"Master's Degree in Germany and a DAAD Scholarship: How to Apply and

A master’s degree in Germany is suitable for people who have already completed their first higher-education degree and want to continue studying in a related academic field. For international students, the two key questions are usually whether their bachelor’s degree fits the selected programme and whether they can obtain funding, for example through DAAD — the German Academic Exchange Service.

How master’s studies work in Germany

Masterstudium is the second level of higher education after a bachelor’s degree or a comparable qualification. Programmes can be research-oriented or applied, German-taught, English-taught, or bilingual. You can study at public, private, and state-recognised universities, but the requirements are always set by the individual programme.

The main limitation is that a master’s programme usually must be related to previous education. The university checks whether an applicant has enough relevant ECTS credits. This is why, after a bachelor’s degree in economics, it is easier to enter management, finance, or economics than an engineering field; after philology, it is easier to enter linguistics, translation, teaching, or related humanities fields.

What to check before choosing a programme

Before applying, open the website of the particular university and check not general promises but the formal Zulassungsvoraussetzungen:

• the required field of the first degree;
• the minimum number of ECTS credits in core modules;
• the language of instruction and required certificate;
• the deadline for international applicants;
• whether uni-assist or a direct application to the university is required;
• whether there are restrictions concerning grade average, a portfolio, internships, or a motivation letter;
• whether the university charges tuition fees or only a Semesterbeitrag.

Even if programmes have similar names, their requirements can differ substantially. One master’s programme may accept a general degree in a related field, while another requires an exact set of modules and credits.

Documents usually required

The exact list of documents depends on the university and the country where the diploma was issued, but applicants most often prepare:

• a CV in academic format;
• a bachelor’s diploma or confirmation of current studies if the diploma has not yet been issued;
• a transcript of records with grades and credits;
• module descriptions or a syllabus if the university asks you to confirm relevant ECTS credits;
• a language certificate for the language of instruction;
• a motivation letter;
• references, if they are listed in the programme requirements;
• a copy of your passport and translations of documents, if required.

For English-taught programmes, German is not always required for admission, but it remains useful for internships, part-time work, daily life, and subsequent employment in Germany.

What is a DAAD scholarship?

DAAD is the German Academic Exchange Service, which funds various programmes for international graduates, students, doctoral candidates, and researchers. For master’s studies, the Study Scholarships - Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines programme is often relevant, but DAAD also has separate calls for architecture, music, art, STEM, EPOS, and other groups.

DAAD is not an automatic tuition discount. It is a competitive scholarship: an independent committee assesses the application based on academic qualifications, the quality of the study project, motivation, language preparation, the applicant’s prospects, and extracurricular activity.

What DAAD usually covers for master’s studies

Under the Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines programme, the scholarship for 2026 usually includes a monthly payment of €992 for master’s students, insurance components, a travel allowance, and an annual study allowance. In some cases, additional payments may be available, such as a rent subsidy or support for family members, but these depend on the programme and circumstances.

Importantly, DAAD explicitly states that it does not always cover tuition fees. At public universities in Germany, studies are often free of traditional tuition charges, but there is a Semesterbeitrag, and some federal states and universities may charge separate fees for international students or offer fee-based master’s programmes. Therefore, calculate your budget for the specific university.

Basic DAAD requirements

For a DAAD master’s scholarship, the following conditions are usually checked:

• the first degree must be completed no later than the start of funding;
• as a rule, the most recent university degree must not be more than six years old by the deadline;
• the applicant must not have lived in Germany for more than 15 months by the deadline, if this condition is stated in the chosen programme;
• you must prove proficiency in the language of instruction of the chosen programme: German, English, or both;
• admission to a German university must be obtained before funding starts, even if you do not yet have an admission letter when applying to DAAD;
• funding is usually intended for full-time study with physical presence in Germany.

Do not apply these rules to every DAAD call without checking. In the DAAD database, select your country of origin, academic status, field, and specific programme: deadlines, document lists, and conditions can differ.

How to prepare a DAAD application

A practical process is as follows:

1. Find master’s programmes and check that your bachelor’s degree meets their Zulassungsvoraussetzungen.
2. Open the DAAD Scholarship Database and select the programme specifically for your country of application and academic status.
3. Compare the deadline, funding start period, document list, and language-certificate requirements.
4. Prepare your CV, motivation letter, transcript of records, diploma or confirmation of studies, language certificate, and additional forms if required.
5. Submit your application through the DAAD portal and separately track university deadlines: DAAD does not replace admission to a university.
6. If you do not yet have an admission letter, clarify by what date it can be submitted later.

Your motivation letter should explain not only a desire to live in Germany but also the academic rationale: why the selected programme continues your bachelor’s studies, which courses or research topics matter, and how the studies relate to your professional plan.

Common mistakes

• Choosing a master’s programme by name alone, without checking ECTS and the bachelor’s profile.
• Assuming that an English-taught programme automatically does not require a language certificate.
• Confusing the DAAD deadline with the university deadline.
• Writing one generic motivation letter for every programme.
• Including only the scholarship in the budget and forgetting the Semesterbeitrag, rent, housing deposit, and possible tuition fees.
• Relying on last year’s deadlines without checking the DAAD database.

FAQ

Can you apply to DAAD before admission to a university?

In many cases, you can apply before receiving the final admission letter, but eligibility for funding becomes valid only after admission to the stated university. Check the specific DAAD programme description for the deadline for submitting the admission letter.

Is there an age limit?

For DAAD, the academic timeline is usually more important than age. For a master’s programme, DAAD generally considers how many years have passed since the most recent university degree, but country-specific conditions may differ.

Do you need perfect grades?

There is no single publicly stated passing grade for all programmes. Grades matter, but the committee also considers motivation, the quality of the study project, language preparation, relevant experience, and extracurricular activity.

When should you start preparing?

It is best to start 12–18 months before the intended start of studies. This gives you time to choose programmes, obtain the language certificate, collect documents, prepare your DAAD application, and avoid missing university deadlines.