2023 DAAD Fully Funded Postgraduate Scholarships for Study in Germany

This scholarship programme offers you the opportunity to continue your education in Germany with a postgraduate or continuing course of study in the field of architecture. The scholarships also promote the exchange of experience and networking amongst colleagues.

This programme only funds projects in the area of Design/Projects.
When selecting the desired degree programmes, please take care that they provide a minimum number of CP (credit points according to the European Credit Transfer System/ECTS) for the area of Design/Projects.
This means for degree programmes with

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• 120 CP at least 45 CP
• 90 CP at least 34 CP
• 60 CP at least 23 CP.

DAAD scholarships cannot be used for participation in degree programmes which do not meet this requirement. Information on the quantitative distribution of CP can be found in the module overview of the degree programmes on the website of the respective university.
Other DAAD scholarship programmes are available for applicants from the field of History of Architecture or applicants with a scientific project.

Aim and Benefits

In this study programme, you can complete

• A Master’s degree/postgraduate degree leading to a final qualification
  or
• A complementary course that does not lead to a final qualification (not an undergraduate course) at a state or state-recognised German university of your choice.

NB: A Master’s degree programme already started in Germany cannot be funded.

If you are enrolled in a Master or postgraduate degree programme which includes a study period abroad, funding for this period abroad is usually only possible under the following conditions:
The study visit is essential for achievement of the scholarship objective, the visit does not take place in the home country, and it is no longer than a quarter of the scholarship period. Longer periods cannot be funded, even partially.

Value

• A monthly payment of 934 euros
• Travel allowance
• One-off study allowance
• Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover

Under certain circumstances, scholarship holders may receive the following additional benefits:

• Monthly rent subsidy
• Monthly allowance for accompanying members of family. Please also read our important information for scholarship applicants / section F, point 3.
• In the case of a disability or chronic illness: subsidy for additional costs which result from the disability or chronic illness and are not covered by other funding providers: Further information.
• Green Mobility Top Up (Support for climate-friendly travel) or partial reimbursement of carbon offset payments for air travel

To allow you to improve your language skills in preparation for your stay in Germany, the DAAD offers the following benefits:

• Payment of course fees for an online language course after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter
• if necessary: German language course (2, 4 or 6 months) before the start of the study visit in Germany; the DAAD decides whether to fund participation and for how long depending on German language skills and project. Participation in a German language course is compulsory if the language of instruction or working language is German at the German host institution. Due to the pandemic, German courses may take place online.
• Allowance for a personally chosen German language course during the scholarship period
• Reimbursement of the fee for a TestDaF or DSH test, which you can take either in your home country after you have received your Scholarship Award Letter or in Germany during your funding period.

Please note that the DAAD does not cover tuition fees.

Requirements

You can apply if you have gained a first university degree in the areas of Architecture, Interior Design, Monument Conservation and Building in Existing Contexts/Reconditioning of Old Buildings, Urban Planning/Urban Development, Landscape Architecture, Landscape Planning at the latest by the time they commence their scholarship-supported study programme.

Duration of the funding

Master’s degree programme:

• Between 10 and 24 months depending on the length of your chosen study programme or project
• Start: usually from 1st October of the following year after the application, or earlier if a German language course is taken prior to the study programme
• The scholarships are awarded for the duration of the standard period of study for the chosen study programme (up to a maximum of 24 months). Please state the entire period for which you wish to apply for funding in your application. For example, if you are planning a 2-year degree programme, you must directly indicate two years as the desired scholarship duration in your application. After the first year of study, your academic achievements will be assessed in a further funding procedure. If this shows that you will successfully complete your programme within a reasonable period of time, the scholarship will continue as planned.

Complementary studies not leading to a final qualification

• one academic year
• Start: usually from 1st October of the following year after the application, or earlier if a German language course is taken prior to the study programme

Interview date, Process and Venue for DAAD Postgraduate Scholarship

After you have uploaded your application documents to the DAAD portal, the DAAD will first carry out a formal check. It will be checked whether the application requirements have been met and whether the application is complete. If this is the case, you will be asked to submit your work samples.
A special DAAD committee made up of professors from German universities makes the final decision about scholarships in the field of architecture. The decision is based upon written applications and work samples which have to be submitted (see:www.daad.de/extrainfo).
Selection criteria

• the artistic qualification and artistic maturity, measured by study achievements and work samples
• the quality of the project as measured by the study plan and the letter of motivation

In addition, the selection committee will give due consideration to aspects of equal opportunities, on which you can provide information in the application form.
For further information on the selection procedure, please refer to the Important Scholarship Information / Section E.