The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has published scholarship programs for applicants from the Russian Federation for the 2018/19 academic year.
All scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis. Competitive selections are carried out by expert commissions, which include specially invited professors from Russian and German universities, as well as representatives of DAAD partner organizations.
Scholarships for undergraduate studies at German universities, as well as for first-year university students, are not provided.
During the selection process, academic performance, exam results, scientific qualifications, quality and relevance of the scientific project, motivation, knowledge of German or English (depending on the program), contacts with a higher education institution in Germany, and invitation of a German professor are taken into account.
Only those applications that contain fully completed DAAD forms and a complete set of accompanying documents are submitted for consideration by the selection committee.
DAAD scholarship programs for the Russian Federation for the 2018/2019 academic year:
Summer university courses of the German language in Germany - for students of 2-3 years of bachelor's degree, 3-4 years of specialty, 1 year of master's degree;
Study trips of student groups to Germany - for 2-6 year students of all specialties under the guidance of one teacher. Application deadlines: until October 1, 2017 - for trips from March 1 to May 31, 2018, until January 1, 2018 - for trips from June 1 to August 31, 2018;
Scholarships for postgraduate studies for university graduates of all specialties - for bachelor's, specialist's and master's degree graduates with diplomas issued no earlier than 2011, or graduate students completing their studies before enrolling at a German university. The deadline for accepting applications is November 18, 2017;
Research scholarships - postgraduate studies in Germany - for young scientists who either already have or will receive a master's or specialist's degree by the time the scholarship is possible to open (applicants with a bachelor's degree can apply for the competition in exceptional cases). Application deadline: November 15, 2017;
Program "Mikhail Lomonosov" - scientific internships in the field of natural and technical sciences for 3 and 6 months for graduate students, young (up to 35 years old) teachers, scientists up to 45 years old, application deadline - September 20, 2017;
The "Immanuel Kant" program - scientific internships in the field of humanities, social, legal and economic sciences for 3 and 6 months for graduate students, young (up to 35 years old) teachers, scientists up to 45 years old, application deadline - September 20, 2017.
Note:
- Simultaneous participation in the competition for several DAAD scholarship programs is excluded! This provision does not apply to the Student Study Tours program.
- When filling out DAAD application forms, your first and last name should be indicated in strict accordance with the spelling in the international passport; in the absence of a foreign passport - in English transcription.
- Copies of diplomas and their translations are not required to be notarized! To participate in the competition, it is enough to have these documents certified at your place of study or work.
- Original documents should not be included in the application package. Documents sent to DAAD are not returned to applicants!
- You must indicate your personal email address on the address sheet. The email address must be neutral: “especially original” email addresses are often identified as spam by PC programs, which makes the work of DAAD employees more difficult.
More detailed information about the conditions of participation, package of documents, requirements for candidates is published on
DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), an organization that unites all German higher education institutions and promotes the development of academic relations abroad, primarily through the exchange of students and scientists.
Goals and objectives
The primary goals of the organization include:
- attracting foreign young scientific elite for training and research activities in Germany and, if possible, maintaining long-term partnerships with it;
- improving the qualifications of young German scientists in a spirit of openness and mutual understanding through foreign internships;
- assistance to developing countries and reforming countries in Eastern Europe in building workable structures in the field of higher education;
- support for German studies, German language, literature and regional studies in foreign higher educational institutions.
These goals are specifically reflected in more than 200 programs. These programs are intended for all countries of the world in all scientific fields. They are equally useful to both foreigners and Germans. In addition, DAAD supports higher education institutions in their international activities through a range of services - information programs, marketing programs, advisory assistance, assistance to students and researchers. DAAD, on a consultative basis, takes part in the formation of German foreign policy in the field of culture and science.
DAAD programs and projects
DAAD conducts more than 200 programs and projects from short-term exchanges for the purpose of scientific research or training to multi-year scholarships for dissertation defense for applicants from developing countries, from informational visits of foreign delegations of university rectors to long-term developed regional programs for building workable structures of higher education institutions in third countries peace. All DAAD programs are fundamentally open to all areas of science for all countries of the world in a bilateral direction. In some cases, the framework and conditions for exchange are fixed in interstate agreements on cultural cooperation between the two countries or on the basis of DAAD agreements with foreign partner organizations. As a rule, in this case, counter-offers from the partner side are provided, such as bilateral scholarships, additional services of the host party, exemption from possible tuition fees at the university, etc. According to data for 1999, there was a significant increase in the total number of DAAD scholarships awarded. 34,237 Germans and 25,807 foreigners received financial support from the DAAD.
