Fellowships

DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Grants

Is it for you?

The DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, or German Academic Exchange Service) funds one year of study or research at any university in Germany. Field of study is open, including the arts and creative fields. There are two basic award categories: the Study Scholarship (for graduating seniors or recently graduated students) and the Research Grant (for graduate students).

What are the key dates?

Please check back for updates on the 2023 application timetable in late summer of 2023.

Deadline for NFP draft review: TBD for 2023 (normally late October)

JHU campus deadline: TBD for 2023 (usually end of October) — *only for those applying for study and one-year research grants in academic fields, who need to coordinate their applications with our office (please see details below under “How do you work with the NFP?”)

Official Deadlines:

Music: TBD for 2023 (normally late September)

Performing Arts: TBD for 2023 (normally early November)

All academic fields except the visual/performing arts: TBD for 2023 (normally early November)

Fine Art, Design/Visual Communication & Film: TBD for 2023 (normally late November)

NOTE: The online application portal will close automatically at 11 PM Central European Time (5 PM EST) on the day of the deadline. In addition, please remember to send any required application materials by the above-mentioned postmark dates.

Please visit the DAAD website for more information.

Are you eligible?

Candidate eligibility depends on the type of DAAD scholarship/grant and field of study. Applicants in the arts, humanities, and social sciences should have a good command of German. Many MA/MS programs in Germany are now taught in English. Make certain that your German language ability is commensurate with your study/research proposal.

• Creative vs. non-creative fields of study: For the study scholarships, the DAAD distinguishes one process for applicants in the arts (music, visual/performing arts) from the so-called “regular” fields that are not in the arts. Arts applicants apply for field-specific awards and have a different official deadline in late October; they must send their applications directly to the head office in Bonn.
• For the Study Scholarship/all applicants: The Study Scholarship is only offered for a full master’s degree program at a German university or for study at a German university that is part of a postgraduate or Master’s degree program to be completed in the home country. Applicants for an independent study/research project should apply for a research grant.
• For the Study Scholarship/non-U.S. citizens: For study scholarship applicants who are not citizens of the U.S. or Canada, it is usually required that you obtained your last university degree (B.A./B.S. or M.A./M.S.) in the U.S. or Canada, or that you will have obtained it (in the case of graduating seniors), by the start of the DAAD grant. 
• For the Research Grant/all applicants: Research Grants are awarded to candidates who have completed a Master’s degree or, in exceptional cases, a Bachelor’s degree by the time they begin their grant-supported research, or to individuals wishing to earn a doctoral degree in Germany.
• For the Research Grant/non-U.S. citizens: For the one-year research grant (7–10 months) applicants who are not citizens of the U.S. or Canada, it is usually required that you obtained your last university degree (B.A./B.S. or M.A./M.S.) in the U.S. or Canada, or that you will have obtained it (in the case of graduating seniors), by the start of the DAAD grant. For short-term research grant (6 months and less) applicants who are not citizens of the U.S. or Canada: you are eligible to apply if you have been living in the U.S./Canada for a minimum of one year and your current residence is in the U.S./Canada. 

How do you work with the NFP?

Applicants in the arts and creative fields and those applying for short-term research grants are responsible for submitting their complete application materials on time to the Bonn office. NFP staff do not coordinate these applications, but can provide feedback on the written essays in the application. 

Applicants for study scholarships and one-year research grants must submit materials to NFP during the application process in order to apply through JHU, as we are a “partner” university for these specific grants. After completing and submitting your online application, send NFP the “application summary” of your online application, which you generate from the DAAD online portal in PDF format, by the campus deadline noted above. You must also have your recommender email directly to the NFP a PDF of their recommendation letter, signed and on letterhead, by the campus deadline; NFP will forward it to the DAAD New York office.

The timeline gives an overview of the application process. Your first step is to contact NFP by emailing or attending office hours. In preparation, have a closer look below for more resources to learn about the DAAD.

Are you competitive?

Approximately 25-30 awards are made per year at the undergraduate level and approximately 125 awards at the graduate level. A pre-selection is made in the home country, with final selections made by an independent committee comprised of German university teachers.

Applications are judged according to the following criteria:

• the description and justification of the proposal
  • for study/ research: a convincing and well-planned project
  • for structured study or language programs: a well-justified choice of course
• academic achievement

Have a closer look:

Visit the Official Website

DAAD: Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst

Study Scholarship

Research Grant

The German Federal Ministry of Education & Research and DAAD maintain websites of resources for those interested in studying and/or conducting research in Germany. The two sites below over a broad range of useful topics such as the cost of living in many German cities, finding the right program, or finding an appropriate funding scheme:

Study in Germany website

Research in Germany website

Hear from JHU Recipients

Peer Testimonial from Justin Porter (Munich, 2012–2014)

Start Your Application

DAAD Application Portal