DAAD Doctoral Scholarships 2027 in Germany: €1,400 Monthly Funding for Full PhD and Bi-National Cotutelle Programmes

International graduates and doctoral researchers seeking financial support to pursue advanced research in Germany can now apply for two major doctoral funding programmes offered by the German Academic Exchange Service, commonly known as DAAD.

The available opportunities include the DAAD Doctoral Programmes in Germany and the DAAD Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees/Cotutelle Programme. Although both programmes provide substantial financial and academic support, they serve different types of doctoral candidates.

The first programme is designed for applicants who intend to complete their doctoral degree primarily at a German university or recognised research institution. The second is intended for researchers who want to remain enrolled at their home university while conducting part of their doctoral research in Germany under joint or bi-national academic supervision.

Both programmes are funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and offer a monthly payment of €1,400, insurance support, research funding, travel assistance and possible additional allowances. Funding must begin in 2027.

DAAD Doctoral Funding Programmes 2027 at a Glance

Programme	Main purpose	Funding duration	Monthly payment
Doctoral Programmes in Germany	Complete a doctoral degree at a German university or recognised research institution	Up to four years	€1,400
Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees/Cotutelle	Complete a doctorate through coordinated supervision by a home university and a German institution	7 to 24 months of funded research stays	€1,400 during stays in Germany

For the regional configuration contained in the supplied DAAD links, applications close on 21 October 2026. Selection is expected around February 2027, and funding is scheduled to begin in October 2027.

However, DAAD application deadlines and additional requirements depend on the applicant’s country of residence. Applicants must select their current country and academic status in the DAAD database before relying on the displayed deadline.

1. DAAD Doctoral Programmes in Germany

The DAAD Doctoral Programmes in Germany enable highly qualified international graduates and doctoral candidates to complete a doctoral degree at a state or state-recognised institution of higher education or a non-university research institute in Germany.

The programme supports two principal routes:

• An individual doctoral research project supervised by a university professor or recognised doctoral supervisor.
• Participation in a structured doctoral study programme offered by a German institution.

Applicants are expected to identify a suitable German institution, develop a detailed research project and establish contact with a prospective academic supervisor or structured doctoral programme before submitting their application.

Research Activities Outside Germany

Research phases outside Germany may also be supported when they are essential to the successful completion of the doctorate.

Such periods must:

• Be academically necessary for the doctoral research.
• Represent no more than one-quarter of the expected total funding period.
• Be clearly explained in the applicant’s research plan, work schedule and timetable.
• Be approved as part of the overall doctoral project.

Applicants should not introduce international research visits after submitting their application without demonstrating how those visits contribute directly to the doctorate.

Funding Duration

Funding can be provided for a maximum of four years. The exact duration is determined by the DAAD selection committee based on the nature of the research project and the proposed work plan.

Scholarships are normally awarded initially for a maximum of three years. The scholarship holder’s academic progress is reviewed annually. Continued funding depends on evidence that the doctoral project is progressing satisfactorily and can be completed within a reasonable period.

A scholarship holder may apply for an extension covering a possible fourth year where additional time is academically justified.

Funding under the 2026 application round must begin in 2027.

2. DAAD Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees/Cotutelle Programme

The DAAD Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees/Cotutelle Programme supports doctoral research conducted jointly between a university in the applicant’s home country and an institution in Germany.

The programme offers two different models.

Option A: Bi-nationally Supervised Doctorate or Sandwich Model

Under the sandwich model, the applicant begins the doctorate at a university in their home country. The doctoral project is supervised by an academic adviser at the home university and another academic adviser at the German host institution.

The normal structure is as follows:

1. The candidate begins the doctoral degree at the home university.
2. The research project and supervision arrangements are agreed upon by both academic advisers.
3. The candidate completes one or more research stays in Germany.
4. The candidate returns to the home country to complete the doctorate.
5. The home university awards the final doctoral degree.

The German academic adviser remains involved in the supervision of the research even though the final degree is awarded by the applicant’s home institution.

Option B: Cotutelle Doctorate

The Cotutelle model is based on a formal, individual cooperation agreement between the applicant’s home university and a German university.

The doctoral research is conducted and supervised jointly by the two participating institutions. After the candidate successfully completes the doctoral requirements, the home university and the German university award the doctoral degree jointly in accordance with the Cotutelle agreement.

