Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst - Wandel durch Austausch

For detailed information on DAAD scholarship programmes for North America please visit www.daad.org!

Canadian students (including those international students who have been studying at Canadian institutions for a certain period of time) have a number of possibilities to finance a period of study in Germany. Often, costs of living and basic amenities can be partially or completely covered by a scholarship.

Using the DAAD Scholarship Database, you can search for scholarships for which you are eligible using various criteria, such as your level and language of study, and your academic subject. The database comprises not only those scholarships offered by DAAD, but also those offered by other institutions.

Full scholarships generally cover the total costs of living in Germany. There are also partial scholarships offered, which are usually meant to cover the costs of books or travel.

You are not automatically awarded a scholarship upon being admitted to a German university; you must apply separately for these scholarships, a process that takes a considerable amount of time and effort. The selection process for these scholarships is often quite strict.

Often, in order to be awarded a scholarship you must provide proof that you have been admitted to a university in Germany. As the admittance process for German universities can often be long and drawn out, we recommend that you begin your application process for the scholarship well in advance, and submit your letter of admission (= Zulassungsbescheid) afterwards.

Look for an appropriate scholarship with the following institutions:

1)  DAAD offers scholarships to Canadian students, or international students who have been studying at a Canadian university for two years or more.

2)  Your university may have a number of multilateral or bilateral (direct) exchange programs with universities in Germany, and is able to offer registered exchange students a scholarship. For more information, inquire at the International Office of your university.

3)  In Canada, some provinces also provide Canadian students with scholarships for international study in Germany. In particular, some Canadian provinces have cooperative bilateral economic and academic programs with specific German provinces, for example the Ontario / Baden-Württemberg (OBW) University Student Exchange Program, the cooperation between the Province of Alberta and the Free State of Saxony, and the cooperation between the Province of Québec and the Free State of Bavaria (www.baviere-quebec.org).

If you want to head to Germany on your own terms, and you don’t apply for or receive a scholarship within the framework of an organized university student exchange program, you may also find a number of external opportunities to finance your studies upon your arrival in Germany. When you reach Germany, inquire at the university’s international office about funding and financing possibilities. Also, check with the German Embassy or General Consulate your eligibility to work in Germany. You may also want to try these options:

4)  Politically-aligned foundations offer some scholarships, but generally require some community engagement from applicants. You can apply for scholarships with the following foundations: Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (CDU), Konrad Seidel Stiftung (CSU), Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (SPD), Heinrich Böll Stiftung (Die Grünen), Friedrich Naumann Stiftung (FDP), and the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (Die Linke)

5)  Foundations related to major companies or industries may offer scholarships to students studying or conducting research within specialized fields. Some of these foundations may include: the Volkswagen Stiftung, the Gerda Henkel Stiftung, etc.

6)  The provincial scholarships foundations also award scholarships to international students. In these cases, funding is generally awarded based on the need and academic performance of the student. To apply for these provincial scholarships, please inquire directly at the German university.

7)  Likewise, major social institutions – like the big churches in Germany – provide scholarships, such as the Cusanus-Werk and the Evangelical Bildungswerk.

8)  Scholarships from major research institutions are usually determined by the nature and goals of a particular research topic or project. Examples of these institutions include the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) Foundation.

Youth Mobility Program - visit www.toronto.diplo.de

Scholarships for Undergraduates and Graduates

DAAD: Undergraduate Scholarships
For higly qualified undergraduate students in all fields // To study in Germany for a period of 4-10 month
DAAD Undergraduate Scholarship (  www.daad.org/?p=undergrad)

DAAD: Study Scholarships
For graduating seniors and recent graduates of all disciplines // To gain an academic degree (Master/Diploma) within the scope of a graduate or Master’s programme

DAAD: University Summer Courses & Intensive Language Course Grants
For university summer courses: Students as from the 3rd academic year (all disciplines), Intensive language course grants: Students as from the 3rd academic year, graduates and doctoral students working in higher education (all disciplines except German studies, German as a foreign language and similar fields) // Language and area studies / attendance of German language courses at a language institute in Germany

Visit http://www.daad.org/

Grants for Doctoral Students

DAAD: Research Grants
For doctoral students and young academics/scientists from all disciplines // Research project within the scope of the doctorate; research studies 

DAAD: University Summer Courses & Intensive Language Course Grants
For university summer courses: Students as from the 3rd academic year (all disciplines), Intensive language course grants: Students as from the 3rd academic year, graduates and doctoral students working in higher education (all disciplines except German studies, German as a foreign language and similar fields) // Language and area studies / attendance of German language courses at a language institute in Germany

Visit http://www.daad.org/

DFG: Clusters of Excellence
For doctoral students, postdocs and senior scientists // Internationally visible and competitive large research center, significant contribution to the research profile of the university, local concentration of excellent research competence with thematic focus

DFG: Collaborative Research Centres
For doctoral students, postdocs and senior scientists // To concentrate scientific research competence in particularly innovative fields and create internationally visible research priorities at universities, to promote interdisciplinary cooperation, to advance young researchers

DFG: Graduate Schools
For outstanding doctoral students and postdoctoral students // Training of outstanding doctoral students within an excellent research environment (broad scientific area, international visibility of the institution, opportunity for the doctoral and postdoctoral student to be active members of their academic and social communities)

DFG: Research Training Groups
For doctoral students and also postdocs from Germany and abroad // To support young researchers in their pursuit of a doctorate within a coordinated research programme and to promote their early scientific independence, to recruit outstanding international doctoral students

Visit http://www.dfg.de/en/index.jsp

Fraunhofer: Individual Doctoral Projects at Fraunhofer Institutes
For doctoral students from Germany and abroad // To enable dedicated doctoral students to work on exciting projects in the latest areas of technology, ranging from microelectronics and communications to high-tech medicine and power engineering

Visit http://www.fraunhofer.de/en/

Helmholtz Association: International Helmholtz Research Schools and Graduate Schools
For doctoral students from Germany and abroad // To deliver interdisciplinary postgraduate training for all doctoral students that extends beyond their doctoral field and enables them to acquire vital key competencies for careers in research or industry; in cooperation with universities; teaching language is English 

Helmholtz: Individual Doctoral Projects at Helmholtz Centres
For doctoral students from Germany and abroad // To qualify highly talented doctoral students for careers in research or industry; possibility to carry out a doctoral project in one of the research fields conducted at the Helmholtz Centres

Visit http://www.helmholtz.de/en/

Leibniz: International Leibniz Graduate Schools
For outstanding doctoral students from Germany and abroad // Training of outstanding doctoral students within an excellent research environment (broad scientific area, international visibility of the institution, opportunity for doctoral students to be active members of their academic and social communities)

Visit http://www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de/

Max Planck Society: International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS)
For doctoral students from Germany and abroad // To prepare outstanding doctoral students from Germany and abroad for a doctoral degree in cooperation with foreign and domestic universities at selected locations with excellent research and learning conditions; teaching language is English

Max Planck: Individual Doctoral Projects at Max Planck Institutes
For doctoral students from Germany and abroad // To enable highly qualified doctoral students to carry out a doctoral project within the scope of research work conducted at a Max Planck Institute

Visit http://www.mpg.de/english/portal/index.html