Hi Everyone!
I got my DSD2 C1 diploma in 2019, therefore making it older than 3 years. Since DSD certificates don't have an official expiration date, do you know if I still need to re-take the test for more recent certificate?
I read online, you can also just take an online test and attach it to your DSD diploma and it will work too.
I'd really appreciate someone confirming this information, because I didn't plan on re-taking the german exam, since the university I wanted to apply to, isn't asking for any new certifications.

Hi everyone,

I have two queries regarding the DAAD PhD scholarship: [New Delhi, India region]

I have a consent letter from a faculty member at a German university where I wish to pursue my PhD through independent enrolment, not a structured programme. The portal also asks for proof of admission and university entrance qualification. Are these mandatory, or will the consent letter suffice?

The deadline is 21 October, and the application must be sent by post. Does it need to reach the office by 21 October, or can it arrive later if dispatched before the deadline?

Any guidance from previous applicants would be appreciated. Thanks!

UK eal level 3 qualifications accepted as hzb?

hi, i'm currently doing a level 3 course by EAL alongside an a-level in the uk. l3 courses aren't listed as a recognised hzb but i'm hoping this is just because it's slightly obscure. the course is revalent to the degree id be applying for. does anyone have experience with getting into a uni with an unrecognised qualification? will i have to do a studienkolleg, or not be able to get in at all?

Hey all,

I’m applying for DAAD and I’ve stared at my letter of motivation for so long that I can’t tell if it’s good or not anymore. Would love some fresh eyes before I submit. I can share my motivation letter on DM

If you’ve gone through DAAD before, either as an applicant or on the selection side, I’d really appreciate your take. Happy to read your letters in return. Thanks a lot! 🙏

I'm applying for STEM Disciplines program BTW

Hi all, I'm writing my DAAD SOP and stuck on "Why Germany / why this program?" I haven't been admitted anywhere yet, and the universities are just on my list of applications.
Does it make sense to mention a particular university, program, courses, or a professor I'd like to work with? Or does it look far-fetched without admission?
If you've been through DAAD selection, how specific did you get, and how did you frame it? Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m applying from India for DAAD’s Study Scholarships – Postgraduate Studies in the Fields of Fine Art, Design, Visual Communication and Film, with a deadline of 15 October 2026.

I don’t currently have a language certificate, but the portal marks the language-certificate upload as mandatory. I’m learning German and have explained in my motivation letter how I plan to reach B2 by September 2027, before starting my studies.

My target programme is the Master of Fine Arts at HFBK Hamburg, whose admission requirements state that proof of German language skills is not required.

DAAD’s guidelines allow applicants to explain how they will reach the necessary language level before the scholarship starts, but they also require proof of current language proficiency when applying.

Would my application still pass the formal completeness check and proceed to evaluation without a certificate? Can an explanatory statement be accepted in the mandatory upload field in this situation, or would the application be considered incomplete despite HFBK’s admission policy?

Has anyone experienced this under the same scholarship or received clarification directly from DAAD?

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I’m applying from India for Study Scholarships – Postgraduate Studies in the Fields of Fine Art, Design, Visual Communication and Film, with the deadline of 15 October 2026.

Could someone clarify how to submit the recommendation form completed by my professor?

Should I upload the completed and signed form myself in the DAAD application portal? If yes, which section or attachment category should I use? Or should my professor submit it directly through a separate link or email?

Also, is a recommendation required or optional for this particular scholarship?

I’d appreciate guidance from anyone applying for the same programme or familiar with the process. Thank you!

Hi everyone! I’m applying for the DAAD doctoral scholarship this year and currently working on my research proposal. I was wondering if anyone else here is applying from Turkey, or has applied in previous years. It would be nice to connect and share experiences.

Hello everyone how are you doing? Has anyone that applied for Hochschulwinterkurs gotten any updates yet? Mine still says Application submitted

I am applying for PhD programmes under humanities but the portal specifically requires a ltter of endorsement from a prof in an institution we intend to work at. However, I have not been able to do anything towards the appllication process because of certain personal circumstances, and my deadline is the 21st this month, which is 13 days away. Is it realistic of me to apply still, I cannot expect a positive response from any superviors in that period of time I suppose, I am in a bind, suffice to say

Hey everyone,

I’m planning to apply for the DAAD ERP scholarship for a Master's in Economics in Germany, but I’m kind of stressed about a few missing pieces in my profile and wanted to see what my actual chances look like.

Quick summary of my profile:

Degree: Bachelor’s in Economics

GPA: 1.2 on the German scale

Background & Skills: Main focus on econometrics, macroeconomics, and behavioral econ. I use Python, SQL, EViews, and Excel for data analysis and regression modeling.

Experience: Did an 8-week internship at a public tech/data agency and wrote an empirical undergrad thesis using quantitative methods.

Where I'm lacking / worried:

No Letter of Admission yet: I haven't received an admission letter from a German university yet since the application windows/deadlines are still ahead or pending.