Representative office of DAAD in St. Petersburg: daad.spb.ru
DAAD Scholarship Programs
Programs for students
- Summer German language courses in Germany, 3-4 weeks. 3rd and 4th year students of all specialties with good knowledge of the German language and German language university teachers under the age of 32.
- Study tours for student groups, 7-12 days. 3rd, 4th, 5th year students of all specialties under the guidance of one teacher.
Programs for graduate students and young scientists of all specialties
- Research scholarships for young scientists, scientific internship (collection of material for a dissertation, 1-6 months, age - up to 32 years.
- Scientific internship to improve scientific qualifications, 7-10 months, age - up to 32 years.
- Postgraduate studies and dissertation defense in Germany, up to 3 years, age - up to 32 years.
"Mikhail Lomonosov"
- Research fellowships, 6 months, age - up to 35 years. For scientists in the field of natural and technical sciences: for graduate students and young teachers.
- Scientific internships, 3 months, age - up to 45 years. For teachers with an academic degree.
- Scientific internships for scientists and university teachers: 1-3 months, age - up to 65 years. Scientists and teachers of all specialties who have an academic degree of candidate or doctor of science.
Postgraduate programs
- Scholarships for postgraduate studies: from 10 months to 2 years, age - up to 27 years. Studying in a master's program or in special training courses in the postgraduate education system (Aufbaustudiengang) with the aim of obtaining a German certificate of higher education. Educational practice in Germany.
- Study practice in German universities and enterprises with the support of IAESTE: 2-3 months. Students of science, engineering, agriculture and forestry sciences.
Special program offers - Joint program between Siemens and DAAD
- A full course of postgraduate study at a German university and defense of a dissertation in Germany.
- Research scholarships for Russian graduate students defending their dissertation in Russia up to 3 years: from 12 months to 24 months. University graduates who received their diploma no more than 2 years ago. University graduates with a specialist or master's degree who studied at a Russian university in one of the disciplines in the field of engineering, natural sciences (physics, biology, chemistry), as well as mathematics or computer science, seeking to defend a PhD thesis in Germany or Russia.
10 scholarships to finance studies in Germany: what to do if you want to study at a German university, but have no money? What scholarships can a foreigner count on? How to choose the most suitable scholarship option? Read about all this in our article!
If you want to study in Germany, but do not have the funds to finance your studies, you can try your luck and try to get a scholarship! There is a lot of information on various scholarship programs on the Internet, but Deutsch Online presents a selection of the most popular funds and grants for studying in Russian - for whom, for how long, and in what amount this or that scholarship is provided. Let's figure it out together!
1. DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst)
Perhaps this is the most famous foundation that is approached by those wishing to go to study in Germany. It is possible to receive a DAAD scholarship, because we are not talking about five or six, or even 30-50 scholarships, as in some other funds. Every year, hundreds of scholarship holders from Russia, as well as from the countries of the former CIS (and not only) go to study in Germany under various programs of this foundation.
The German Academic Exchange Foundation or DAAD provides scholarships and grants for various categories of candidates:
— programs for students
— programs for postgraduate studies (Master’s degree or Master’s program)
— programs for graduate students and young scientists
— undergoing practical training at an enterprise in Germany
Students can apply to attend a summer language school or to study at a German university for a semester. In addition, senior German students can win a scholarship from the pedagogical exchange service and go to Germany for a period of eight months to teach Russian in a German school.
Student journalists can also try their hand at applying for a stay in Germany for up to three months. In general, DAAD has many different programs for a variety of periods and for a variety of areas.
Having received a diploma from a Russian university, you can continue your studies in Germany: DAAD provides various scholarship programs for economists, graduates of creative arts, and other specialties.
