The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is offering the Scholarship Hilde Domin Programme for the academic year 2025/2026 funded by the Federal Foreign Office. This scholarship aims to support students and doctoral candidates worldwide who are at risk of being denied their right to education due to their identity or civic and political engagement. The scholarship provides a monthly stipend (€992 for master’s students, €1,300 for doctoral candidates), health and accident insurance, a travel allowance, and, if necessary, a German language preparatory course.

The study funding programme is open to masters students and doctoral candidates worldwide (except from EU/EEA/EFTA countries, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the UK) who are at risk of being denied education rights in their home countries due to their ethnic, sexual, gender, or religious identity and/or political or civic engagement.

The German Academic Exchange Service, or Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD), stands as a cornerstone of Germany’s foreign cultural and educational policy. As the world’s largest funding organisation of its kind, the DAAD is the national agency dedicated to fostering international academic cooperation. In the 21st century, the DAAD has continued to evolve, adapting to the forces of globalisation, digitalisation, and the increasing competition for academic talent.

Brief Description

• University or Organization: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), funded by the Federal Foreign Office (AA)

• Department: All academic fields (except human medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and law)

• Course Level: Master’s degree or Doctoral (PhD)

• Award: Monthly stipend (€992 for master’s students, €1,300 for doctoral candidates), health and accident insurance, travel allowance, and additional support (including preparatory language courses)

• Access Mode: Online

• Number of Awards: NA

• Nationality: International (except EU/EEA/EFTA countries, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the United Kingdom)

• The award can be taken in: Germany

Eligibility

• Eligible Countries: Open worldwide (except EU/EEA/EFTA countries, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the UK).

• Acceptable Course or Subjects: The scholarship is awarded for master’s or doctoral studies in any discipline (excluding medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and law).

• Admissible Criteria: To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be at risk of being formally or de facto denied education rights due to their ethnic, sexual, gender, or religious identity and/or political or civic engagement.

  • Be nominated by an eligible institution or organization in Germany (self-applications are not possible).

  • Provide credible evidence of risk to personal safety or educational rights.

  • Hold a recognized bachelor’s degree (for a master’s programme) or a recognized master’s degree (for doctoral studies).

  • Have completed their last degree no longer than six years prior to application.

  • Not already reside in Germany or the EU at the time of nomination.

  • Meet required language proficiency in German or English depending on the chosen programme.

How to Apply

Candidates cannot apply directly. Instead, they must be nominated by German institutions or organizations active in science, research, higher education, human rights, peace, democracy, or the rule of law. After nomination, eligible candidates will be contacted by DAAD and invited to submit their application through the DAAD portal.

Nomination deadline:

• For the winter semester 2026/27: 15th September 2025

• Application period: 17th September – 15th October 2025

Benefits

Successful candidates will receive:

• Monthly scholarship of €992 (master’s) or €1,300 (doctoral candidates).

• Health, accident, and personal liability insurance.

• Travel allowance from the country of origin or residence.

• If necessary, a German language preparatory course (2–6 months).

• Additional financial support, depending on individual circumstances.

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