Objective
To improve international relations and bilateral research cooperations between German and foreign universities, the DAAD supports the exchange of scientists and academics. The basis for the exchange of scientists are cultural exchange programmes between the Federal Republic of Germany and partner countries as well as bilateral agreements with foreign partner organisations. The scholarships are funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.
Who can apply?
The programme is aimed at university teachers and experienced academics and scientists. As a rule, you should have a doctorate and you should be working at a university or research institute in your home country.
What can be funded?
Research stays at state or state-recognised universities or non-university research institutes in Germany are funded.
- This programme funds exchanges between scientists and researchers from Germany and partner countries. In the implementation of the bilateral programme, care is taken to ensure equal exchanges in both directions.
- Lecture tours or visits to congresses are not funded.
Duration of the funding
Your research stay should last at least 14 days (for stays from applicants from EU countries as well as from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Ukraine: at least 7 days) up to a maximum of three months. Please indicate in your application form how long you wish to receive funding. The funding period will then be determined during the selection process, taking into account your study plan.
The grant cannot be extended.
Funding must begin in 2026.
The grant cannot be extended.
Funding must begin in 2026.
Value
- Monthly payments of:
2,000 euros for assistant teachers, assistant professors and lecturers
2,150 euros for professors - Unless otherwise regulated by bilateral agreements, the costs of the outward and return journey are borne by the respective sending country.
- In case of a disability or chronic illness: on application, a subsidy may be provided for justified additional costs incurred abroad 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)
- Please note: Health insurance coverage is mandatory in Germany. If you do not have a corresponding home health insurance, you will be insured by the DAAD. The costs will be deducted from the scholarship payment.
Selection
An independent selection committee reviews applications.
The most important selection criteria are:
The most important selection criteria are:
- Your academic achievements and, if applicable, your publications, which must be documented in the curriculum vitae and a list of publications (see ‘Application documents’)
- A convincing and well-planned research project (see ‘Application documents’)
Sponsored by:
What requirements must be met?
- You must work at a university or research institution in your home country.
- You must coordinate the date and purpose of your stay in advance with your host institution in Germany see (‘Application documents’). A workplace must be provided.
- Because this is a bilateral exchange programme, a visit of the German counterpart has to be agreed upon.
Application deadline
Application deadlines are updated annually in the second quarter. In most cases, they are in the same period as the previous year. You can find the current dates here:
24.09.2025
Selection presumably in February 2026, start of scholarship from May 2026.
17.03.2026
Selection presumably in July 2026, start of scholarship from September 2026.
24.09.2025
Selection presumably in February 2026, start of scholarship from May 2026.
17.03.2026
Selection presumably in July 2026, start of scholarship from September 2026.
Application documents
Documents to be uploaded to the DAAD portal
- Online application form
- Full curriculum vitae in tabular form (max. 3 pages)
- List of your academic publications (max. 3 pages)
- Comprehensive statement about research project (max. 10 pages). Also read our Important information for scholarship applicants / section B, point 2.
- Time plan for your planned research visit (please also name the host institute(s) and academic hosts).
- Written confirmation from your host (informal) about the academic cooperation that must refer to your proposal and guarantee that the host institute in Germany will provide you with a workplace.
- Invitation letter for the German counterpart from the host university. The German counterpart should apply unter the following link: Bilateral Exchange of Academics
The application procedure occurs online through the DAAD portal.
Please note
- The access to the DAAD portal opens at least 6 weeks before the application deadline.
- Your application is only valid if you submit all the required documents to the DAAD portal by the application deadline.
- The DAAD portal closes at 24.00 hrs. (CET or CEST) on the last application day.
- Late or incomplete applications cannot be considered. You are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete.
- The application documents remain with the DAAD. Your personal data is saved by the DAAD in accordance with the Federal Data Protection Act and with the EU Data Protection Regulation insofar as this data is needed to process the application.