Applicants selecting this route must either have the formal Cotutelle agreement at the time of application or provide it before the funding period begins. If the agreement has not yet been finalised, confirmation from the German academic adviser referring specifically to the proposed project must normally be submitted with the application.

What the Bi-national/Cotutelle Programme Funds

For the sandwich model, DAAD funds research stays at:

• A state or state-recognised university in Germany; or
• A recognised non-university research institute in Germany.

The research stay must form part of a doctoral degree being undertaken in the applicant’s home country.

For the Cotutelle model, DAAD supports research stays at a state or state-recognised German higher education institution participating in the joint doctoral arrangement.

Funding Duration

Funding is provided for a minimum of seven months and a maximum of 24 months.

The grant may be divided flexibly across several shorter research stays in Germany. Applicants must explain in their timetable how the research period will be divided between Germany and the home university.

Research visits to third countries may be considered when they are:

• Directly connected with the research stay in Germany;
• Necessary for activities such as fieldwork or data collection;
• Included in the application documents; and
• Limited to no more than one-quarter of the expected funding period.

No DAAD monthly scholarship payments are made during periods spent at the applicant’s home university.

Financial Benefits of the DAAD Doctoral Scholarships

Monthly Scholarship Payment

Both programmes provide a monthly payment of €1,400 for doctoral candidates.

Under the Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees/Cotutelle Programme, this payment is made only while the scholarship holder is staying in Germany. No monthly scholarship is paid for periods spent at the home university.

Insurance Support

The programmes include payments towards:

• Health insurance;
• Accident insurance; and
• Personal liability insurance.

Applicants should consult the relevant DAAD scholarship conditions for the precise insurance arrangements and any required personal contribution.

Travel Allowance

Applicants may receive a DAAD travel allowance upon application, unless their travel costs are covered by their home country, employer or another funding organisation.

The Bi-national/Cotutelle Programme may fund up to three outward and return journeys between the home country and Germany, subject to the applicable DAAD travel allowance rules.

Research Allowance

The Doctoral Programmes in Germany provide an annual research allowance of €460.

The Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees/Cotutelle Programme provides a research allowance of €460 in accordance with its programme conditions.

Support for Academic Supervisors

Under the Bi-national/Cotutelle Programme, travel and accommodation expenses may be provided for supervising university teachers for one trip of up to ten days.

This may support:

• A visit to Germany to monitor the doctoral candidate’s academic progress; or
• A visit to the applicant’s home university to participate in final examinations.

The proposed supervisory visits must be included in the application’s research schedule.

Possible Rent Subsidy

After funding begins, scholarship holders may apply for a monthly rent subsidy under certain circumstances.

For the Bi-national/Cotutelle Programme, this additional support is normally relevant to uninterrupted stays in Germany lasting more than six months. Approval is not automatic and depends on DAAD’s applicable conditions and the scholarship holder’s circumstances.

Family Allowance

Scholarship holders may also be able to apply for a monthly allowance for accompanying family members. Eligibility and the amount of support depend on the duration of the stay, family circumstances and DAAD regulations.

Disability and Chronic Illness Support

Applicants with a disability or chronic illness may request assistance for justified additional costs necessary to complete the project in Germany.

The additional expenses must:

• Be directly related to undertaking the project abroad;
• Be necessary for the applicant’s participation;
• Not be covered by another organisation; and
• Be supported by appropriate documentation.

DAAD determines the amount of additional support individually.

German Language Support

Depending on the applicant’s existing language skills and the requirements of the research project, DAAD may provide:

• Payment for an online German language course after the Scholarship Award Letter is issued.
• A two-, four- or six-month language course before the research period begins.
• An allowance for a German language course selected during the funding period.
• Reimbursement of the fee for a TestDaF or DSH examination.

DAAD determines whether a preparatory language course is necessary and how long it should last. If the working language of the host institution is German and DAAD awards a language-course scholarship, participation may be compulsory.

For the Doctoral Programmes in Germany under the supplied regional configuration, scholarship holders are expected to attend a two- to four-month language course in Germany before beginning their doctoral project.

Applicants should also note that financial benefits received from third parties may be partially deducted from or credited against the DAAD scholarship.

Academic Eligibility Requirements

Applicants for the Doctoral Programmes in Germany must have above-average academic qualifications and must have completed one of the following by the beginning of the funding period:

• A Master’s degree;
• A German-equivalent Diplom qualification; or
• In exceptional cases, a Bachelor’s degree considered sufficient for doctoral admission.

