DAAD Study Scholarship for Master's Students
DAAD Study Scholarships are Germany's flagship federal funding for international Master's students — administered by the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst). The award covers a €934/month living stipend, full tuition where applicable, comprehensive health insurance, travel allowance, and a one-off study/research allowance. Sri Lankan applicants apply through the DAAD Regional Office in New Delhi, which handles selection for South Asia. Strong candidates are recent graduates from Moratuwa, Colombo, Peradeniya, and SLIIT/IIT in technical fields, and from Colombo / Sri Jayewardenepura in social sciences and humanities. Apply 12-16 months before your intended intake — DAAD's timelines are long.
2027/28 cycle: applications typically open August 2026 with the DAAD Regional Office (New Delhi) deadline around October 2026
DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)
Government-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Monthly Stipend
€934/month (Master's level)
Duration
10-24 months (programme length)
Extras
Tuition + Insurance + Travel + Study Allowance
info How this award actually works
This is a separate, highly competitive application
Government awards like this one run their own selection round against applicants from across the world, and success rates are usually in the low single digits. Lanka Scholar does not administer it and cannot submit it for you. Treat it as a bonus on top of a funded study plan — never as the plan itself.
Who awards it
DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
How you are considered
Through a separate application round run by the funder, with its own forms, deadlines and shortlisting. You submit it yourself — it is not part of a university admission application.
What it covers
€934/month + Tuition + Travel + Health Insurance. Read the terms carefully: even fully-funded awards rarely cover every cost, and any shortfall is yours to fund.
Where we come in
We help you judge whether this award is worth your time, and build a realistic admission plan that works whether or not you win it.
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Bachelor's Degree (Generally < 6 Years Old)
You must hold a Bachelor's degree (or be in your final year). For most Master's-level Study Scholarships, your undergraduate degree should have been completed within the last six years.
Sri Lankan Citizen Applying Via New Delhi
South Asian applicants — including Sri Lankans — apply through the DAAD Regional Office in New Delhi. Country-specific deadlines and quotas apply; check the New Delhi DAAD website annually for current Sri Lanka allocation.
Strong Academic Record
A first-class or strong upper-second Bachelor's is competitive. DAAD also weights letters of motivation, an academic CV, two academic referees, and the intellectual fit between your Bachelor's and the proposed German Master's.
Language Proficiency
For English-taught Master's: IELTS 6.5+ / TOEFL iBT 90+. For German-taught Master's: DSH 2 / TestDaF 4 minimum. DAAD does not require both — match the language of instruction of your target programme.
account_tree Application Process
Identify your target Master's programmes
Choose up to three eligible Master's programmes from the DAAD database at daad.de/idp. Programmes must be at recognised German universities. You can apply with admission letters in hand OR apply for the scholarship first and pursue admission in parallel.
Prepare your application package
Assemble: DAAD application form, academic CV, motivation letter (specific to each chosen Master's), university transcripts and degree certificates (with English translations), proof of language proficiency, and two academic references on letterhead.
Submit via the DAAD Portal
Submit your full application via the DAAD Portal (portal.daad.de) by the New Delhi regional office deadline — usually late October. Hardcopy documents may also be required at the regional office; check the year's call carefully.
Interview + selection
Shortlisted candidates are typically invited to an interview in New Delhi (or online) between January and March. Final decisions are issued April-May for an autumn semester (October) start.
Why DAAD?
Germany has the largest English-taught Master's catalogue in continental Europe, with tuition typically free or capped at €1,500/semester even without a scholarship. DAAD funding lifts that further and adds full living costs. Germany's post-study 18-month job-search visa lets you stay and convert to a work visa with the EU Blue Card.
1,800+
English-Taught Master's in Germany
18 mo
Post-Study Job-Search Visa
100+
DAAD Awards/Year to South Asia
Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?
Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
Open the cost calculator arrow_forwardSort courses by lowest fee
The full catalogue, cheapest tuition first. Changing course or country saves far more than most awards are worth.
Browse lowest-fee courses arrow_forwardWhat Germany actually costs
Tuition, living costs and the total first-year figure for Germany, in LKR as well as local currency.
See the cost breakdown arrow_forwardCheck your proof of funds
Every student visa requires you to show funds. Find out what you need before you commit to an application.
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