DAAD Study Scholarships for Master's Studies 2027: A €992 Monthly Stipend Plus Travel, Insurance, and a Study Allowance for a Fully Supported Master's Degree in Germany

DAAD Study Scholarships for Master’s Studies 2027: A €992 Monthly Stipend Plus Travel, Insurance, and a Study Allowance for a Fully Supported Master’s Degree in Germany

The German Academic Exchange Service, Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD), offers this scholarship for international graduates who want postgraduate study in Germany. The programme can support a complete Master’s degree at a state or state-recognised German university, or a defined study year in Germany that forms part of a second Master’s degree at the applicant’s home university. It is designed for many academic fields, while applicants in artistic disciplines and architecture are directed to separate DAAD programmes.

The 2027 cycle is announced. DAAD’s official programme page says funding must begin in 2027 and usually starts on 1 October 2027, although a preparatory German course can start earlier. The deadline is not one worldwide date: DAAD updates the application date for each eligible country and applicant status. A current country-specific DAAD record lists 30 October 2026, which is the confirmed date recorded in this listing. Applicants must still select their country and status on the official page and follow the date shown for their own record. The country selector determines whether the programme is available to you and which instructions apply.

This guide reflects the current official description: €992 per month, a €460 annual study allowance, a travel allowance on application, insurance payments, and possible additional benefits. It also explains the documents, timing, and checks that matter before you submit.

Key Details at a Glance

What the Scholarship Offers

The core award is €992 per month for Master’s-level scholarship holders. DAAD does not describe this as a tuition waiver, and the amount should be treated as living-cost support rather than a promise that every expense in Germany will be covered. Budget separately for any tuition, semester contributions, rent deposit, residence permit costs, travel not covered by the award, and university-specific charges.

The scholarship normally follows the standard period of study for the selected programme and lasts between 10 and 24 months. Applicants should state the entire period they want to fund. If the programme is two years long, the application should request two years rather than only the first academic year. After the first year, DAAD assesses academic progress; continuation depends on showing that the degree can be completed within a reasonable period.

The award also includes a €460 annual study allowance. A travel allowance is available on application, and DAAD makes payments toward health, accident, and personal-liability insurance. These items are separate from the monthly payment, so read the award information carefully to understand whether a benefit is automatic, requires an application, or depends on your circumstances.

Additional support may be available after funding starts. The official description lists a monthly rent subsidy, an allowance for accompanying family members, and help with justified additional costs related to a disability or chronic illness. It also lists a Green Mobility Top Up or reimbursement of carbon-offset payments for air travel. These benefits are conditional and should not be included in a personal budget until DAAD confirms them.

DAAD can also support language preparation. It may pay for an online language course after the Scholarship Award Letter, and it may fund a German language course before the study programme when necessary. The official page says the preparatory course can last two, four, or six months, with the decision based on the project and German-language ability. A personally chosen German course during the scholarship period and reimbursement of a TestDaF or DSH fee may also be available.

The important limitation is tuition. DAAD does not cover tuition fees. Some public universities charge little or no tuition, but that is a rule of the university or federal state, not a benefit guaranteed by this scholarship. Check the exact fee policy of every programme on your shortlist before you apply.

Who the Scholarship Is For

This scholarship is for graduates who want postgraduate study in Germany in a broad range of academic disciplines. You must have completed a first university degree, such as a Bachelor’s degree or Diplom, by the time the funding period begins. The official wording allows a final-year student to apply before the certificate is available, provided the qualification is completed by the start of funding.

The programme can suit engineers, social scientists, humanities graduates, natural scientists, economists, and other applicants whose proposed degree is eligible. The broad subject title does not remove the need to identify a real study programme and explain why it fits your academic path. Applicants in fine art, design, visual communication, film, the performing arts, music, and architecture should read the dedicated DAAD scholarship pages for those fields instead of assuming this general programme is the correct route.