For future master's students (in German: Master), perhaps the widest search profile. An important condition is a good level of German, which will have to be confirmed by language tests and certificates, academic success and motivation.
The DAAD scholarship to study in Germany is 750 euros per month and covers living and training costs. This amount will be sufficient as a financial guarantee when obtaining a visa at the embassy.
You can find detailed information about these and other programs in Russian at DAAD website.
2. Deutschlandstipendium
Whether it is a Bachelor or Master program, a classical university or a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) - practically anyone who wants can apply for Deutschlandstipendium. This scholarship is financed half from the sponsoring companies (Robert Bosch, SAP, BASF), half from the federal budget.The big advantage of this program is the close contact with enterprises that want to financially support future talented specialists in this way.
When selecting applications for the Deutschlandstipendium, we take into account GPA, personal and marital status(orphans, students with disabled children or close relatives, foreign students), as well as the candidate’s active participation in social and cultural life of the school/university/city. A plus are various awards and prizes, for example, prizes for sporting achievements or prizes at Olympics.
Detailed information can be found on the website of a specific German university (as a rule, the application is not submitted through the scholarship fund website, but through the coordinator at the university).
You can see if your university is among the universities participating in the program
(a version of the site is also available in English). The amount of this scholarship is small, but 300 euros per month will constitute a significant increase in the student budget and will allow you to devote more time to study.3. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
Who is this program aimed at: undergraduate and graduate students under 30 years of age planning to study in Germany.This group does not include students wishing to study at the Faculty of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, as well as students of creative specialties who have not passed the creative entrance exam.
Applications are accepted from April to July by mail; if the application arrives after the announced deadline, it will not be considered, so it is worth taking into account the distances and delivery times of correspondence from the regions of Russia to Germany (from two to six weeks).
What is taken into account when selecting candidates: excellent grades at school and university, plus active participation in the social, public and political life of the university and the city.
It is not for nothing that this foundation bears the name of a famous German political figure, the former first Federal Chancellor of Germany. Fellows are expected to have an active social and political position, as well as a desire to participate in seminars and trainings conducted by the foundation.
If you strive to take an active part in the political life of the country and are interested in international relations, this scholarship is an ideal option for you, no matter what specialty you are studying.
The main thing is to create a competent motivation letter and prepare documentary evidence of all your achievements, participation in party meetings and membership in public organizations. At the end of the program, you will have to sweat a little more and write a detailed report on how this program helped you continue to pursue your goal and continue to be such a politically and socially interested person.
More details about the terms and conditions of this scholarship program can be found at
website.4. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
Selection for scholarship programs of the Heinrich Böll Foundation is carried out twice a year: depending on the start of studies in the fall or spring.You can apply for a scholarship within certain deadlines. all foreign students who previously studied at a school or university in one of the countries outside the European Union(Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, etc.).
Funding under this program can only be Master's programs and postgraduate studies , training in the Bachelor program, unfortunately, is not funded. It is important to submit your application immediately before the start of your studies or, at the latest, during the first semester.
A prerequisite is good level of German language skills(from B2), since the selection rounds for this scholarship will be held in German. It is also important to provide two letters of recommendation (for example, from a university teacher) on a special form of the organization.
Those who share its ideas and know how to present their projects and ideas have a high chance of becoming a scholarship recipient of this foundation. You can read more about the fund and conditions for accepting applications (in German or English). On the same page you can also find all the information about the conditions for selecting candidates and the necessary documents (in German).
The Foundation supports internationality and integration of representatives of different cultures and social groups: students with children, students with disabilities, as well as those who are ready to work in a team, bring new innovative ideas, convince others of their significance and benefits, and also support the policies and ideas of the Green Party.
5. Rosa-Luxembourg-Stiftung
The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation supports young students and graduate students taking an active civic position in matters of political literacy, democratic values, social justice and solidarity, as well as equality regardless of gender, social class and origin. This foundation is close in its ideology to the party of the “left” and encourages about 150 active undergraduate and graduate students annually. By the way, pay attention to our.
Important conditions for selecting candidates: admission to study at a state higher education institution in Germany, diploma of completed higher education(Bachelor - bachelor's degree, Diplom - diploma, Staatsexamen - state exam), excellent academic performance, very good level of German language skills, and active participation in the life of political and public organizations in accordance with the ideology of the foundation.
