DAAD Scholarships – Postgraduate Studies in the Field of Architecture

Objective

DAAD scholarships offer graduates the opportunity to continue their education in Germany with a postgraduate or continuing course of study. The scholarships also promote the exchange of experience and networking amongst colleagues.

Who can apply?

Foreign applicants who have gained a first university degree in the areas of Architecture, Interior Design, Monument Conservation, Urban Planning/Urban Development, Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture, Landscape Planning at the latest by the time they commence their scholarship-supported study programme.

What can be funded?

In this study programme, you can complete

• a Master’s degree/postgraduate degree leading to a final qualification, or
• a complementary course that does not lead to a final qualification (not an undergraduate course)

at a state or state-recognised German university of your choice.
This programme only funds projects in the area of Design/Planning. Other DAAD scholarship programmes are available for applicants from the field of History of Architecture or applicants with a scientific project.

Duration of the funding

Master’s degree programme:

• Between 10 and 24 months depending on the length of the chosen study programme or project
• Start: usually from 1st October of the following year after the application, or earlier if a language course is taken prior to the study programme
• The scholarships are awarded for the duration of the standard period of study for the chosen study programme (up to a maximum of 24 months). To receive further funding after the first year of study for 2-year courses, proof of academic achievements thus far should indicate that the study programme can be successfully completed within the standard period of study.
• Applicants who are already in Germany in the first year of a postgraduate course at the time of application may apply for funding for their second year of study. In this case, it is not possible to extend the scholarship.

Complementary studies not leading to a final qualification

• one academic year
• Start: usually from 1st October of the following year after the application, or earlier if a language course is taken prior to the study programme

Value

• A monthly payment of 861 euros
• Travel allowance
• One-off study allowance
• Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover

Under certain circumstances, scholarship holders may receive the following additional benefits:

• Monthly rent subsidy
• Monthly allowance for accompanying members of family

To enable scholarship holders to learn German in preparation for their stay in the country, DAAD offers the following services:

• Payment of course fees for the online language course “Deutsch-Uni Online (DUO)” (www.deutsch-uni.com) for six months after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter
• if necessary: Language course (2, 4 or 6 months) before the start of the study visit; the DAAD decides whether to fund participation and for how long depending on German language skills and project. Participation in a language course is compulsory if the language of instruction or working language is German at the German host institution.
• Allowance for a personally chosen German language course during the scholarship period
• Reimbursement of the fees for the TestDaF test which has either been taken in the home country after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter or in Germany before the end of the funding period.
• As an alternative to the TestDaF for scholarship holders who have taken a language course beforehand: the fee for a DSH examination taken during the scholarship period may be reimbursed.

Selection

A special DAAD committee made up of professors from German universities makes the final decision about scholarships in the field of architecture. The decision is based upon written applications and work samples which have to be submitted (see: www.daad.de/extrainfo).

What requirements must be met?

• As a rule, applicants should have taken their final examinations no longer than six years before the application deadline.
• Applicants who have been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months at the application deadline cannot be considered.
• If the scholarship holder is enrolled in a Master or postgraduate degree programme which includes a study period abroad, funding for this period abroad is usually only possible under the following conditions:
  – The study visit is essential for achievement of the scholarship objective.
  – The study period is no longer than a quarter of the scholarship period. Longer periods cannot be funded, even partially.
  – The study period does not take place in the home country.

Language skills

Applicants in the field of architecture should have a knowledge of the language of instruction that corresponds to the requirements of the chosen university at the latest by the time they start their scholarship. If you do not yet have the language skills required by the university at the time of your scholarship application, your application should indicate the extent to which you are in a position to reach the required level. Please enquire at the universities that come into question for you whether the required language skills must already be proven with the application for admission to the desired degree programme.

Support offer German language skills
If it is possible, you can also make use of the DAAD support offers listed under “Value” to improve your language skills.

For more details and application, please visit https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/