DAAD Scholarship 2026–2027 Germany – Fully Funded Masters & PhD | Complete Guide

By Kashif Mehmood, Study Abroad Writer — March, 2026

The DAAD Scholarship 2026 is a fully funded scholarship programme offered by the German Academic Exchange Service for international students to pursue Master's or PhD degrees at German universities. It is one of the most sought-after opportunities for students aiming to study in Germany tuition-free.

The DAAD — or German Academic Exchange Service — is the world's largest funding organisation supporting the international exchange of students and researchers. Each year, DAAD awards over 10,000 scholarships to both domestic and international students, making it one of the most competitive and rewarding scholarship programmes worldwide.

For students from developing and newly industrialised countries, DAAD is arguably the most accessible route to funded graduate education in Germany — a country with zero tuition fees at public universities and one of the world's strongest research infrastructures.

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What Is DAAD?

DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) — the German Academic Exchange Service — is Germany's national agency for international academic exchange. Founded in 1925, it is the world's largest funding organisation for international academic exchange, funding over 10,000 students and researchers annually.

Unlike a single unified programme, DAAD offers multiple scholarship lines — each with its own focus, eligibility, and deadline. The most important for international students from developing countries is the EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses) programme.

Quick Facts at a Glance

Scholarship Benefits

The scholarship payment is based on the academic level of the scholarship holders and on the scholarship programme. Scholars taking a Master's programme typically receive EUR 992. Doctoral candidates and postdocs receive EUR 1,300 (as of February 2026: EUR 1,400). Rates for university teachers are usually EUR 2,000 for assistant teachers, assistant professors and lecturers, EUR 2,150 for professors.

The scholarship package includes: Monthly stipend based on degree level, payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover, travel allowance (unless covered by home country or another source). Under certain circumstances, scholarship holders may receive additional benefits. 

Scholarship payments will not always be sufficient to cover all living expenses, especially in university towns with high rents. Make sure you find out exactly what the cost of living is in your chosen location!

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree (normally four years) in a related subject. They must have completed an academic degree with far above average results (upper third) and at least two years of related professional experience after the first degree (bachelor) at the time of application. 

EPOS (Development-Related) Programme Eligibility

DAAD Scholarships are not available for part-time or online programmes. Many programmes have age or graduation limits — generally requiring that the most recent degree was completed within the last six years. 

The DAAD EPOS Programme: The Most Relevant for Developing Country Students

With its development-oriented postgraduate study programmes, the DAAD promotes the training of specialists from development and newly industrialised countries. The scholarships offer foreign graduates from developed and newly industrialized countries from all disciplines the chance to take a postgraduate or master's degree at a state or state-recognized German university, and in exceptional cases to take a doctoral degree, and to obtain a university qualification in Germany. 

The EPOS programme covers development-related fields including:

Application Deadline for listed courses varies — examples include: MS Global Urban Health (deadline October 31, 2025), MS International Health Berlin (deadline October 31, 2025), MS International Health Heidelberg (deadline October 15, 2025), PhD Medical Research Munich (deadline January 1, 2026).

The Application Process: How DAAD Works

DAAD's application process is uniquely structured — you do not apply to DAAD directly first. You apply to universities first.

To apply for the DAAD Scholarship, choose suitable courses of your interest. You can apply for a maximum of three courses. Apply to universities offering those courses — you send your complete application directly to the universities. A selection committee suggests potential candidates for a DAAD scholarship. The suggested candidates will be contacted by DAAD to upload their complete application to the DAAD Portal. The selection process will be finalised, and the suggested candidates will be informed accordingly.

Step by Step

Step 1: Find Your Programme Visit funding-guide.de — DAAD's official scholarship database. Filter by country, field, and degree level. Note the application deadlines for each programme.

Step 2: Apply Directly to Universities Applications have only to be sent to the respective course directly. Please refer to their respective websites for the application procedure, the application deadline and the documents to be submitted. Applications sent to the DAAD will not be forwarded to the respective course or university.

Step 3: University Nominates You If your application is strong and meets the criteria, the university's selection committee nominates you as a potential DAAD scholarship candidate.

Step 4: Upload to DAAD Portal DAAD contacts nominated candidates with a link to the DAAD Portal where you upload your complete application.

Step 5: Final Selection DAAD's final selection committee reviews all nominated candidates and awards scholarships.

Required Documents

Required documents include: DAAD application form signed with the current date, personally signed CV (using the Europass form), motivation letter signed by hand, letters of recommendation from academic and professional referees, employer confirmation (proof of employment and re-employment guarantee where applicable), language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS for English; German certification where required).

Important for Pakistani applicants: The APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) certificate is mandatory for all Pakistani students applying to German universities. This verifies your academic credentials. Apply for APS early — processing takes 4–8 weeks. See our full Germany Student Visa guide for complete APS details.

DAAD Programmes at a Glance

Why Germany Makes Sense Even Without DAAD

Studying undergraduate in Germany is free — even as an international student, you do not have to pay fees or tuition fees, because in Germany, registration is free of charge.

The DAAD scholarship covers your living costs. German public universities cover your tuition — automatically, structurally, for everyone. This means a DAAD scholarship recipient in Germany faces zero tuition cost and €992–€1,400/month for living expenses. Compare this to any English-speaking country where a full scholarship still typically involves tuition costs of €15,000–€35,000 per year as part of the package calculation.

Motivation Letter for DAAD: The Key Differentiator

DAAD's EPOS programme is specifically designed for students who will return home and contribute to their country's development. Your motivation letter must make this connection explicit and credible.

Weak: "I want to study environmental engineering to protect the environment." Strong: "I manage Punjab's agricultural extension programme reaching 45,000 smallholder farmers. My proposed research on water-efficient irrigation systems directly addresses the 40% annual crop loss in my region due to saline groundwater — a problem I encounter daily in my work."

The second version demonstrates professional engagement with a specific development problem and a clear connection between the proposed study and real-world application in a developing country context.

The Bottom Line

If you have 2+ years of post-graduation professional experience and work in a development-related field: DAAD EPOS is your primary target. Start at funding-guide.de, identify your programmes, and note the application deadlines — most fall between August and November for the following year's intake.

If you are still building experience: Use the next 1–2 years intentionally. Work in a development-relevant field. Build connections with German institutions or researchers. Get APS verification completed in advance.

Most important for Pakistanis: Get your APS certificate processed before applying to any German university. Without APS, no German university can formally consider your application.

External Reference: DAAD Official Scholarship Database — funding-guide.de External Reference: DAAD Official Website — daad.de