Country-Specific Information for US Applicants

Young graduates standing in a row smiling in robes and doctoral hats.
© iStockphoto

Select a scholarship or grant below to view regional-specific information for applicants from the United States. For full descriptions of each program, please visit the scholarship database.

Objective

Highly qualified final year undergraduate students or those who have received an undergraduate degree of all disciplines may apply for the DAAD Study Scholarship for a full Master’s degree program at a State or State-recognized university in Germany or for a study at a German university as part of a postgraduate or Master’s degree program completed in the home country.

Please note: For applicants from artistic disciplines and the field of architecture, DAAD offers subject-specific scholarship programs: MusicFine Art/Design/FilmPerforming ArtArchitecture

Eligibility requirements 

  • Students in their last year of undergraduate studies at an accredited US or Canadian university.
  • US or Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
  • Foreign nationals who live in the USA or in Canada by the time of application deadline are eligible, if your last degree was obtained in the US/Canada, or you will have received a degree in the US/Canada before your scholarship starts. All other foreign nationals may need to apply via a different DAAD office.
  • Recent BA/BS or MA/MS graduates who completed their last degree no longer than 6 years ago.
  • Applicants may not have been living in Germany for more than 15 consecutive months by the time of application deadline.
  • A Master’s degree program already started in Germany cannot be funded.

Application Guidelines

The DAAD portal closes at MIDNIGHT Central European Time (6 PM EST/5PM CST/4PM MTN/3PM PST) on the deadline date. 

  1. Check here if your University is a DAAD Partner University.
    • At a DAAD Partner University: contact your DAAD campus coordinator and follow the application guidelines for your university’s pre-selection. Please note that your university may have an earlier internal deadline. (if you miss your university’s deadline, you may follow the general application guidelines). This does not apply to short-term research grant applicants or to performing/visual artists.
    • Not at a DAAD Partner University: follow the general application guidelines
  1. Application Checklist for US & Canadian applicants
  1. Helpful Links for the Online Portal
  1. After You Submit Your Application
    • Please DO NOT CALL OR EMAIL. You will receive an acknowledgement letter through the portal 8 weeks after the deadline.
    • Results will be announced through the portal at the beginning of April.
    • Application decisions will not be accompanied with an explanation.
    • The application documents remain with the DAAD. Your personal data is saved by the DAAD in accordance with the Federal Data Protection Act and with the EU Data Protection Regulation insofar as this data is needed to process the application.

Objective

Highly qualified candidates who have completed a Master’s degree or Diploma, or in exceptional cases a Bachelor’s degree at the latest by the time they begin their grant supported research.

Eligibility requirements

  • US or Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
  • Foreign nationals who live in the US/Canada by the time of application deadline must have gained their last degree in the US/Canada or will be gaining it before the beginning of their funding period. All other foreign nationals may need to apply via a different DAAD office.
  • Applicants may not have been living in Germany for more than 15 consecutive months by the time of application deadline.
  • If you are a German national, you must have been residing in the US/Canada for 6 continuous years at the time of the application deadline. Please call our office to make sure you are eligible.
  • Applicants should have completed their last degree no longer than 6 years before the application deadline.
  • For doctoral students enrolled in a program in the US/Canada: no more than 3 years should have passed since receiving ABD status.

Application Guidelines

The DAAD portal closes at MIDNIGHT Central European Time (6 PM EST/5PM CST/4PM MTN/3PM PST) on the deadline date. 

  1. Check here if your University is a DAAD Partner University.
    • At a DAAD Partner University: contact your DAAD campus coordinator and follow the application guidelines for your university’s pre-selection. Please note that your university may have an earlier internal deadline. (if you miss your university’s deadline, you may follow the general application guidelines). This does not apply to short-term research grant applicants or to performing/visual artists.
    • Not at a DAAD Partner University: follow the general application guidelines
  1. Application Checklist for US & Canadian applicants
  1. Helpful Links for the Online Portal
  1. After You Submit Your Application
    • Please DO NOT CALL OR EMAIL. You will receive an acknowledgement letter through the portal 8 weeks after the deadline.
    • Results will be announced through the portal at the beginning of April.
    • Application decisions will not be accompanied with an explanation.
    • The application documents remain with the DAAD. Your personal data is saved by the DAAD in accordance with the Federal Data Protection Act and with the EU Data Protection Regulation insofar as this data is needed to process the application.

