Germany is one of the world’s largest scholarship opportunities for international students. Generally, their scholarships are either funded by the government, non-governmental, or universities specifically.

There are varieties of scholarship opportunities for universities in Germany consisting of national and international scholarships. The fully-funded scholarship comes with benefits like tuition fees, accommodation costs, health insurance, travel costs and a monthly stipend. It is mostly for Master’s degree and PhD Students.

In this blog, you will learn the step by step process of getting a scholarship in Germany.

Various Scholarship Opportunities in Germany

The university scholarships are made up of graduate school scholarships, postgraduate scholarships, and other accessible forms of scholarship.

The different platforms of scholarship include Hendrick Boll Foundation Scholarship, Konrad Adenauer’s, Deutschlandstipendium and DAAD. Apart from DAAD, which is all-inclusive, other scholarship options are based on political or social involvement, academic excellence or family background.

These scholarship options have similar application processes to the DAAD scholarship. However, it is advised you visit their website for updates during application.

But if you are planning to study in Germany through scholarship, then the DAAD scholarship should be one of your preferred options. Why you ask? Here’s why.

DAAD Scholarship

DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdient) means German Academic Exchange Service. Its focus is on funding International students to get their education abroad. The organization, after being established in 1925 has made available academic scholars in Germany and abroad. It is the biggest but not the only great scholarship foundation in Germany.

The scholarship opens in August and closes in October each year. The scholarship duration is between 12-24 months for Masters and 36 months for PhD.

HOW TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

To be eligible for DAAD scholarship,

You must have completed your full course of study.

Your Bachelor’s degree must be less than 6 years old.

You would provide evidence of two years’ work experience.

The language requirement is mostly in English and German.

Your course duration shouldn’t be less than 12 months or more than 36 months.

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HOW TO APPLY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP

Choose your course(s) of interest. You can apply for a maximum of 3 courses

Choose your preferred university and apply to the universities offering the courses on their websites.

Send your complete application(s) directly to the universities. Your application should include;

Your signed DAAD application form downloaded from the DAAD website.
Other requirements and documents to be mentioned later.

The university will suggest you for a DAAD scholarship if selected.

DAAD contacts you to upload your complete application to their portal.

When your selection is finalized, DAAD will inform you accordingly.

TIPS FOR APPLYING FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP

Apply on time

An early application allows you to gather the necessary documents you will need on time. It saves you the issues that may arise due to incomplete documents and late submission. Some universities stop accepting applications before the deadline date. So to be on the safe side, apply before the deadline approaches.

Apply for courses and universities recognized by DAAD

Apply directly to the university you choose and not to DAAD. The universities choose their nominees before DAAD selects the final winner from the list.

You can apply to three universities in an order of priority. Choose universities that are accredited and recognized by the scholarship scheme. So, you need to conduct a thorough enquiry into your preferred university before applying.

Get Your Documents Ready

The documents you will need for the DAAD scholarship include:

Your application form

Your application form is downloaded from the DAAD website and duly signed with the current date.

Your academic history

Your academic documents include:

Your university degree,
Your university transcript,
Your school leaving certificate and
English proficiency test (IELTS, TOEFL)

Your career history

Your career documents will include:

I.Your letter of employment from your current job
II.Your letter of recommendation from your employer and
III.Your CV.

Your documents will have to prove that you have been working for a minimum of 2 years in a firm related to the course you are applying for.

Prepare these documents before your application because you will convert them to PDF format during application.

Write a compelling But True Motivation Letter

Your motivation letter is an opportunity to sell yourself to the committee. Here, you let them see why you deserve the scholarship. The letter is a short piece of not more than two pages. It explains your past, your personality, your ambitions, and your interests. The letter should make references to how this scholarship will help boost your career ambition. Tell personal stories that relate to your reasons. Also, pay attention to the word count required.

Target Universities With High Acceptance Rates

For you to get a scholarship, you must gain admission into a German university. So you need to apply to universities that have a high rate of accepting international students. That way, you can almost guarantee your admission into a German university.

Prepare For Your Interview

When shortlisted, you will need to prepare ahead for your interview. You will be contacted via a telephone call. Research on the likely questions to be asked or that have been asked previous candidates during interviews. Master your lines so you don’t stammer. You may be asked questions on why you chose the course, the university and your future ambitions.

Wait For Update

After your interview, you may need to wait to be informed of the next steps or not. When you get a positive response, try to fast-track other processes like your student visa, accommodation etc. It is advisable to go for a student applicant visa. That way, you won’t miss out on classes upon arrival.

Getting a scholarship in a German university can be a lot easier if you follow due processes. Applying on time on the university’s website, gathering your documents early and doing thorough research on the scholarship platform’s portal can save you delay.

When in doubt, always contact the university, scholarship platform or your foreign embassy for clarification.

You can be the next scholarship winner if you apply these tips. Are you ready?

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