The DAAD “Study Scholarships for STEM Disciplines”, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, supports high-achieving graduates from selected developing and emerging countries to complete a full master’s degree in a STEM field — mathematics, computer science, the natural sciences, or engineering — at a state or state-recognised university in Germany. It provides a monthly living stipend, insurance contributions, and a yearly study allowance for the standard length of the chosen programme.
Scholarship holders relocate to Germany to study full-time on campus; funding under the current call must begin in 2027 and usually starts on 1 October 2027 (or earlier if a German language course precedes the programme). Interdisciplinary programmes qualify only if they have a designated STEM focus.
Benefits & funding
- Monthly scholarship payment of €992.
- Contributions towards health, accident, and personal liability insurance.
- Annual study allowance of €460.
- A travel allowance, available on application.
- Possible additional support (case-by-case): a monthly rent subsidy, a family allowance for accompanying dependants, a subsidy for applicants with disabilities or chronic illness, and a carbon-offset / “Green Mobility” reimbursement.
- Funding for the standard period of study of the chosen programme — between 10 and 24 months.
- Conditional funding for a preceding German language course.
- Note: the DAAD does not cover university tuition fees (public German universities charge little or none); the programme funds only tuition-free master’s programmes.
Eligibility
- Open to nationals of 24 developing and emerging countries: Belize, Cambodia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
- Applicants must have completed a first degree recognised in Germany (e.g. a Bachelor’s) by the application deadline, and must not yet hold a master’s degree.
- The most recent university degree should date back no more than 6 years at the application deadline.
- Applicants must not have been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months at the application deadline.
- Eligible fields are mathematics, computer science, the natural sciences, and engineering; interdisciplinary programmes need a designated STEM focus.
- Language proficiency of at least B1 in the language(s) of instruction, evidenced by a certificate no older than 3 years (e.g. TestDaF, DSH, IELTS, TOEFL iBT, depending on the programme).
- Master’s programmes with integrated stays outside Germany, and degrees already begun in Germany, are excluded.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Belize · Cambodia · Colombia · Costa Rica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · El Salvador · Ghana · Guatemala · Honduras · Indonesia · Jordan
+ 12 more
Kenya · Laos · Malaysia · Mexico · Myanmar · Nicaragua · Panama · Peru · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Venezuela · Vietnam
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Register on the DAAD portal and request the DAAD recommendation form from a university teacher.
- 2Prepare the required documents: CV (max. 3 pages), motivation letter (1–3 pages), a letter of admission or a form listing up to 5 preferred German master’s programmes, transcripts and degree certificate(s), language-proficiency certificate, the recommendation letter, and passport/ID.
- 3Submit the application as PDF uploads through the DAAD portal within the application window — open from 1 June until the country-specific deadline (commonly late September to October for the following year’s funding round; check your own country’s DAAD office for the exact date).
Program timeline
Application window opens (online portal).
Jun 1, 2026
Application deadline (country-specific; 30 September 2026 for the Kenya/East-Africa call, winter term 2027/28; other countries vary, commonly late September to October).
Sep 30, 2026
Selection decisions announced.
2027 (spring)
Scholarship and study programme begin (or earlier with a preceding German course).
Oct 1, 2027