For whom Not This scholarship is suitable for: senior students in the “pre-diploma” phase, as well as for anyone studying for a bachelor’s degree or receiving their first higher education diploma. A semester abroad (not in Germany) and a stay in your home country are also not eligible for funding. The scholarship amount is 750 euros per month, an additional amount of about 20 euros can be allocated for books and teaching aids, as well as funds to pay for health insurance in the amount of a maximum of 65 euros.
Application deadline: October 15 deadline for those who wish to receive scholarships from April next year and April 15 for those wishing to receive funding from October.
Unfortunately, foreigners with paragraphs 16 and 18 of their residence permit (entrant or student visa) cannot apply for BAFöG, but they can apply for another scholarship from this fund.
Foreign students can receive a scholarship up to 650 euros per month , plus an additional benefit to pay for health insurance. Students with children can count for 276 euros extra to the basic amount of the scholarship. To receive a scholarship, it is important to demonstrate a good level of German proficiency: at least DSH-2, Test DaF-4 or Zertifikat C 1 of the Goethe Institute.
Application deadlines:
- for bachelor students no later than three semesters before graduation (say, if you study for 7 semesters in total, then you need to submit an application in the 4th semester);
- for Master students, until 30.05 when starting their studies in the summer semester and until 30.11 when starting their studies in the winter semester, you can submit an application only during the first semester;
- for diploma students (Diplom, as well as Magister or Staatsexamen) - at the latest until the end of the 6th semester.
In addition, if you want to study in graduate school, you can receive a scholarship up to 1000 euros from this fund.
Unfortunately, this fund Not finances training in the specialty “Medicine”. If you have chosen any other direction and decided to gather your strength and still apply, then you can do this directly on the scholarship website.
9. Hans-Böckler-Stiftung
“We need democratically minded, original and free-thinking individuals who are ready to take responsibility in politics, culture and social life and to implement new ideas in accordance with the ideas and views of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung ” - this is the inscription that greets visitors to the fund’s page.
✏ If you graduated from school and passed the final exams (Abitur) in Germany and are among the so-called Bildungsinnländer, then the amount of your scholarship will depend on the income of your parents. In this case, you can apply for any specialty in the Bachelor's degree area, at the latest in the third semester.
✏ Those who have completed their schooling outside of Germany can apply for funding for their Master studies, at the latest during the first semester. The amount of the scholarship in this case does not depend on the income of the parents and is a maximum 597 euros per month for EU citizens and maximum 750 euros for everyone else. Additionally, you can get 300 euros for books and teaching aids.
Applications are accepted until March 1 for study in the subsequent winter semester, interviews with associate professors are held at the end of March - beginning of April, and qualifying rounds are held in June-July. In the second half of July, the lucky winners receive confirmation of the scholarship.
For those who wish to try their hand at receiving this scholarship, we recommend that you read additional information at fund website.
10. Other scholarships
In different federal states (by the way, read more about the German states) and cities there are your “local” programs and scholarships . The federal state of Baden-Württemberg allocates funds for promising undergraduate students at its universities and provides them with financial support in the amount of 300 euros per month ( Baden-Württemberg-Stipendium ). Provides scholarships to students of its universities land Nordrhein-Westfallen , as well as other federal states.IN Cologne have their own scholarships for athletes , V Berlin- For artists and performers , V Munich- For doctors and so on. In addition, a special program for medical students is provided by Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung .
✏ There are many different scholarships designed for only one specific specialty: lawyers, economists, engineers.
✏ There are also scholarships intended only for a certain social group: orphans, young mothers, children from large families, people with disabilities.
✏ There are scholarships for which political activity and participation in social projects are important.
✏ There are scholarships in which scientific activity and research are important. All information, if searched in German and English, can be found on the Internet.
To receive a scholarship, the following steps are important:
- start collecting information in advance (preferably a year in advance) and find out about application deadlines
- learn as much as possible about the foundation and its activities: write your motivation letter in accordance with the mission and goals of the foundation
- important point: the person whose name the scholarship fund bears can tell a lot about who has a great chance of receiving a scholarship - who was Rosa Luxemburg, what contribution did Alexander von Humboldt make? If a foundation is named after a political figure, it means that its fellows are expected to be interested in politics, etc.
