DAAD Scholarships & Stipend Directory for Indian Students

Executive Summary: What Does a DAAD Scholarship Cover?

A full DAAD Scholarship is the holy grail of studying in Germany. If selected, it covers 100% of your child's financial needs, eliminating the requirement for a self-funded Blocked Account (Blocked Account Manual)!

DAAD SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS PACKAGE

The Top 4 DAAD Scholarship Schemes for Indian Applicants ### 1. DAAD EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses)

• Target Audience: Indian engineers, environmental scientists, economists, and public health professionals with at least 2 years of full-time work experience after graduation.
• Monthly Stipend: €992 per month for Master's / €1,400 per month for PhD (from February 2026).
• Covered Programs: Select development-focused Master's programs at universities like TU Dresden, University of Stuttgart, University of Bonn.

• Application Window: August to November of the preceding year (varies by course). Apply directly to the university program.

DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme (Public Policy & Good Governance - PPGG)

• Target Audience: Exceptional Indian graduates in Law, Economics, Political Science, Humanities, and Public Policy aiming for leadership roles.
• Monthly Stipend: €992 per month + health insurance + rent subsidy + free 4-month German course.
• Application Window: June 1st to July 31st annually.

DAAD WISE (Working Internships in Science and Engineering)

• Target Audience: Indian 3rd-year B.Tech / B.E. or B.Sc. students at premier Indian institutes (IITs, NITs, IISERs, BITS, top state universities).
• Benefits: 2 to 3-month summer research internship under a German university professor.
• Monthly Stipend: €750 per month + €1,200 round-trip travel subsidy + health insurance.
• Application Deadline: November 1st annually.

DAAD Study Scholarships - Master Studies for All Disciplines

• Target Audience: High-performing Indian graduates across STEM, Business, and Arts applying for Master's degrees in Germany.
• Monthly Stipend: €992 per month for up to 24 months.
• Application Window: October to November annually.

4 Mandatory Selection Criteria: What DAAD Committees Look For

DAAD scholarships are extremely competitive (selection rate ~3% to 5%). Selection is done by a joint panel of German and Indian university professors:

DAAD SELECTION SCORING CRITERIA

Step-by-Step DAAD Application Workflow

1. Step 1: CHECK DAAD DATABASE (DAAD.DE)
2. Step 2: GET APS CERTIFI- CATE
3. Step 3: SECURE IELTS & 2 PROF LORS
4. Step 4: SUBMIT ON DAAD PORTAL (PORTAL.
5. Step 5: SELECTION INTERVIEW (IF shortli

1. Step 1: Check DAAD Database: Visit daad.de/scholarships to check open calls for Indian passport holders.
2. Step 2: Secure APS Certificate: Indian applicants MUST have their academic transcripts verified via APS India (APS Certificate Guide).
3. Step 3: Prepare Academic Documents: Get 2 signed LORs on college letterhead, official university transcripts, and IELTS 7.0+ score.
4. Step 4: Register on DAAD Portal: Create an account on portal.daad.de, fill the application forms, and upload PDF documents.
5. Step 5: Selection Notification: Shortlisted candidates are invited for an interview (in-person at DAAD Regional Office New Delhi or online). Award letters are issued between February and April.

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