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?

The 2024 application cycle for long-term grants and scholarships beginning in fall 2025 has closed. Please check back for updates on the next application cycle in summer 2025.

Deadline for NFP draft review: TBD for 2025 (normally mid-October 21)

Deadline for campus review*: TBD for 2025 (normally late October)

For study scholarship and one-year research grant applicants who wish to be considered for preferred status – please see “How do you work with NFP?” below for details.

Official Deadlines:

Study Scholarships-Post graduate studies in the field of Music – TBD for 2025 (normally late September)
Study Scholarships-Post graduate studies in the field of Performing Arts – TBD for 2025 (normally mid-October 14)
Research Grants in Germany – TBD for 2025 (normally around November 1)
Study scholarships – Master studies in all academic fields except the visual/performing arts – TBD for 2025 (normally around November 1)
Study Scholarships-Post graduate studies in the field of Fine Art, Design/Visual Communication & Film – TBD for 2025 (normally around mid-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 different official deadlines; 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 online application materials by the appropriate disciplinary deadline. NFP staff can provide feedback on the written essays in the application with sufficient notice.

Applicants for study scholarships and one-year research grants should submit materials to NFP for campus review, as we are a “partner” university for these specific scholarships and grants and, as such, we are invited to choose a preferred candidate each year. Submitting for the campus review deadline means your application will be considered for preferred status. Determination of JHU’s preferred candidate will be carried out via a faculty-led review process (reviewers will remain anonymous). Please note: preferred status does increase an applicant’s chance of receiving funding, but it does not guarantee an award; conversely, applying without preferred status does not mean an applicant will be disfavored. 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 review deadline noted above (either email to [email protected] or upload to the assignment on the DAAD Applicants’ Canvas course).

The timeline gives an overview of the application process and when to reach out to us. In preparation, see “have a closer look” below for more resources about DAAD grants.

September	Contact NFP for detailed guidelines about the application process
September-October	Submit essays to NFP for feedback by posted deadline; continue to finalize application materials
September-November	Arts applicants: submit online application to meet DAAD deadline for your discipline
late October	Study scholarships and one-year research grant applicants only: submit application to NFP for campus review deadline to be considered for preferred status
early November	All academic applicants: meet the official DAAD deadline

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 Scholarships

Research Grants

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