Information and advisory centres
DAAD Information Centre Johannesburg
c/o University of the Witwatersrand
P.O. Box 269
2050 WITS, Johannesburg
South Africa
Tel.: +27 (11)/7179-334
Fax.: +27 (11)/7179-335
E-Mail.: daad@wits.ac.za
WWW.: https://www.daad.org.za/en/
DAAD Information Centre Yaoundé
c/o Université Yaoundé I
Université de Yaoundé I Nouveau Bloc Pédagogique, bureau R.118
Yaoundé
Cameroon
Tel.: +237 (242) /60-20-29
E-Mail.: info@daad-kamerun.org
WWW.: https://www.daad.cm/fr/
Regional Office Nairobi
German Academic Exchange Service, Regional Office for Africa
Madison Insurance House, 3rd floor, Upper Hill Close, P.O. Box 14050
00800 Nairobi
Kenya
Tel.: +254 (733)/92 99 29
E-Mail.: info.nairobi@daad.de
WWW.: https://www.daad-kenya.org
DAAD Information Centre Addis Abeba
c/o International Leadership Institute, Room 504
Sedest Kilo
P.O. Box 32539 Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel.: +251 (942)/134-421
E-Mail.: office@daad-ethiopia.org
WWW.: http://www.daad-ethiopia.org
DAAD Regional Office Accra
20 Osu La Crescent, Nyaniba Estates
Accra
Ghana
Tel.: +233 /261 09 09 39
E-Mail.: info@daad-ghana.org
WWW.: https://www.daad-ghana.org
You can find an overview of the current DAAD lecturers here.
c/o University of the Witwatersrand
P.O. Box 269
2050 WITS, Johannesburg
South Africa
Tel.: +27 (11)/7179-334
Fax.: +27 (11)/7179-335
E-Mail.: daad@wits.ac.za
WWW.: https://www.daad.org.za/en/
DAAD Information Centre Yaoundé
c/o Université Yaoundé I
Université de Yaoundé I Nouveau Bloc Pédagogique, bureau R.118
Yaoundé
Cameroon
Tel.: +237 (242) /60-20-29
E-Mail.: info@daad-kamerun.org
WWW.: https://www.daad.cm/fr/
Regional Office Nairobi
German Academic Exchange Service, Regional Office for Africa
Madison Insurance House, 3rd floor, Upper Hill Close, P.O. Box 14050
00800 Nairobi
Kenya
Tel.: +254 (733)/92 99 29
E-Mail.: info.nairobi@daad.de
WWW.: https://www.daad-kenya.org
DAAD Information Centre Addis Abeba
c/o International Leadership Institute, Room 504
Sedest Kilo
P.O. Box 32539 Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel.: +251 (942)/134-421
E-Mail.: office@daad-ethiopia.org
WWW.: http://www.daad-ethiopia.org
DAAD Regional Office Accra
20 Osu La Crescent, Nyaniba Estates
Accra
Ghana
Tel.: +233 /261 09 09 39
E-Mail.: info@daad-ghana.org
WWW.: https://www.daad-ghana.org
You can find an overview of the current DAAD lecturers here.
More detailed information
- DAAD website section 'Doing a PhD and Research in Germany'
- Website 'Research in Germany'
- Website 'GERiT – German Research Institutions'
- DAAD website 'Important information for DAAD scholarship applicants'
General information on the application via DAAD portal
The access to the DAAD portal opens at least 6 weeks before the application deadline.
Click on 'Application portal' at the bottom of the page to go to the DAAD portal. There you will be provided with an online application form to enter your application data.
This is what you have to do:
Register in the DAAD portal (Read notes about registering in the portal >>)
Applying online in the DAAD portal (Read notes on applying in the portal >>)
Please note:
If you have any technical questions or problems your local information and advice centres could not help you with, please do not hesitate to contact portal@daad.de via e-mail.
You can also call the technical portal hotline on weekdays from 9-12 and 14-16 (CET/CEST) on +49 (0) 228 882-8888.
Please consider possible processing times of your request when you are planning your application.
Click on 'Application portal' at the bottom of the page to go to the DAAD portal. There you will be provided with an online application form to enter your application data.
This is what you have to do:
Register in the DAAD portal (Read notes about registering in the portal >>)
Applying online in the DAAD portal (Read notes on applying in the portal >>)
- Download and complete the online application form
- Prepare application documents
- If necessary, translate documents (unless they are already in German or English).
- Scan paper documents (except references) and save in PDF format. Please note that you can only upload PDF files to the portal.
- Upload the completed application form and the other application documents to the portal in PDF format. Translations, if applicable, should be uploaded together with the document issued in the original language.
- Submit the uploaded application documents online.
Please note:
If you have any technical questions or problems your local information and advice centres could not help you with, please do not hesitate to contact portal@daad.de via e-mail.
You can also call the technical portal hotline on weekdays from 9-12 and 14-16 (CET/CEST) on +49 (0) 228 882-8888.
Please consider possible processing times of your request when you are planning your application.