- prepare and send all necessary documents, resumes and motivation letters, as well as collect all certificates confirming your extracurricular activities
Important : It is unlikely that you will be able to receive two scholarships at once! But it is quite possible to submit several applications to various funds and ultimately count on one of the scholarships. We hope this information will be useful to many of our readers who have decided to try their hand at going to study in Germany.
We wish you success!
Prepared the material
Lyubov Mutovkina, Deutsch Online Team.
If you have any questions at the initial or final stages of the competition, feel free to write to the program’s email (as a rule, a coordinator is assigned for each scholarship program who is ready to answer your questions) or call DAAD directly.
I was incredibly lucky. Yes, yes, because Lektorin taught at our faculty ( approx.“lecturer”) from DAAD, who spoke first-hand about the possibility of obtaining a summer scholarship, as well as the requirements for a good motivation letter. Main idea: short, clear, to the point. This means that the essence itself should be in the main two paragraphs (plus an introduction and a conclusion). Here you need to tell about what you do at the university. It is better to focus on your research, which would be good to connect with Germany. For me it was not very difficult, since I am studying German literature. It is also important to indicate which courses you would like to take.
You can choose three courses from the DAAD catalog, but what matters is how you justify this choice. Let's say, if I study German literature, but choose a course in legal German, my chance of getting a scholarship almost immediately turns into 0. Courses need to be prioritized, but at the same time, DAAD decides where you will ultimately go. Basically they take into account your preferences. However, if the course that was in your first place is already filled, you will be assigned to the second or third course according to priority. In addition, it is worth considering the cost of the chosen courses. The standard scholarship is 850 euros; it is not always, but often, accompanied by compensation for flight or moving expenses (depending on what city you are from, this compensation may vary). If the course costs more than 850 euros, the student pays the difference. If your course costs less, you will receive the remaining money from the scholarship and compensation upon arrival to study. In my case, I managed to cover both the course and accommodation in the hostel with a scholarship.
To receive a scholarship you need official confirmation of language level. OnDaF is the simplest option that does not require much preparation. You sign up for a specific date, take the test very quickly (about an hour), because there is no time to think, a certain amount of time is allocated for each task (as a rule, you need to insert something into the gaps in the text), and immediately receive a printed certificate . If you have at least some certificates that indicate the expected level of your knowledge (even A1), attach them too, this will show that you are interested in learning the language and are working on it.
A huge misconception that caused us a little dissonance: Germans are not always as accurate as we think! The first thing we encountered when submitting documents already in the second stage was DAAD portal. Remember those times when the LMS constantly did not work, froze, refused to accept work, and all that. So, the DAAD portal is a million times worse. When we realized that we didn’t understand anything, we turned to our teacher, who, although a native German, herself did not understand how it all worked. Moreover, the portal stopped functioning several times at the most important moment, which is why the deadline for submitting documents was delayed. However, try to send everything on time. If you miss it even for a minute, they won’t accept anything (this is where the famous German precision works).
The second thing you shouldn’t expect is if the message says that selection results will be notified, suppose, after January 10, this does not mean that they will write to you on January 11, they may write to you in February. This is the only and perhaps the biggest disadvantage of this program; It is impossible to plan anything for the summer in advance. So you will need patience.
The third thing that completely shocked me was: courses declared in the DAAD catalog, may not take place. Don't panic: you will be offered an equivalent course, possibly in a different time period (for example, the course you were planning to take was announced in July, but something went wrong, and you will be offered to take it in August).
In general, the devil is not as scary as he is painted. Of course, the competition is very big, and you will spend a lot of time and a lot of nerves on all this paperwork, but isn’t the adventure worth it? Victory awaits you. You have already received two messages that you have been selected for a scholarship. And finally, that same letter - you are going to city X to study! Then you buy tickets and apply for a visa. By the way, there is a discount for scholarship holders at visa centers; they only pay a service fee, so obtaining a visa will cost much less. Well, then... Is it worth talking about international experience when so much has already been said and written in other articles? A sea of new acquaintances, fun travels, foreign words (not necessarily only German, but also French, Arabic, Macedonian, Dutch, Korean and others), interesting, and sometimes uninteresting, couples (otherwise everyone probably thinks that when you arrive somewhere to study, everything, everything, everything is interesting there).