Objective

This program offers you the opportunity to do a bi-national doctoral degree at your home university and at a university in Germany.

Eligibility Requirements

  • US or Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
  • Foreign nationals who live in the US/Canada by the time of application deadline must have completed their last degree in the US/Canada or will complete it before the beginning of their funding period. All other foreign nationals may need to apply via a different DAAD office.
  • Applicants may not have been living in Germany for more than 15 consecutive months by the time of application deadline.
  • If you are a German national, you must have been residing in the US/Canada for 6 continuous years at the time of the application deadline. Please call our office to make sure you are eligible.
  • Applicants should have completed their last degree no longer than 6 years before the application deadline.
  • Depending on the nature of the project, you can apply for:
    a) bi-national supervision based on the “sandwich model”. You can apply if you have earned a Master’s degree or Diplom (or in exceptional cases a Bachelor’s degree) at the latest at the start of the funding period.
    b) ”Cotutelle model”. You can apply if you have been admitted to a doctoral program at the latest at the start of the funding period.

Application Guidelines

The DAAD portal closes at MIDNIGHT Central European Time (6 PM EST/5PM CST/4PM MTN/3PM PST) on the deadline date. 

  1. Application Checklist for US & Canadian applicants
  2. Helpful Links for the Online Portal
  1. After You Submit Your Application
    • Please DO NOT CALL OR EMAIL. You will receive an acknowledgement letter through the portal 8 weeks after the deadline.
    • Results will be announced through the Portal at the beginning of April.
    • Application decisions will not be accompanied with an explanation.
    • The application documents remain with the DAAD. Data relating to applicants is saved by the DAAD in accordance with the Federal Data Protection Act insofar as this data is needed to process applications.

DAAD offers financial support for subject-related academic information visits to Germany organized by faculty members for groups of students. Group Study Visit grants are intended to encourage contact with academic institutions, groups and individuals in Germany, and offer insight into current issues in the academic, scientific, economic, political and cultural realms.

The objectives of a study trip are:

  • to establish and maintain contacts between German and US/Canadian universities
  • to provide participants with a subject-specific knowledge by organizing visits to at least two universities, subject-related tours and informative meetings
  • to promote meetings with German students and academics and scientists
  • to offer participants an insight into economic, political, and cultural life in Germany

Eligibility Requirements

  • All departments are eligible for this funding. The visit should be organized and arranged entirely by the home institution and should have a meaningful relationship to its curriculum.
  • The proposed program should also give students a greater understanding of and insight into current issues in the academic, scientific, economic, political and cultural realms in Germany. This part must not make up more than one third of the funding term.
  • The group should consist of 10 to 15 students (plus one accompanying faculty member) affiliated with an accredited US and Canadian university. The students should be at the Bachelor’s and Master’s level. Individual doctoral candidates may also be funded after consultation with DAAD. The trip should be for 7 to 12 days, although the visits themselves may last longer. Participants may be drawn from more than one institution.

Terms of Award

DAAD offers funds up to around € 9,600 to subsidize room and board, depending on the size of the group and length of stay (€50 per participant per day). Participants will have to supplement the funding provided by DAAD with resources of their own. Groups will not be eligible for funding in successive years.

DAAD is not responsible for any visa matters regarding entry into Germany or re-entry into the US and Canada for international students.

Application Deadlines

  • November 1st (for trips commencing between March 1st and June 1st of the following year)
  • February 1st (for trips commencing between June 1st and September 1st of the same year)
  • May 1st  (for trips commencing no earlier than September 1st of the same year)

Application Guidelines

Applications must be filed by a faculty member and should include:

  1. Signed application form (it is not necessary to submit names of students at the time of application; available for download in the box below)
  2. Statement of reasons and description of program content outlining exactly how this trip ties into the curriculum. Please note that the sightseeing portion should not be more than one third of the funding term
  3. A detailed itinerary
  4. Proof of contacts on the German side, especially in higher education (e.g. by submitting copies of correspondence-invitations, confirmations
  5. An itemized total budget

Submit your complete application as 1 PDF file to:  kim [at] daad.de

The results are usually announced 4 to 6 weeks after the deadline.

Reporting your Results:

  • DAAD expects the submission of a report on the visit within six weeks of the return from Germany.
  • The final report should be a detailed narrative, which outlines your activities and results. It should also include the overall budget of the study tour.
  • DAAD would welcome a copy of any publication resulting from the study tour.

