June – August 2026
€992 – €1,400
Master's, PhD, Researchers
July – November 2026
The DAAD PhD Scholarship offers a monthly stipend of €1,400, full health insurance coverage, travel allowances, and annual research grants for doctoral candidates in Germany.
Applicants for an Individual PhD must submit an official supervisor confirmation letter (Betreuungszusage), while Structured PhD applicants require proof of admission or application to a doctoral program.
A detailed research proposal must include a semester-by-semester work plan (Zeitplan) outlining research milestones across the 3 to 4-year doctoral period.
Applicants must have completed their Master’s degree within the last 6 years, and those who have already started a PhD must not have been enrolled for more than 3 years.
Candidates who have resided in Germany for more than 15 consecutive months prior to the application deadline are ineligible for funding.
Table of Contents
Securing a DAAD PhD grant is one of the easiest paths to a doctorate in Germany, but many strong candidates fail simply by starting too late. Success relies on securing a German professor’s commitment early. This guide walks you through selecting and building a complete document package with a strong research proposal.
For everything else about DAAD’s other programs, stipend rates, and general eligibility, see our DAAD Scholarship 2026 guide.
DAAD PhD Scholarship Options: Doctoral Programme vs. Research Grants vs. Cotutelle
“DAAD Research Grants” is not one program, but it’s an umbrella term covering a few different funding lines. For PhD-level applicants, three matter most:
1. Doctoral Programmes in Germany: Best if you want to do your entire PhD in Germany (up to 4 years), either individually under one professor or in a structured program. Up to 25% of your total funding period can be spent doing research/fieldwork outside Germany.
2. Binationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees (Cotutelle): Best if your PhD is registered at your home university, but you need a defined research phase in Germany under joint supervision. (Not applicable if doing your full PhD in Germany).
3. Short-term Research Grants: Designed for current PhD students or doctorate holders who need a brief, focused research stay in Germany rather than a full degree
If you pursue an individual PhD under one supervisor, DAAD can fund research or fieldwork outside Germany (like data collection back home).
These external research stays cannot exceed one-quarter (25%) of your total scholarship duration.
For doctoral candidates seeking research funding in development-related disciplines, check the eligibility rules in our DAAD EPOS Scholarship Guide.
Do You Need a German Supervisor First?
Yes, a Supervisor is Mandatory First. Securing a German professor’s commitment is the most critical step; without it, your application cannot move forward.
Key Required Documents: You must get a letter of acceptance and a safety and ethics declaration for your project directly from your supervisor.
Admission Deadline Flexibility: If your formal university admission isn’t ready by the application deadline, many DAAD offices let you submit it later (before funding starts).
Getting a professor to agree routinely takes months, not weeks, so reach out as early as possible
How to Find and Contact a German Professor
The approach here is very similar to reaching out to any Professor for PhD supervision, with a few Germany-specific details worth knowing.
- Prioritize Research Fit Over Rankings: Search institute pages for professors currently publishing in your specific area.
- Reference Their Work: Cite a specific, recent publication in your email to demonstrate genuine familiarity with their current research.
- Use Formal Greetings: Use “Dear Professor [Surname]” for English emails, or “Sehr geehrter Herr Professor [Surname]” / “Sehr geehrte Frau Professorin [Surname]” for German. English is widely accepted.
- Be Direct and Add Depth: State clearly that you are seeking supervision for a DAAD-funded PhD. Keep the email body short with a brief proposal outline, putting details in an attached CV and research draft.
- Build a Shortlist: Reach out to a shortlist of 8–10 suitable professors over 1–2 weeks instead of waiting for one response at a time.
- Start 8 to 10 Months Early: Begin your outreach well before your deadline, as securing a professor’s formal agreement takes months.
This video provides additional tips on drafting outreach emails to German professors specifically for DAAD scholarship applications.
Required Documents for PhD Applicants
Once you have a supervisor on board, here’s what typically goes into a Doctoral Programme in Germany or a Cotutelle application:
Tabular CV: Maximum 3 pages, structured cleanly.
List of Publications: Maximum 10 pages (if applicable).
Detailed Research Proposal: Includes a summary of previous research, project details, and a clear study/time schedule.
