DAAD Study Scholarships for Graduating Seniors in Germany, 2015-2016

Highly qualified final year undergraduate students (graduating seniors) or those who have received an undergraduate degree of all disciplines may apply for the DAAD Study Scholarship for a year of independent study or a full master's degree program at a German university. 
For applicants in artistic fields, see
Study Scholarship for in the Field of Music.
Study Scholarship for Performing Arts.
Study Scholarship for Visual Art.
Study Scholarship for Architecture.

Click here to search a database of international Master's programs in Germany.

Eligibility Requirements

Students in their last year of undergraduates studies at an accredited North American university Recent BA/BS or MA/MS graduates who completed their last degree no longer than 6 years ago by the application deadline date Graduates students enrolled full-time at an accredited North American university US/Canadian Students who are in the first year of Master’s programs in Germany may apply to fund their second year Applicants in all fields are welcome to apply but we don’t support the completion of a clinical science degree at a German university such as dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, or veterinary medicine. Applicants may not have been living in Germany for more than 15 months by the time of application deadline. US/Canadian citizenship or permanent residency; Foreign nationals who have been in a full-time degree program at a university in the US or Canada for at least one year by the time of application deadline are also eligible. Applicants in the humanities and social sciences should have a good command of German. Applicants may not concurrently hold a DAAD grant and a grant from another German, German-American, or German -Canadian organization for the same project. Prior DAAD funding recipients should contact DAAD New York before applying to determine their eligibility.

Terms of Award

Study Scholarships are granted for one academic year (10 months) with the possibility of a one-year extension for those wishing to completing a full degree program in Germany. Funding periods are restricted to the exact dates of the German academic year (October 1, 2015 to July 31, 2016). Monthly stipends are approximately €750. DAAD will cover health insurance and provide a flat rate subsidy for travel costs (US East: €850 / West: €1,075; Canada East: €925 / West: €1,300). In addition, limited funds are available for a rent subsidy and family allowance. Results will be announced mid-April

Application Deadline
November 4, 2014 (11 pm CET) For applicants (excluding those in music, visual and performing arts) wishing to go abroad in the 2015/2016 academic year (October 1, 2015 to July 31, 2016). Applications maybe submitted until 11pm Central European Time on the deadline date. The application hard copy (paper) must be submitted no later than one week after the deadline.

Tutorial: How to apply

Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions International Students If you are not a citizen or a current full-time degree student at a university located in the United States or Canada, please check your eligibility, or find the DAAD office that serves your country at the above link.

Application Guidelines

These guidelines are region specific for North American applicants only. You will find some different details on the application portal and the DAAD Bonn website, such as maximum pages; the below instructions supersede any conflicting information. Check if your university is a DAAD Partner University AT A DAAD PARTNER UNIVERSITY: contact the DAAD campus coordinator, and submit your application to them; there may be an earlier internal deadline date. (if you miss your internal deadline date, you may alternatively submit directly to DAAD New York). Please note this doesn’t apply to performing/visual artists NOT AT A DAAD PARTNER UNIVERSITY: send your application directly to the DAAD New York office. MANDATORY DOCUMENTS A complete application is comprised of the following mandatory documents. 1) Online Application Form (see Online Application Portal) 2) Curriculum vitae  - in chronological/tabular form, max. 3 pages. 3) Study Proposal - You may apply for funding for a Master's program OR a period of independent study. For Master's Degree programs: Your study proposal should have 1) a narrative proposal explaining why a particular program has been chosen and how it will further your educational and career goals (max. 2 pages) and 2) a short outline of the study modules from the university degree program website (max. 2 pages) For Independent Study: You should have a well-defined study or research project that makes a stay in Germany essential, and an invitation from an academic partner at a German university or research institution, max 5 pages. 4) Evidence of Contact with a German Institution - E-mails can be accepted as evidence of contact. For Master's Degree Applicants: If you have not yet been admitted to a German university, submit this form: Profile of the desired Degree Programme (Word). If you are already enrolled in Germany, and applying for the second year of your Master’s program, submit your admission letter as evidence. For Independent Study Applicants : submit evidence of any existing contact or attempt at establishing contact with academics at your chosen German host institution.(Disregard the requirement for “Proof that the academic achievements rendered in Germany will be recognized in the home country ” that appears on the portal) 5) DAAD language evaluation form (Sprachzeugnis) (click here to download) – If you have any knowledge of German, submit this document signed by a faculty member of the German Department at your institution. If you have no knowledge of German and your research/study language in Germany is in English, be sure to submit this certificate anyway, indicating that your research/study language is in English, and write at the top "No knowledge of German." (Please note German is not a requirement for the Study Scholarship) 6) Transcripts - Open and upload your official transcripts of all post-secondary institutions attended, include explanations of the grading systems (usually on the back) 7) Letter of Recommendation - Submit one original letter of recommendation printed on university letterhead, at North American institutions in your field of study. Alternatively, an earlier version can be accessed here. Please request that your professor include two photocopies with the original letter in one sealed envelope. Please disregard the following requirements on our head office’s page: -          “Other documents you think might be of relevance to your application (e.g. certificates of employment, proof of placements)” -          “Copy of School-leaving certificate which entitles holders to study at a university in the home country (with all individual grades)” -          “Proof that the academic achievements rendered in Germany will be recognized in the home country ” ONLINE APPLICATION PORTAL THE PORTAL CLOSES AT 11 PM CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME (5 PM EST/4PM CST/3PM MTN/2PM PST) ON THE DEADLINE DATE. AS THE ELECTRONIC APPLICATION SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN AUTOMATICALLY, APPLICANT ARE ADVISED TO START THE ONLINE PROCESS AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. Register at the Online Application Portal prior to making an application Once registered, log on to the portal to download an electronic application form and complete it in their own time. Upload all documents (as listed above) in PDF format to the application portal, except the letter of recommendation (#7). you should have all of the compulsory documents ready when you upload your completed application form. Once an application has been accepted, a notification and an Application Summary (PDF) will be sent to the portal. Print out the application summary as soon as you receive it. The Online Application Portal allows applicants to check the status of their application. SENDING IN YOUR APPLICATION Make two (2) duplicates of the Application Summary, submitting A TOTAL OF THREE (3) SETS and the original letter of recommendation in one package. DO NOT staple. Please send your complete application package WITHIN ONE WEEK AFTER THE DEADLINE. You may submit your application in advanced of the deadline date, but it will not be processed until after the deadline to assure fairness to all applicants. Mail your application to:              DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)              Study Scholarship              871 United Nations Plaza              New York, NY 10017 Please note that incomplete or late applications will not be accepted. Your application is only complete when we have received both your electronic application and the paper version. Ready for your application? Then please click [size=undefined]HERE.[/size]

After You Submit Your Application

Confirmation of receipt: DO NOT CALL OR EMAIL to inquire whether your application has been received. Within 6-8 weeks after the deadline, you will receive an email to confirm the receipt of your application. No reasons for decisions will be given. Application forms and all supporting material remain with DAAD. Personal data of applicants and grantees will be stored electronically in DAAD’s computer files only to the extent necessary for the administration of the applications and scholarships in accordance with the German Federal Data Protection Act. Data will be provided to the respective International Student Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) for successful applicants when necessary to administer the scholarship and provide the scholarship holder with guidance services. Applications of unsuccessful candidates will be destroyed after one year.

Questions?

If you have questions regarding the DAAD Study Scholarship, please contact kim@daad.org

https://www.daad.org/?p=73215