Applicants for the sandwich-model route must have completed a Master’s degree or Diplom, or exceptionally an appropriate Bachelor’s degree, by the start of funding.

Applicants for the Cotutelle route must have been admitted to a doctoral programme by the beginning of the funding period.

Recency of Academic Qualification

As a general rule, the applicant’s most recent university degree should have been completed no more than six years before the application deadline.

Existing Doctoral Candidates

Applicants who have already started their doctorate should normally not have begun it more than three years before the application deadline.

Residence in Germany

An application cannot normally be considered if the applicant has been resident in Germany for more than 15 months by the application deadline.

Applicants already living in Germany must therefore calculate the duration of their residence carefully before applying.

Medicine and Related Disciplines

Different regulations apply to candidates working in:

• Human medicine;
• Veterinary medicine; and
• Dentistry.

Applicants in these fields should review the DAAD’s subject-specific medical regulations before preparing an application.

Language Requirements

The required language ability depends on the proposed subject, host institution and language of research.

For applicants in the arts, social sciences and law, good knowledge of German is usually expected. In natural sciences and engineering, evidence of good English may be accepted where English is the working language of the host institution.

Applicants should obtain written confirmation of the working language from their academic supervisor or doctoral programme and check whether their country-specific DAAD announcement requires a particular language examination.

How Applications Are Evaluated

Applications are reviewed by an independent selection committee composed of specialist academics. The evaluation is divided into three broad areas.

1. Academic Qualifications

The committee considers:

• Academic grades and grade development;
• Overall academic progress;
• Knowledge of the proposed language of instruction or research;
• Publications, where applicable;
• Academic presentations;
• Conference papers; and
• Other scholarly achievements completed after graduation.

2. Quality of the Research Project

Assessment covers:

• Originality of the research proposal;
• Academic relevance and timeliness;
• Quality of preparation;
• Suitability of the selected German host institution;
• Evidence of prior contact with the host;
• Feasibility of the proposed methodology;
• Consistency of the research schedule; and
• Integration of the proposed German research period into the overall doctorate.

3. Applicant’s Potential

The committee also evaluates:

• The importance of the project for the applicant’s future career;
• The expected academic, professional and personal value of the stay in Germany;
• The applicant’s motivation;
• German language knowledge, where relevant;
• Non-academic knowledge and practical skills;
• Voluntary work; and
• Civic or community engagement.

Equal-opportunity considerations may also be taken into account where applicants provide relevant information in the application form.

Required Application Documents

Applicants must register in the DAAD portal, complete the online application and upload the required documents in PDF format.

Documents may initially be uploaded as non-certified scans, although DAAD reserves the right to request certified copies.

Documents issued in a language other than German or English must be accompanied by a German or English translation. The translation should be uploaded together with the original document.

Documents Required for Both Programmes

Applicants should prepare:

• A complete curriculum vitae in tabular form, limited to three pages.
• A list of academic publications, if applicable, limited to ten pages.
• A one- to two-page letter of motivation explaining the academic and personal reasons for undertaking the project in Germany.
• A detailed research proposal written and formulated by the applicant.
• A description of relevant previous research work.
• An academic work plan and timetable.
• University degree certificates showing final grades.
• Undergraduate and postgraduate transcripts listing individual grades.
• One recent academic letter of recommendation from a university teacher.
• A declaration from the German scientific supervisor addressing the ethical and safety-related aspects of the research.
• Proof of doctoral admission or enrolment, where applicable.
• German or English translations of documents issued in another language.
• Any additional country-specific documents requested by the relevant DAAD office.

Applicants may also submit supporting evidence such as:

• Employment certificates;
• Internship or practical-training certificates;
• Evidence of voluntary service;
• Research-related awards; or
• Other documents that strengthen the application.

Additional Documents for the Doctoral Programmes in Germany

Candidates undertaking an individually supervised doctorate must provide:

• A research schedule agreed with the German academic supervisor; and
• A letter confirming supervision by the proposed doctoral supervisor.

Applicants seeking admission to a structured doctoral programme must provide:

• The doctoral programme’s module plan;
• Evidence of existing contact with the programme coordinator; and
• A letter of admission, which may be submitted later if it is not available when the application is filed.

