The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is offering the opportunity to realise a research project at a state or state-recognised university or a non-university research institute in Germany, which is being carried out in agreement with a scientific supervisor in Germany. 

The programme supports research stays during a doctorate or in the early postdoc phase. Candidates can opt for a traditional PhD by research with a German supervisor, whom they must identify themselves, or participate in a structured PhD programme on offer at a German university.

Detailed information about the Research Grants in Germany can be found at: Research Grants in Germany

Degree Level

Non degree for PhD and Post Doctoral candidates

Deadline

15 October 2024

Who can apply?

Applicants must:

  • Be doing their doctorate at a university or research institution outside Germany or
  • Postdocs: Not have completed your doctorate more than four years before the application deadline;
  • Doctoral students: If you have already started your doctorate, it also applies that the start of the doctorate should not be longer than 3 years ago;
  • You cannot apply if you are doing your entire doctorate at a German university.

Your application cannot be considered, if you have been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months at the application deadline.

Fields of Study

The scholarship can be taken up for all fields

Scholarship Benefits

Under certain circumstances, you can apply for the following additional benefits after start of funding:

  • monthly rent subsidy, only for a funding period of more than six months (see important information for scholarship applicants, section F, point 9)
  • monthly allowance for accompanying members of family, only for a funding period of more than six months; please also read our important information for scholarship applicants / section F, point 3
  • In case of a disability or chronic illness: on application, a subsidy may be provided for justified additional costs, incurred in Germany due to the disability, that are necessary to realise the project in Germany and that are not covered by a third party; whether and to what extent a subsidy will be paid, will be reviewed and determined on an individual basis (see important information for scholarship applicants, section F, point 8)
  • Green Mobility Top Up (subsidy for climate-friendly travel) or reimbursement of carbon offset payments for air travel

To allow you to improve your language skills in preparation for your stay in Germany, the DAAD offers the following benefits (only for a funding period of more than six months):

  • Payment of course fees for an online language course after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter
  • if necessary: German language course in Germany before the start of the research project; the DAAD decides whether to fund participation and for how long depending on German language skills and project.
  • Allowance for a personally chosen German language course during the scholarship period
  • Reimbursement of the fee for a TestDaF or DSH test, which you can take either in your home country after you have received your Letter of Award or in Germany during your funding period.

Application Process

The DAAD funding application is online through the DAAD application portal.

Contact

The DAAD Information Centre Johannesburg can be contacted for support, advice and information:

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Documents and Links

Research Grants in Germany

Important information for scholarship applicants 

Notes on applying in the portal

Notes about registering in the portal

Application portal

Note

Please note that this opportunity is not offered by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Applicants are required to undertake their own research into programmes and institutions and are responsible for ensuring that the qualifications will be recognised in South Africa by contacting the South African Qualifications Authority and the relevant professional bodies. If there are any discrepancies in the details provided, the information given by the sponsor supersedes the details provided above. No additional financial support will be provided by the Department of Higher Education and Training.

 
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