 12–36 months
- Duration
Cotutelle agreements — best for candidates who don't want to leave home institution entirely.
- Programme
- PhD candidates splitting time between home and German institution
- Who it's for
- ~€575/mo for German months
- Monthly
- Up to 24 months in Germany
- Duration
Who qualifies in plain English
- Bachelor's (Master apps)85%+ GPA competitive
- Non-EU eligibleCountry offices help
- Age under 36At application date
- Under 6 years since degreeRecent graduates preferred
- TestDaF 4 / IELTS 6.5+Or proof of English programme
The 5-step application
Research target programmes
4–8 weeksUse the DAAD scholarship database (funding-guide.de) to filter by degree level + country. Save 3–5 programmes that match your field and language ability.
Prepare documents
6–12 weeksApostilled transcripts, certified German/English translations, CV in DAAD format, language certificate, 2 academic references, motivation letter (1–2 pages), and a research outline (1 page for Master, 5–10 pages for PhD).
Write the motivation letter
2–4 weeksThe one document selectors actually read. Concrete academic goals, why Germany, why this programme, what you'll do after. Avoid generic "I love German culture" filler.
Submit via DAAD portal
2–4 hoursDeadline: typically October 31 of the year before your intended start. Upload everything in the DAAD portal — paper submissions are obsolete for most country offices.
Interview (if shortlisted)
30–45 minCountry office invites top ~20% to interview. Expect academic depth, motivation logic, and post-DAAD return plans. Decision arrives 6–8 weeks after.
DAAD vs other scholarship routes
| Provider | Route | Monthly amount | Selectivity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DAAD Study Scholarship Best | €934 + allowances | ~10% | Internationals with strong academics | |
Begabtenförderungswerke | €1,292 incl. Büchergeld | ~5% (mostly Germans) | Already-enrolled top performers | |
Deutschlandstipendium | €300/mo | ~15% at participating unis | Anyone enrolled at a German uni | |
Erasmus+ KA171 | ~€850/mo | Programme-dependent | EU-partner exchange students |
- Route
- €934 + allowances
- Monthly amount
- ~10%
- Selectivity
- Internationals with strong academics
- Best for
- Route
- €1,292 incl. Büchergeld
- Monthly amount
- ~5% (mostly Germans)
- Selectivity
- Already-enrolled top performers
- Best for
- Route
- €300/mo
- Monthly amount
- ~15% at participating unis
- Selectivity
- Anyone enrolled at a German uni
- Best for
- Route
- ~€850/mo
- Monthly amount
- Programme-dependent
- Selectivity
- EU-partner exchange students
- Best for
The 5 reasons applications get rejected
What wins applications
- Strong academic record (85%+ GPA equivalent) paired with measurable extracurricular impact
- Specific, narrowed research/study question — not "I want to study computer science"
- Demonstrated link between your future career and the chosen German programme
- References from professors who supervised actual research or thesis work
- Realistic, named post-scholarship plans (home country return often preferred)
What gets you rejected
- Generic motivation letter recycled from another application
- Research outline copied from supervisor's website without independent angle
- Missing apostille on transcripts — instant disqualification at South Asia offices
- Language certificate older than 2 years or below TestDaF 4 / IELTS 6.5
- Applying to a programme that is part-time, online, or already-started
What the money actually covers
For a Master student arriving in Berlin in October 2026:
- €934/mo stipend for 24 months = €22,416
- €120/mo health insurance allowance (covers public Krankenkasse fully)
- One-time travel allowance ~€1,200 (India/Pakistan/Bangladesh route)
- Annual study/research allowance ~€460 (books, fieldwork, conferences)
- Rent subsidy in high-cost cities like Munich (€100–€300/mo extra)
- Family allowance if accompanied: €326/mo for spouse + €276/mo per dependent child
This stacks. A married Master student with one child can collect ~€1,650/mo before any allowances — enough to live comfortably in Leipzig or Dresden, tight but workable in Munich.
DAAD scholarships are full-time commitments. Most contracts forbid additional employment beyond minor academic work (Hiwi jobs, up to ~10 hrs/week). Plan finances accordingly — there is no parallel income to fall back on.
What to do this week
- Open funding-guide.de and filter by your degree level + country.
- Check your country office page (daad.in, daad.pk, daad-bangladesh.org) — local deadlines sometimes differ from Bonn HQ.
- Email two professors asking whether they'll write academic references — DAAD wants signed letters on letterhead.
- Get your language test booked for September — TestDaF 4 modules or IELTS 6.5+ overall.
- Draft motivation letter v1 by August. Iterate twice with a senior in your field who has already won a DAAD.
Related guides
- All scholarships for studying in Germany — landing page with funding stack comparisons.
- DAAD PhD Research Grant deep-dive — €1,365/mo + family allowance for doctoral candidates.
- Begabtenförderungswerke — the 13 foundations route — €1,292/mo if you're already enrolled and top of your cohort.
- Deutschlandstipendium €300/month merit award — easiest top-up to stack with DAAD.
Source: DAAD official site, DAAD India, DAAD Bangladesh, 2026 rate update.
Last updated: 2026-05-17