It is not the right programme for doctoral or postdoctoral funding, for a Master’s degree that has already begun in Germany, or for applicants who do not meet the country and status filters in the database. It is also unsuitable if the most recent university degree falls outside the recency rule or if you have already been resident in Germany for more than the permitted period.

Eligibility Requirements

The published eligibility rules for this programme are specific, and it is worth checking each one against your own situation before you invest time in an application:

• First degree by the start of funding. You must have a Bachelor’s degree, Diplom, or equivalent first university qualification by the time the funding period begins. If you apply while finishing the degree, the final certificate must be supplied before funding starts.
• Degree recency. As a rule, your most recent university degree should not date back more than six years at the application deadline. This is assessed against the deadline applicable to your country and status.
• Residence in Germany. DAAD says an application cannot be considered if you have been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months at the application deadline.
• Eligible country and status. The scholarship is restricted to specified countries and applicant statuses. The official database requires you to select the country in which you live and from which you are applying, as well as your status. If your combination is not offered, this programme is not available through that record.
• Language of instruction. You must provide proof of proficiency in the language used by the chosen study programme. Accepted examples on the official page include TestDaF, DSH, Goethe-Zertifikat, IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English, PTE Academic, onSET, and the Duolingo English Test, depending on the language and the country-specific instructions. The proof should generally be no older than three years.

If any of these are borderline in your case — for example, a degree that is close to the six-year cutoff, or a period of residence in Germany that is near 15 months — read the official page carefully and, where possible, contact the DAAD information centre for your country before applying.

The Application Process

Applications are submitted online through the DAAD portal. The official page says applications are possible between 1 June and the stated deadline, but it also says the portal is only visible while the relevant application period is running. Since deadlines and documents vary by country, begin with the database entry rather than relying on the date in a general guide. Select your country of residence and application status, then save the resulting programme record and instructions.

Use this sequence for the 2027 cycle:

1. Choose a qualifying study project. Identify the Master’s programme and German university. Confirm that the university is state or state-recognised and that the degree has not already begun in Germany.
2. Open the country-specific record. Select the country in which you live and from which you apply, together with the graduate status. Record the deadline and any country-specific language, translation, certification, or postal requirements.
3. Arrange admission. Apply to the German university under its own admissions rules. DAAD requires the admission letter for the host programme; if it is not available when you apply for the scholarship, it must be submitted before the funding period begins.
4. Register in the DAAD portal. Create the account, request the recommendation form, and complete the application form during the applicable application period.
5. Prepare and upload PDFs. Scan paper documents, translate documents that are not in German or English when required, and upload each file in the portal’s designated section.
6. Submit before the country deadline. The portal closes at 24:00 CET or CEST on the last application day. Incomplete applications cannot be considered, so do not leave the upload and submission step to the final hours.
7. Prepare for selection. An independent committee of specialist scientists reviews applications. The official criteria include academic qualification, the quality and preparation of the study project, the project’s place in your academic path, motivation, prospects, language knowledge, and relevant extracurricular or social commitment.

Required Documents

The official programme entry lists these core materials. Your selected country record may add instructions or country-specific documents:

• A curriculum vitae, generally no longer than three pages.
• A letter of motivation of one to three pages explaining your study plan and goals.
• A letter of admission to the study programme at the German host university. If it is not available at scholarship application time, submit it before funding begins.
• A current transcript or overview of grades with individual grades.
• A university degree certificate showing the final grade; final-year applicants provide it by the start of funding.
• Proof of knowledge of the chosen programme’s language of instruction, generally no more than three years old.
• One recent supporting recommendation from a university teacher, using the form generated in the DAAD portal.
• The completed “Information about your preferred master programmes” form when applying for a second Master’s degree or Master’s programme in Germany.
• Proof that credits earned in Germany will be recognised by the home university when the German study period is part of a Master’s degree abroad.
• German or English translations for documents submitted in another language, where required.
• Optional supporting documents that clarify relevant employment, certificates, or extracurricular engagement.