P.S.: If you have any questions, feel free to write to me,
Everyone knows what a scholarship is - these are some payments to a student in the process of receiving his education. As a rule, they are assigned in the form of a monthly benefit for a certain amount.
What is DAAD? This is a public organization from Germany, which is an association of a large number of universities. Despite its public nature, DAAD is a very influential association that provides assistance to a huge number of educational institutions and foreign students. Scholarship programs are just one part of their activities, but it is scholarships that we will devote this material to.
DAAD scholarships are payments to foreign students that allow them to fully or partially offset the costs of postgraduate studies in Germany.
Who can claim the payment?
We have pointed out several times the postgraduate nature of scholarship programs. The main directions are really dedicated graduates of higher educational institutions, however, there are exceptions that allow you to qualify for payments current students.
There are a huge number of programs, and they depend not least on the country of residence. But all of them can be qualified according to the level of their education:
- For students. For summer language courses or study tours. Students of at least the second year of study are accepted.
- Master's degree. Bachelor's degree graduates are accepted, incl. final year students.
- Postgraduate studies.
- Doctoral studies.
- Advanced training.
- Scientific developments.
General provisions for all programs from DAAD
Let us remind you once again that there are a huge number of DAAD scholarship programs. They differ in level of education, geography, and cost, incl. and the amount of payments. However, they also have common features, with which it is worth starting to get acquainted.
Are there age restrictions?
Such restrictions none, which does not prevent other rules from being established.
For example, some programs require that no more than 6 years have passed since graduation, and some internship scholarships are directly limited by experience.
How is the selection process carried out?
In the form of a competition. Moreover, first, the documents are reviewed and checked in the applicant’s homeland by a special commission, usually formed from former DAAD fellows and/or persons related to the organization.
At the next stage, the data is transferred to German universities, where the competitive selection continues, but at this step, the DAAD representative, on the contrary, is categorically not allowed to make decisions.
It is believed that this method provides the most independent choice.
German language level
With the exception of direct language courses, the main programs require level certificates minimum B1. However, there is an exception, in particular when studying in English, knowledge of this language may be accepted.
Can I apply for multiple grants?
This is one of the most straightforward questions. You can only apply at the same time for one scholarship program from DAAD. But within one university you can specify up to three directions - more about this below.
It is unlikely that it will be possible to review all the programs - there are too many of them to put in one article. We will look at the main ones for Ukrainians, Russians and Belarusians, since the programs for these countries are basically the same.
It has already been mentioned that much depends on the level of education available. The main programs can be classified according to these criteria:
| Current education level | Program, term | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Students | Study group trip for 7 - 12 days for 2nd - 6th year students. | 50 euros per day |
| Students | Language courses for 3 - 4 weeks during the summer holidays for students of at least 2nd year of bachelor's degree. | 950 euros for the course + travel |
| Students are Germanists | Advanced training for students of language (specialized pedagogical) universities of 4–6 years. | Depending on the university |
| Bachelors | Those with a bachelor's degree, as well as graduate students of all specialties - from 10 months to 2 years. | 850 euros per month |
| Graduates of creative professions | For artists, musicians, architects, actors, directors, etc. There are separate programs for 1 - 2 years. | 850 euros per month |
| Masters | Postgraduate studies for up to 4 years. | 850 – 1,200 euros per month |
| Young scientists | Short-term scientific projects (1 – 6 months) and “annual” (7 – 10 months) are provided. | 850 – 1,200 euros per month |
| Scientists | Internships. Scientific exchanges, advanced training programs, etc. Terms: 1 – 3 months. | 2,000 – 2,150 euros per month |
The indicated amounts are approximate and may vary depending on the university, and the cost of travel is directly correlated with the distance to Germany. For example, compensation for a trip from the Asian part of the Russian Federation is much higher than for a trip from the western regions of Ukraine.
