DAAD STEM Scholarship 2027–28: €992/Month for Master’s

The DAAD Study Scholarship for STEM Disciplines 2027–28 supports high-achieving graduates from eligible developing and emerging countries who want to complete a tuition-free, full-time STEM Master’s degree in Germany. The award provides €992 per month plus insurance contributions, a travel allowance on application and a €460 annual study allowance. The current deadline is 15 October 2026; the DAAD portal closes at 24:00 CET or CEST on the final application day.

DAAD STEM Scholarship 2027–28: international engineering students; €992 monthly award and 15 October 2026 deadline — Illustrative scene of international STEM Master’s students in Germany. Artwork by ScholarshipHubNow.

Funding
€992/month plus allowances

Level
Full-time STEM Master’s

Duration
10–24 months

Deadline
15 October 2026

Funding and benefits

The official DAAD call lists a monthly scholarship payment of €992, payments toward health, accident and personal-liability insurance, a travel allowance upon application and a €460 annual study allowance. Depending on individual circumstances, scholars may later apply for a rent subsidy, family allowance, disability-related support and selected German-language course benefits. Funding lasts 10 to 24 months, according to the standard length of the chosen programme.

The selected Master’s must itself be tuition-free. DAAD explicitly states that it does not pay tuition fees, so applicants should not confuse a tuition-free eligible programme with a separate tuition reimbursement.

Eligibility

Applicants must come from an eligible developing or emerging country shown by the DAAD country/status selector.
A first university degree recognised in Germany must be completed by the scholarship deadline.
Applicants who already hold a Master’s degree by the deadline cannot apply.
The intended programme must be a full-time, on-campus Master’s in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences or engineering, or an interdisciplinary programme with a designated STEM focus.
The programme must begin in winter semester 2027–28 and must not already have begun in Germany.
The most recent degree should normally be no more than six years old.
Applicants must show above-average academic performance and may not have lived in Germany for more than 15 months by the deadline.

Language requirements

Applicants must prove their current level in the programme’s language of instruction—German, English or both—and must already have reached at least B1. DAAD lists examples including TestDaF, DSH, Goethe, telc and onSET German, or Cambridge English, IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic, onSET English and Duolingo English Test. The chosen university may impose a higher level or a narrower list of accepted certificates.

Required documents

DAAD online application;
tabular CV, maximum three pages;
one-to-three-page motivation letter;
university admission letter, if already available, or submission before funding begins;
completed “Information about your preferred master programmes” form, with up to five tuition-free choices;
current transcript and all degree certificates with grades;
language certificate, normally no older than three years and at least B1;
one recent supporting recommendation on the DAAD form from a university teacher;
passport or national identity document and proof of current residence status; and
German or English translations for documents issued in another language.

How to apply

Confirm country eligibility. Use the status and country selector on the official DAAD page.
Choose suitable programmes. Identify up to five tuition-free STEM Master’s programmes starting in winter 2027–28 and separately check their university admission deadlines.
Register in the DAAD portal. The portal link is available only during the application period.
Generate the recommendation form. Ask a university teacher to complete it and return it for upload.
Prepare PDF documents. Add translations together with the original-language documents where required.
Complete and submit the online application. Upload every mandatory attachment before the deadline.
Apply to the university separately. The DAAD scholarship application does not replace the host university’s admission process.

Deadline: 15 October 2026

The DAAD scholarship deadline is 15 October 2026. The official instructions say the portal closes at 24:00 CET or CEST on the last day. University admission deadlines are separate and vary by programme.

Selection process

Only complete applications are considered. DAAD first pre-selects candidates from the documents, emphasizing academic achievement and language ability. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed, either in person or virtually, by an independent committee of university teachers. The interview is a decisive part of the assessment.

Selection considers academic qualifications, the quality and preparation of the study plan, how the programme fits the applicant’s academic career, motivation, future development, relevant experience, extracurricular skills and social commitment. Equal-opportunity circumstances may also be considered when disclosed in the application.

Practical applicant tips

Explain why the chosen German programmes form one coherent STEM career plan.
Check that every preferred programme is tuition-free; fee-charging programmes are formally excluded.
Match the language certificate to both DAAD’s minimum and the university’s stricter admission rules.
Give the recommender time to prepare the official DAAD form.
Do not wait until the final day; incomplete submissions are rejected for formal reasons.

Related opportunities

Frequently asked questions

Does DAAD pay university tuition?

No. The selected Master’s must be tuition-free; DAAD states that it does not cover tuition fees.

Can someone who already has a Master’s apply?

No. Applicants who already hold a Master’s degree by the deadline are ineligible.

Is university admission required before applying?

The admission letter may be submitted later, but it must be provided before funding begins. Applicants remain responsible for meeting the university’s separate deadlines.