The Reichstag building in Berlin with the German flag flying above the glass dome at dusk.

Germany Annual cycle — the portal typically opens in summer with deadlines in autumn (often 30 September / mid-October) for the following academic year

DAAD Research Grants – Doctoral Programmes in Germany

DAAD Research Grants are the German government's flagship funding route for international doctoral candidates — and unlike many EU doctorates (which are salaried employment contracts), this is a genuine scholarship stipend. The 'Doctoral Programmes in Germany' variant funds a full PhD of up to four years for graduates who completed their last degree no more than six years ago. Sri Lanka is explicitly on the DAAD eligible-country list, and the grant covers a monthly living stipend, health/accident/liability insurance, a travel allowance, and (where needed) a German language course. You apply through the DAAD portal after lining up a German supervisor or structured PhD programme.

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

Government-funded

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Monthly Stipend

~€1,300 (doctoral candidates)

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Duration

Up to 4 years (full PhD)

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Insurance

Health, accident & liability cover

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Extras

Travel allowance + German course

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Eligible Country National

Open to graduates from a long list of developing and transition countries — Sri Lanka is explicitly eligible. You apply from Sri Lanka before relocating to Germany.

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Strong Master's Degree

A very good Master's (or equivalent) degree completed normally no more than six years before applying. Sri Lankan applicants with a research Master's from Colombo, Peradeniya, or Moratuwa fit the profile.

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Supervisor or PhD Programme

You need either a confirmed supervisor who will host your individual doctorate, or admission to a structured doctoral programme at a German university. DAAD does not arrange this for you.

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Language

Proof of English or German appropriate to your project. Many German PhDs run in English, but a German course allowance is built into the grant to support daily life.

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Timing

Grants generally start the year after application. Build in time to secure a supervisor and prepare a detailed research proposal — the proposal is the heart of the application.

account_tree Application Process

Secure a German supervisor or PhD place

Identify a German research group in your field and email potential supervisors with your CV and a draft proposal, or apply to a structured doctoral programme. A confirmation letter from your host strengthens the application enormously.

Register on the DAAD portal

Create an account on the DAAD scholarship database, select the doctoral research grant, and complete the online form with transcripts, certificates, references, and your detailed research and timetable plan.

Submit before the deadline

Upload all documents and submit before the country-specific deadline (often around 30 September / October). DAAD's regional office reviews completeness before forwarding to the selection committee.

Selection and award

An independent academic selection committee assesses applications; strong candidates may be interviewed. Outcomes are usually announced a few months later, ahead of the next academic year start.

About DAAD

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is the world's largest funding organisation for international academic exchange, supporting around 100,000 students and researchers every year. Germany charges little or no tuition at public universities and offers an 18-month post-study job-search visa, making a DAAD-funded doctorate one of the strongest research pathways from Sri Lanka.