DAAD Doctoral Research Grants

International students and researchers have the opportunity to apply for a range of scholarships offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), including the prestigious Four-Year DAAD Doctoral Research Grants. This program provides full support to pursue doctoral studies in Germany, with funding generously provided by the German Federal Foreign Office.

Host Country	Germany
Host Institute	A state or state-recognized institution of higher education in Germany or a non-university research institute in Germany
Level	PhD
Eligible Nationality	All
Fellowship Type	Research Fellowship
Benefits	1,200 euros per month + Allowances
Duration	4-Year
Closing Date	21 October 2025

The DAAD Doctoral Research Grants support international PhD students and candidates who wish to conduct part of their doctoral research in Germany for up to one year. The research must be carried out at a recognized German university or research institution and directly contribute to the applicant’s doctoral thesis.

Table of Contents

Key Benefits of DAAD Doctoral Research Grants

The DAAD Doctoral Research Grants provide a comprehensive financial package to support international doctoral candidates in Germany. Key benefits include:

Monthly stipend: €1,200 for doctoral candidates or €934 for non-doctoral researchers, depending on academic level.
Insurance coverage: Health, accident, and personal liability insurance.
Travel allowance: Unless costs are already covered by your home country or another funding source.
Annual research allowance: €260 per year (€130 in the fourth year). Applicants from DAC countries receive €460 per year (€230 in the fourth year).
In certain cases, recipients may also apply for additional support:
- Monthly allowance for accompanying family members.
- Rent subsidy.
- Financial assistance for extra expenses related to disabilities or chronic illnesses, if not covered by other funding sources.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the DAAD Doctoral Research Grants for the Doctoral Program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Academic Status:
- Applicants may apply if they are already enrolled in a doctoral program.
- Those not currently enrolled may also apply, provided they have completed a Master’s degree, Diplom, or in exceptional cases, a Bachelor’s degree, by the beginning of the funding period.
Timeline Restrictions:
- Applicants must have graduated from their last degree no more than six years prior to applying.
- If a doctoral program has already been started, it must have commenced within the last three years.
Special Provisions:
- Separate rules apply for candidates in human medicine, veterinary medicine, and dentistry.
Language Proficiency:
- For programs in the humanities, social sciences, and law, a strong command of German is usually required.
- For natural sciences and engineering, proof of excellent English skills may be sufficient if English is the primary language of instruction at the host institution.
Residency Requirement:
- Applicants who have resided in Germany for more than 15 months at the application deadline are not eligible.

Required Application Documents

The DAAD portal accepts non-certified scans of certificates, transcripts, and translations. However, DAAD reserves the right to request certified copies if necessary. Applicants must upload the following documents to the DAAD portal:

Completed online application form
Curriculum Vitae (CV) in tabular format (maximum 3 pages)
List of publications (if applicable, up to 10 pages)
Letter of motivation (1–2 pages), outlining academic and personal reasons for pursuing the proposed research in Germany
Research proposal, independently prepared, including a summary of previous research (maximum 10 pages)
Planned research schedule
Confirmation of supervision from a German academic host, explicitly mentioning the project and confirming provision of a workspace
University degree certificate(s) with final grades obtained
Translations of all documents submitted in the national language into German or English
Proof of admission to a doctoral program at the home university (if the doctorate will be pursued there)

Application Deadline

The application deadlines for DAAD Doctoral Research Grants are updated annually during the second quarter, usually remaining within the same period as the previous year. The most recent schedule is as follows:

Application Deadline: 21 October 2025
Selection Date: February 2026
Start of Funding: October 2026

Application Process

From June until the stated application deadline, applicants can submit their applications for the DAAD Research Grants program through the DAAD portal. Follow the steps below to complete your application:

1. Create a DAAD Portal Account

Register on the [DAAD Application Portal] by selecting “Application portal.”
Access the online application form to enter your details.

2. Request References

In the portal, click “Request reference” to generate the reference form as an editable PDF.
Share the form with your referee and ask them to complete it.
The referee may either send the form directly to the application address or return it to you for submission.

3. Submit the Online Application

Download and complete the online application form.
Prepare and upload all required documents.
Translate documents into German or English if necessary.
Scan paper documents (except references) and save them as PDFs.
Upload the application form along with supporting documents to the portal.

4. Sending Application Documents by Post

References must be sent separately in a sealed, unopened envelope to the application address (see tab “Application procedure” on the DAAD portal).
Applicants from non-EU countries: When mailing documents, clearly describe the package for customs purposes, e.g., “Application documents for scholarship (contains no commercial goods, no merchandise, or insurable value).”

For complete details and to start your application, visit the official DAAD Scholarships website.