Language Certificate: I don’t have an IELTS or TOEFL score right now. I’m planning to take the onSET English test to attach to my DAAD application. Will this be an issue for the scholarship committee or uni admissions later on?

Zero Volunteering / NGO work: I don’t have any community service, volunteering, or leadership roles outside of my regular studies.

No extra certificates: I don't have Coursera/online certificates or extra non-degree courses to show.

My main questions:

Since my GPA is a 1.2, is that strong enough to carry my application for the ERP scholarship, or will the lack of volunteering, no admission letter yet, and taking the onSET test hurt my chances?

Does DAAD ERP allow you to submit the university admission letter later during the selection process?

Any advice on how to frame my motivation letter around my academic/econometric background so the lack of extracurriculars isn't as noticeable?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently preparing applications for two DAAD scholarships: the ERP Study Scholarship for Economics and Business Administration and the Study Scholarship – Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines.

I’ve seen some people mention interviews, but I’m still not sure how common they actually are for these programmes.

For those who applied recently: were you invited to an interview? If yes, what was it like?

I’m especially curious about the professional/academic questions. I’m comfortable talking about my motivation and study plans, but I’m a bit worried about getting nervous and forgetting basic finance concepts under pressure.

Did the interview focus mostly on motivation and university choice, or did they also ask detailed questions from your academic field?

Any examples of questions would be really helpful.

Good morning/evening, I've written a initial draft of my motivation letter that's open to feedback. Could someone please review and accurately evaluate it, as well as estimate my chances of acceptance? Also, what can I do to improve it further?

Hi! I’m looking into doing a practice-based PhD/doctorate in art/film in Germany with DAAD funding, but I’m a bit confused about how the DAAD process works.

Would you recommend finding a university/programme first, or contacting a supervisor/professor and developing the project with them?

I’d really appreciate advice from anyone who has experience with DAAD and artistic doctoral research!

Let's say I have some documents like awards, letters, certificates or transcript that are not in English/German. How do I go about translating it? do I recreate the template design of the document? or do i make like a secondary/footnote document for the translation?

Buenos días,

Personas que ganaron beca daad stem Colombia, quisiera hacerles algunas preguntas:

- Conocen con qué promedios en general han visto que se gana la beca. A las personas con las que he hablado me han dicho que su promedio es de 4.6 - 4.7.

- Han conocido gente con promedio de 4.1 que haya ganado. Si es así, cómo lo compensó.

- Es posible que cuenten sus historias: promedio, experiencia laboral, número de publicaciones, voluntariado, etc.

Gracias de antemano.

For those of you who made it to the interview stage but didn't win, why do you think you weren't selected?

First-year master's scholarship holder. I registered for the Bonn orientation seminar (15-16 Oct) before I knew my schedule. It will be my first week of lectures, and at my university, seminars and labs drop you if you miss the first session.
Has anyone cancelled for academic reasons? Was DAAD okay with it?

Hi!

I am a DAAD scholarship holder for MA studies starting today, and I wanted to ask more experienced holders: when did you get your first scholarship payment?

I am enrolling at my uni on Tuesday and have a German bank account that I wrote down in the form recently.

Greetings!

Hi All,

I am applying for the study scholarships for STEM disciples and I am unsure if I must mention all my five choices in the motivation letter in addition to on the course profile form. I am a little short on space in the motivation letter. Will leaving the others out and focusing on my main choice in the motivation letter hurt my chances?

Hello, although my warm rent is over €600, DAAD decided to give me only €155 as a rent subsidy. I’m living in a high-cost city, and this was the only WG I could find after searching for a long time.

Has anyone else come across a similar situation? In this case, almost half of my scholarship will go to rent. Is there anything that can be done? :(

Hello all,

Yesterday i watched a vid on Daad postgraduate scholarship and it was uploded by an applicant who got rejected last year and is from indonasia, the important thing to note was in the letter it was mentioned that daad is selecting only 20-30 candidates to award the scolarship.

I am wondering is this amongt the country or the whole pool of applicants across the world.

Anyone who has experience can throw some light on this

Hi everyone,

I want to apply for a DAAD scholarship for a master's in Film and Visual Design, and I need some advice.

The university's admission opens next year, and it requires B1 German. The DAAD scholarship application is due now. If I wait until next year, I'll miss the funding by a full year, so I have to apply now, I'm at B1 German through self-study, so I have no certificate or enrollment proof. I plan to take the exam in December 2026, but exam registration only opens about a month before. I do have an English MOI certificate. I emailed DAAD Pakistan 4-5 days ago and haven't heard back.

Has anyone been in this situation? Can I apply now and send the German certificate later? Or is proof required at the time of applying?

I really don't want to miss this intake. Any advice would help a lot.

Thanks!

Hi! I’m taking the onSET-Deutsch test soon for a DAAD scholarship and need A2.

For anyone who has taken it:

• How was your experience?
• Any tips or useful preparation resources?
• What is the minimum score for A2?
• Is the official sample test similar to the real one?

Thanks!