Where can I find out about all the programs?
A complete list of currently active DAAD programs (and there are several thousand of them) can be found on the association’s website at this link. However, not all of them are suitable for the countries in question. You can view specific scholarships for these countries here:
Only the information provided for the selected university will be accurate and complete. This also includes deadlines, costs, necessary documents, etc.
Payment terms under the program
Payments are expected on the entire period of study. However, in programs where the study period is more than 1 year, scholarships may only initially be considered for the first year, and their extension for a subsequent time will depend on the performance / results demonstrated in the first stage.
It’s easy to guess that each program has a large number of features, incl. and when submitting documents and considering the application. We will look at an example of one of the most popular scholarships - admission to a master's program after completing a bachelor's degree in Belarus, Russia or Ukraine.
Other programs follow a similar scheme, but with features (especially the list of documents) characteristic of a specific scholarship.
Step 1. Submission deadline
Despite its peculiarities, the application is submitted at approximately the same time and initially to the DAAD office. Acceptance of applications usually begins from October and ends 31th of December.
Applications are accepted for the next academic year. This is why it is acceptable for graduate students to apply. While the review is taking place, the student will have time to graduate from the university, receive a diploma, and submit it to DAAD, in case of a positive decision.
Please note that foreigners already in Germany for other reasons, if the period of such stay exceeds 15 months, are not eligible to participate in the programs not allowed.
Step 2. Collecting documents
This is one of the most time-consuming stages. Firstly, you need to strictly follow the list of what is required, and, secondly, follow the methods of provision.
Warning
Here we need to digress and turn to the need to translate documents. Anything not written in German/English requires translation. However, to submit a pre-application online (see next step) no need to certify documents– the translation can be performed by the applicant himself.
In case of a positive decision, when sending the originals, You may need already certified copies. Since this procedure is paid, it probably makes sense to arrange for a certified translation after receiving the scholarship conclusion.
When collecting the necessary documentation, you should remember that in addition to what is required by the university / DAAD, there are also documents required to obtain a visa.
The first required document is the application form. It is filled out online and will be reviewed in the next step. The rest of the package should include:
- Autobiography in the form of a resume. Detailed - about 3 pages, with no time gaps.
- Motivation letter. Let's talk about it in more detail below.
- If an application is submitted by a person who has already begun master's studies, a certificate of enrollment is provided.
- A special form explaining the choice of specific master's programs. You can download the forms using the following links: German, English. When clicked, a Word document will be downloaded from the DAAD website - all responsibility for the content and security of the file lies with this organization.
- A recommendation (preferably in German or English, or with translation) from a university professor, indicating the applicant’s qualifications.
- Diploma (if you graduated from a university) or a copy of all pages of your record book (if your studies are ongoing).
- Language certificate of the required level.
DAAD draws attention to the fact that a language certificate may not be included in the requirements of a particular university, but it is necessary in any case, and without its provision the request may not be considered.
Motivation letter
Let’s take a closer look at the motivation letter and its contents. It is written as a justification for providing a scholarship for a specific program, but may contain a simultaneous request for three programs, indicated in accordance with their priority for the applicant.
The letter is written in free form, preferably in German, and should include:
- Education data.
- Availability of a diploma or deadline for receiving it.
- Work experience in this area, including internships, internships, etc. (if any).
- Knowledge of languages, other professional skills and abilities.
- If any, other certificates, diplomas, awards, prizes, etc.
- Motivation why the applicant wants to study at the chosen university.
- What is interesting about the chosen educational institution - why this particular university.
- What the applicant expects from studying, what results he strives for.
- Why, according to the applicant, should he be paid this scholarship?
- How payments will help achieve planned results.
- Personal qualities, parallel interests, etc.
The letter must be at least one A4 page, but no more than three.
Step 3.
Depending on the chosen program, submitting an application via the Internet can be either mandatory or optional (it is assumed that the application will be sent by mail or courier). The online application is a request for consideration of a case, not admission to a university.
All of the above documents must be scanned to be included on the site. Further actions:
- Go to the organization’s website - www.funding-guide.de
- Registration. To do this, you must enter all the required data. Detailed instructions for registering in the system in German are available (pdf file).