Supervisor Declaration: Official document signed by your German supervisor covering safety-relevant and ethical aspects of your project.
Acceptance / Admission Letter: Confirmation from your supervisor or university (or proof that it will be finalized before funding begins).
Certificates & Transcripts: Degrees and official transcripts from all previous university studies.
Language Certificates: Proof of language proficiency (English or German) relevant to your specific program.
One major relief during the application process is that DAAD allows you to upload simple, non-certified scanned copies of your transcripts and degree certificates. You only need to provide costly certified paper copies and official translations if you are actually awarded the grant.
Individual PhD applicants must include an official confirmation letter from their German host professor. The letter must state that the professor agrees to supervise your research topic and will provide suitable workspace facilities.
Furthermore, if your research project requires German, DAAD covers the cost of a language course and reimburses TestDaF or DSH exam fees after selection.
How to Apply Through the DAAD Portal
DAAD’s online application system runs through a portal called meindaad.de, and it has a few quirks worth knowing before you start.
Register on meindaad.de: Create an account using your email, request a verification code, and complete your registration details.
Choose Personal Funding: Select Personal Funding (not Project Funding).
Start via the Scholarship Database: Find your specific funding call in the DAAD scholarship database first and click its application link to automatically open the portal in the right section.
Use a Desktop Computer: Access the portal using a PC or laptop, as it is not optimized for mobile browsers or tablets.
Complete Required Fields: Fill in every field marked with an asterisk (*), as incomplete required fields will block you from continuing to the next page.
Mind the 14-Day Draft Expiry: Save your progress regularly. Draft applications are automatically deleted if left unedited for 14 consecutive days.
Check for Postal Submission Rules: Review the “Application procedure” tab for your program to confirm whether a printed application summary must also be mailed to your regional DAAD office or Bonn headquarters.
Confirm Successful Submission: Verify that your application shows up in your Application and Funding Overview within a few minutes and check your inbox for a processing confirmation email.
Application Timeline
DAAD application deadlines are set independently by local offices, there is no single worldwide closing date.
The general shape of the timeline looks like this:
- Application Deadline: Varies by country, typically falling between August and October for the following year’s intake.
- Selection Process: Takes several months as DAAD’s selection committee reviews applications after the deadline.
- Results Communication: Announced a few months post-deadline (e.g., around February for an August 31 deadline).
- Funding Start: Typically begins the following spring or autumn, depending on your specific program schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between DAAD Doctoral Programmes and Research Grants?
“Research Grants” is the umbrella term. “Doctoral Programmes in Germany” is the specific line for doing your entire PhD in Germany. Cotutelle (Binationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees) is a separate line for PhDs based at your home university with a defined research period in Germany.
Do I really need a supervisor before I apply?
Yes. DAAD’s own application guidance treats securing a supervisor’s letter of acceptance as a prerequisite step, and your application needs a declaration from that supervisor as part of the required documents. Start this process months before your deadline.
What if I haven't been formally admitted by the deadline?
Several DAAD offices allow you to apply if you expect admission before your funding period begins, submitting the formal admission documents later. Check your specific program’s guidance to confirm this applies to you.
Do my transcripts need to be certified when I apply?
Not at the application stage. Non-certified scanned copies are generally accepted through the portal; DAAD only asks for certified paper copies if you’re actually awarded funding.
Can I apply to more than one DAAD program at once?
Generally, yes, though you can only accept one offer in the end. Many applicants apply to two or three different DAAD funding lines to improve their overall chances.
What's the DAAD Portal, and is it different from the scholarship database?
The scholarship database (on daad.de) is where you search for and identify the right program. The portal (meindaad.de) is where you actually register and submit your application once you’ve found the right funding call.
How long does the whole process take?
Realistically, close to a year from when you start contacting supervisors to when funding actually begins; supervisor outreach alone often takes several months.
You must attach a semester-by-semester work plan alongside your proposal. This document should break down your 3- to 4-year PhD into clear milestones, including research, lab work, and thesis writing.
For the rest of DAAD’s programs, current stipend rates, and general eligibility rules, see our DAAD Scholarship 2026 guide. If you’re weighing Germany against other options, our Swiss professor outreach guide covers a very similar supervisor-search process for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship, if that’s also on your list.
Scholarship Researcher and Writer