The German Academic Exchange Service offers research grants to German and international candidates seeking to pursue research in Germany.
The DAAD Research Grants in Germany offers a monthly scholarship payments of €1.400 euros, and provides fundings to cover family, travel, and housing allowances.
In this post, we will discuss the details of the DAAD Research Grants in Germany, as well as how interested and qualified candidates will apply successfully for it.
DAAD Research Grants Scholarship Summary
- Host: DAAD, Germany
- Study Abroad: Study in Europe
- Category: Postgraduate Scholarships | PhD Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Reward: Full Scholarship | €1,400 Monthly Allowance | Travel Costs | Housing & Family Allowances
- No IELTS Required
- Deadline: August 29, 2025.
DAAD Research Grants in Germany Details:
The research grant offers the opportunity to realise a research project in Germany. The programme supports research stays during a doctorate or in the early postdoc phase.
This German scholarship 2026-2027 batch opens the door for international doctoral candidates and early-stage postdocs to conduct groundbreaking research in Germany’s top universities and institutes – with generous funding to support every step of your journey.
Whether your passion lies in life sciences, engineering, social sciences, or the humanities, DAAD offers the perfect platform to connect with Germany’s cutting-edge research ecosystem while shaping your academic future.
Eligibility Requirements for DAAD Research Grants in Scholarship
To be considered for the DAAD Research Grants in Germany, you must note the following:
- Doctoral students: The start of your doctorate should not be more than 3 years ago at the application deadline.
- Postdocs: You should not have completed your doctorate more than 4 years before the application deadline.
- For applicants from the fields of human medicine, veterinary medicine and dentistry, further regulations apply, which you can find here.
- Your application cannot be considered if you have been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months at the application deadline.
What can be funded?
A research project at a state or state-recognised university or a non-university research institute in Germany, which is being carried out in agreement with a scientific supervisor in Germany.
Benefits of DAAD Research Grants in Germany 2026
- monthly scholarship payments of 1.400 euros
- payments towards health, accident, and personal liability insurance cover
- travel allowance
- for a funding period of more than six months: research allowance of 460 euros
Under certain circumstances, you can apply for the following additional benefits after start of funding:
- monthly rent subsidy, only for a funding period of more than six months
- monthly allowance for accompanying members of the family, only for a funding period of more than six months
Required Documents for DAAD Research Scholarships in Germany
To apply, candidates must be ready to submit the following documents;
- full curriculum vitae in tabular form (max. 3 pages)
- list of your published publications (max. 10 pages); mandatory for postdocs)
- letter of motivation, 1 – 2 pages: statement about the academic and personal reasons for the planned research project in Germany
- proposal (max. 10 pages in total), prepared and formulated by yourself ;
- time schedule of planned research work
- proof of admission to doctoral studies/enrolment for doctoral studies (for doctoral students); please upload it in the portal under ‘proof of admission’
- confirmation from the academic host in Germany;
- Declaration from the scientific supervisor in Germany on safety-relevant and ethical aspects of the research project.
- university degree certificates (e.g. Bachelor’s, Master’s, doctorate) stating your final grade(s);
- One recent supporting letter of recommendation (on a DAAD-form) from a university teacher (for doctoral students, from the supervisor of your doctoral thesis)
- School leaving certificate with all individual grades (to be uploaded in the portal under “University entrance qualification”)
- Proof of English language abilities, if the doctorate is to be completed in English:
- All university certificates on all annual examinations with individual grade(s), incl. explanation of the grading system.
- Valid identification document (passport, ID card, driver’s licence or student identity card) including your photograph, full name, date of birth and country of origin.
- Explanation of the grading system (to be uploaded in the portal under “University degree certificates”)
How to Apply for DAAD Research Grants in Germany 2026 (Step by Step)
To apply for the DAAD Research Grants in Germany, interested and qualified candidates should;
- Click the button below to visit the DAAD funding webpage.
- Register on the DAAD portal to begin your application.
- After registering on the DAAD portal, please complete the online application in full.
- Then upload the application documents listed below to the DAAD portal in the section ‘Attachments’.
- Selection date in February 2026
- Start of funding in May 2026 at the earliest
USE THIS LINK TO APPLY