- You need to print the application form from your personal account. Fill it out and paste the photo.
- Completed form and all documents strictly in the order specified in the specific program, are uploaded to the site. If the document is not in German or English, then the original is uploaded first, followed by a sheet with its translation.
- An application is sent.
Attention! Registration and use of the portal are available only during the application period (October - December). At other times, the site will redirect to the scholarship database, without the ability to use the system.
Here – in your personal account – you can track the status of your application and receive additional reference materials.
Step 4. Actual transmission of papers
You need to pay special attention to this stage. We are not talking about sending documents for admission yet! It's just offline application duplication.
All collected documents must be placed in an envelope and sent to the addresses below. No need to use a stapler, paper clips or folders. Just put the papers in the envelope.
Some programs require you to submit your application by mail without registering online. Please note that in this case the letter must be sent before November 15!
Postal addresses
If the online application is the same for everyone, then the addresses of local DAAD offices are different:
Addresses are current at the time of publication but are subject to change. Be sure to check your contact information at the time of submitting documents.
Step 5.
It has already been mentioned that consideration of the application two-stage: first it is studied by the local DAAD commission, and, if approved, it is sent for consideration to the university.
The applicant must be notified about each stage. In this sense, using your personal account is much more convenient, and you can receive information faster.
The exact time for consideration is not indicated, but the result should be available taking into account the time for sending certified documents and issuing a visa.
Let's return to sending certified documents once again. They are sent only after a positive decision on the scholarship program. The address, list and deadlines will be communicated to the applicant individually.
Grant approved. What's next?
To put it simply, if you received a scholarship, apply for a visa, and go ahead and get knowledge. If you delve a little deeper into the process, difficulties begin to emerge. We focus our attention on them.
What is the monthly stipend?
This has already been mentioned, but let's summarize. Average:
- Language courses – 50 euros per day.
- For a master's degree or special creative program - 850 euros per month.
- Postgraduate studies – 850 – 1,200 euros per month.
- Scientific projects – up to 2,150 euros per month.
Why are we coming back to this again? Because before us is the stage of obtaining a visa, and therefore confirmation of solvency. To do this, you need to determine the costs of training and the possibility of providing financial guarantees. That's why we move on to the next point.
Do the scholarship holders need to pay tuition?
Need to, if the program involves paid training. Another thing is that not all of them are paid. Most public universities imply no tuition fees. At the same time, private ones, on the contrary, can demand quite a lot of money.
Confusion arises precisely at the visa application stage. The applicant must confirm the sufficiency of funds, and believes that the scholarship is enough for this. You can confirm or. But a lot depends on the fact of payment for studies.
Let's look at examples:
- Example 1. Tuition is free, and the scholarship is 850 euros per month. Documents confirming participation in the program will be sufficient as financial guarantees. You can count on a visa.
- Example 2. Tuition costs 2,000 euros per semester, and the assigned scholarship is 850 euros. Mere membership in the DAAD program is not enough for a visa; you need to confirm payment of the course fee.
In other words, the scholarship and possible tuition fees do not compensate for each other at the time of visa application. Availability of payments from DAAD does not relieve you from having to pay for your studies.
For short-term courses of up to six months, the arrival of a family is not expected in any case.
For long-term DAAD programs - depending on conditions.
Some scholarship programs are designed to support family members, but you need to look at specific data.
Is the fellow allowed to work?
This is a very difficult question. From its context, we remove the internships and internships provided for by the course, and we only talk about part-time work during the learning process.
DAAD states that this Part-time work is possible, but subject to approval both from the association itself and from the leadership of a particular university. Wherein:
- Not a word is said that permission from the university and DAAD does not mean permission to work from other competent authorities.
- It has been announced that all income exceeding €450 (at the time of publication) will be withheld from the scholarship.
All this makes employment while studying under DAAD scholarship programs of little interest.
Conclusion
DAAD scholarships are another way to get an education in Germany on a budget. It’s not easy to use the programs – that’s why there’s a competition to choose the best. But if you don’t try, you won’t achieve anything.
We have covered general questions about applying for these scholarships. Now everyone can try their hand. Good luck 😉!