The research proposal and description of previous research must not exceed ten pages in total.

Additional Documents for the Bi-national/Cotutelle Programme

Applicants for the sandwich model must submit written confirmation signed or agreed upon by both academic advisers.

The confirmation should:

• Refer directly to the applicant’s research project;
• Confirm that the project has been agreed upon by both supervisors; and
• Guarantee that the German host institution will provide an appropriate workplace.

Applicants for the Cotutelle model must submit the individual cooperation agreement between the home university and the German university. Where the agreement is still being prepared, it may be submitted before the funding period begins, but a project-specific confirmation from the German academic adviser must be included in the initial application.

Applicants under the supplied regional configuration must also complete and upload the DAAD Sandwich Declaration containing information about the supervisors in Germany and at the home university.

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Determine whether the full doctoral programme or the Bi-national/Cotutelle route matches your intended doctoral structure.
2. Identify a suitable German university, research institute, doctoral programme or academic supervisor.
3. Discuss the research proposal, timetable and supervision arrangements with the prospective host.
4. Register through the DAAD application portal.
5. Generate the official recommendation form from the portal.
6. Send the recommendation form to a university teacher for completion.
7. Prepare all required academic and supporting documents.
8. Translate documents that are not already in German or English.
9. Scan and save the documents in PDF format.
10. Complete the online application form.
11. Upload every required attachment under the correct portal category.
12. Upload the completed academic recommendation.
13. Review the complete application before submitting it online.
14. Generate the application summary after online submission.
15. Where required by the applicant’s regional DAAD office, send one printed copy of the application summary by post.

For the supplied regional configuration, the application summary must be sent to:

Regional Office New Delhi
German Academic Exchange Service
Regional Office Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka
c/o DLTA Complex, R.K. Khanna Stadium
1 Africa Avenue
New Delhi 110029
India

Email: info.newdelhi@daad.de
Telephone: +91 11 6646 5500

Applicants who meet the formal requirements and submit complete applications may be interviewed by a selection committee in New Delhi around the beginning of February.

Application Deadline

For applicants using the regional configuration contained in the supplied links:

• Application deadline: 21 October 2026
• Expected selection period: February 2027
• Expected beginning of funding: October 2027

Applications are accepted through the DAAD portal from 1 June until the stated deadline.

The portal closes at 24:00 CET or CEST on the final application day. Applicants should submit early because technical problems, missing uploads or an incomplete application can result in disqualification.

DAAD deadlines are country-specific. Applicants must select the country in which they are living and from which they are applying. They should not assume that the 21 October 2026 deadline applies worldwide.

For example, the official DAAD Pakistan scholarship database lists the following schedule for applicants applying from Pakistan:

• Application deadline: 31 August 2026
• Selection period: February 2027
• Earliest beginning of funding: May 2027

Important Application Advice

A successful application requires more than strong grades. Applicants should begin by securing serious academic engagement from a suitable German supervisor.

The research proposal should clearly explain:

• The research problem;
• Existing academic knowledge;
• The gap the project intends to address;
• Research questions or hypotheses;
• Proposed methodology;
• Expected academic contribution;
• Ethical or safety considerations;
• Reasons for choosing the German host institution; and
• A realistic timetable for completing the project.

The motivation letter should complement rather than repeat the research proposal. It should explain why the project matters to the applicant’s academic development, professional objectives and future contribution to their home institution or society.

Applicants should also ensure that every period of research inside and outside Germany is reflected consistently across the proposal, work plan, supervision confirmation and funding schedule.

Official Application Links

• DAAD Doctoral Programmes in Germany
• DAAD Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees/Cotutelle

Conclusion

The DAAD Doctoral Programmes in Germany and Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees/Cotutelle Programme provide two valuable but fundamentally different routes for international doctoral researchers.

Candidates who intend to complete their doctorate primarily in Germany should consider the Doctoral Programmes in Germany, which can provide support for up to four years. Researchers who want to retain a strong institutional connection with their home university should consider the sandwich or Cotutelle route, which supports research stays in Germany for seven to 24 months.

Both programmes offer a €1,400 monthly payment, insurance support, research funding, travel assistance, language preparation and possible family, rent and accessibility-related allowances. Applicants must nevertheless select the correct country in the DAAD database, follow all country-specific instructions and submit a complete application before the applicable deadline.

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