Stories from Past Visits

Want to learn more about Group Study Visits? Take a look at these resources from past groups detailing their experiences!

The University of Rhode Island created a website with photos, videos, a blog, and more about their travels in Germany.

For insight into Barnard College’s Art History and Visual Arts Group Study Visit, please visit our interview here.

You can also join students from the Pratt Institute Graduate School of Architechture (GAUD), led by Professors Gisela Baurmann and Jonas Coersmeier, on their journeys through Berlin on Instagram.

Objective

Highly qualified candidates who have completed a Master’s degree or Diploma, or in exceptional cases a Bachelor’s degree at the latest by the time they begin their grant-supported research, or those who have already completed a PhD (postdocs).

Eligibility requirements

  • US or Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
  • Foreign nationals with their current residence in the US/Canada by the time of application deadline must have been living in the US/Canada for a minimum of one year.
  • All other foreign nationals may need to apply via a different DAAD office.
  • Applicants may not have been living in Germany for more than 15 consecutive months by the time of application deadline.
  • If you are a German national, you must have been residing in the US/Canada for 6 continuous years at the time of the application deadline. Please call our office to make sure you are eligible.
  • For doctoral students enrolled in a program in the US/Canada: no more than 3 years should have passed (at the time of application deadline) since receiving ABD status.
  • For postdocs: no more than 4 years should have passed (at the time of application deadline) since gaining their doctorate.

Application Guidelines

The DAAD portal closes at MIDNIGHT Central European Time (6 PM EST/5PM CST/4PM MTN/3PM PST) on the deadline date. 

  1. Application Checklist for US & Canadian applicants
  1. Helpful Links for the Online Portal
  1. After You Submit Your Application
    • Please DO NOT CALL OR EMAIL. You will receive an email notification 8 weeks after the deadline.
    • Results will be announced approximately 3-4 months after the application deadline.
    • Application decisions will not be accompanied with an explanation.
    • The application documents remain with the DAAD. Your personal data is saved by the DAAD in accordance with the Federal Data Protection Act and with the EU Data Protection Regulation insofar as this data is needed to process the application.

Objective

Scholars at US or Canadian universities or research institutions who have a PhD (or equivalent) and have been working in research or teaching full-time for at least two years at the time of application and after receipt of the doctorate are eligible.

Eligibility requirements

  • US or Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
  • German nationals must have been affiliated with a US or Canadian institution in full-time employment for at least ten consecutive years.
  • Former recipients of DAAD Research Stays who wish to apply again may do so after a lapse of at least three years.

Application Guidelines

The DAAD portal closes at MIDNIGHT Central European Time (6 PM EST/5PM CST/4PM MTN/3PM PST) on the deadline date. 

After You Submit Your Application

    • As soon as you have submitted your application online, you will automatically receive confirmation that your application has been successfully submitted and an e-mail informing you that a message has been sent to you via the portal’s messaging system confirming receipt.
    • Please do not call or email. You will receive an email notification 8 weeks after the deadline confirming receipt of your complete application.
    • Results will be announced approximately 3-4 months after the application deadline.
    • Please note that no reasons for decisions will be given.
    • The application documents remain with the DAAD. Your personal data is saved by the DAAD in accordance with the Federal Data Protection Act and with the EU Data Protection Regulation insofar as this data is needed to process the application.

Objective

Former holders of DAAD research grants or study scholarships who were funded for a period of over six months.

Eligibility requirements

  • US or Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
  • German nationals must have been affiliated with a US or Canadian institution in full-time employment for at least ten consecutive years.

Application Guidelines

The DAAD portal closes at MIDNIGHT Central European Time (6 PM EST/5PM CST/4PM MTN/3PM PST) on the deadline date. 

After You Submit Your Application

    • As soon as you have submitted your application online, you will automatically receive confirmation that your application has been successfully submitted and an e-mail informing you that a message has been sent to you via the portal’s messaging system confirming receipt.
    • Please do not call or email. You will receive an email notification 8 weeks after the deadline confirming receipt of your complete application.
    • Results will be announced approximately 3-4 months after the application deadline.
    • Please note that no reasons for decisions will be given.
    • The application documents remain with the DAAD. Your personal data is saved by the DAAD in accordance with the Federal Data Protection Act and with the EU Data Protection Regulation insofar as this data is needed to process the application.

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