Application deadlines vary by DAAD programme. Applications are possible in the period June until the stated application deadline; exact deadlines are updated annually in Q2 and must be checked in the DAAD Scholarship Database.

Degree Certificate

Academic LOR

Personal Statement

Bachelor Degree

Minimum GPA

Applicants must have above-average qualifications and have completed a Master's degree or Diplom, or in exceptional cases a Bachelor's degree, by the start of the funding period. Language requirements commonly include IELTS band 6 or TOEFL (550 paper / 213 computer / 80 internet); Level C1 is often required but varies by programme. Specific GPA and GRE/GMAT requirements vary by individual DAAD programmes and host universities and are not specified by DAAD as a whole.

DAAD scholarships do not cover tuition fees. German public universities generally charge no tuition for PhD candidates; doctoral scholars are typically exempt from tuition but must pay a semester contribution (approx. EUR 300). DAAD doctoral stipends: EUR 1,300 per month (EUR 1,400 beginning February 2026).

PhD in Doctoral Studies

Eligibility Criteria

Application Requirements

Fees and Funding