The portal accepts PDF uploads, and the official instructions say scans may be non-certified unless DAAD later requests certified copies. Use consistent file names, check that every page is legible, and keep the original documents available. The recommendation form is generated only during the application period, so do not assume it can be downloaded months in advance.

How to Prepare a Competitive Application

DAAD selection committees are looking for academically strong applicants with a convincing, specific plan for studying in Germany. A few things separate strong applications from weak ones:

Make the motivation letter concrete. Reviewers read many statements that describe Germany in generic terms. The ones that stand out name the exact programme, explain why that department or specialisation fits the applicant’s background, and connect the Master’s to a clear next step after graduation. Show that you researched your choice.

Show academic strength and trajectory. Your transcripts and CV should demonstrate consistent performance and relevant experience — research projects, internships, publications, or professional work that lines up with your intended field. If your grades have a weak patch, let your referee or your letter address it briefly and honestly rather than ignoring it.

Choose the right referee. A single, well-chosen recommendation from a university teacher who genuinely knows your work is worth more than a generic letter from a senior name. Give your referee your CV, your draft motivation letter, and plenty of lead time.

Handle the language requirement early. Language certificates take time to book and receive, and they should be recent. If you are aiming at a German-taught programme, start on your German proficiency well ahead of the deadline; DAAD’s own funded language options can help, but you still need to prove baseline ability at application.

Respect the eligibility clock. The six-year degree-recency rule and the 15-month residency rule are hard filters. Confirm you clear both, at the deadline date, before you begin.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming one deadline for everyone. The 30 October 2026 date recorded here is confirmed for one current DAAD country record, not a universal cutoff. Use the country and status selector on the official page.
• Applying in the wrong programme. Artists, designers, filmmakers, musicians, performers, and architects should use the dedicated DAAD scholarships for their fields, not this general one.
• Forgetting that tuition is not covered. If your target programme charges fees, plan for them; the scholarship funds living costs, not tuition.
• Submitting a generic motivation letter. Vague statements about wanting to study abroad rarely survive committee review.
• Treating admission as optional. The scholarship award is only valid if you are admitted to the host university named in the application, so track the university’s separate admissions process.
• Leaving documents to the last week. Transcripts, admission letters, recommendation forms, translations, and language certificates may depend on third parties. Start early.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the funding start? Funding must begin in 2027 and usually begins on 1 October 2027. A preparatory German language course may begin earlier if DAAD approves it.

How much is the monthly payment? Master’s-level scholarship holders receive €992 per month, plus an annual study allowance of €460, a travel allowance, and insurance contributions.

How long does the scholarship last? Between 10 and 24 months, matched to the standard duration of your chosen Master’s programme.

Does it pay tuition fees? No. DAAD does not cover tuition. Most public German universities charge little or no tuition for Master’s study.

Can PhD candidates apply? No. This programme is for Master’s study. DAAD runs separate schemes for doctoral and postdoctoral applicants.

What is the exact deadline? DAAD updates the deadline by country and applicant status. One current record lists 30 October 2026, but you must select your own country and status on the official database entry before relying on any date. Applications are possible between 1 June and the stated deadline for the applicable record.

Official Links and Next Steps

The authoritative source for this scholarship, including your country-specific deadline and conditions, is the DAAD scholarship database entry for “Study Scholarships – Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines” at www2.daad.de. Start there: select the country in which you live and from which you apply, select the graduate status, read the resulting deadline and instructions, and confirm the required documents. For broader context on DAAD funding, the overview at daad.de is a useful starting point.

If a Master’s in Germany fits your plans, shortlist eligible programmes at state or state-recognised universities, confirm the country-specific deadline, check the six-year and 15-month rules, request the recommendation form during the application period, and coordinate the university admission process with the DAAD submission. The confirmed 30 October 2026 date is a real current-cycle date from the official database, but the country selector remains the final authority for your application.