The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is a private, federally and state-funded, self-governing national agency of the institutions of higher education in Germany. The DAAD awards competitive, merit-based grants for use toward study and research in Germany in any academic field and at any academic level at any of the accredited German institutions of higher education.

The Award

The awards are granted for one academic year, and cover living expense, health insurance and travel. The DAAD awards about 400 grants annually.

DAAD Partner Universities: Approximately 100 awards are reserved for applicants nominated by DAAD Partner Universities. This kind of direct exchange agreement exists between DAAD and approximately 50 U.S. universities. As a Partner University, Stanford is allowed to select two "preferred applicants" whose applications will be entered into a separate pool. While preferred applicants are not guaranteed an award, their chances are reasonably good.

Eligibility

If you are enrolled at Stanford as a graduate or undergraduate, you may apply for one of the direct awards through the Overseas Resource Center. If you are NOT enrolled at Stanford, you may apply directly to DAAD through the general application pool.

Applicants for a DAAD direct award must:

Be enrolled at Stanford University (undergraduate or graduate) at the time of application
Have a bachelors degree by the starting date of the grant
Be a U.S. citizen. Foreign nationals may be able to apply if they have been full-time graduate students at Stanford for more than one year at the time of application. This does not apply to German citizens.
Have a well-defined study/research project that makes a stay in Germany essential. Preference will be given to applicants who have been invited by a by a German faculty member
Have adequate knowledge of the German language to carry out proposed research

The Application

A DAAD application consists of the following:

DAAD Application Form
CV/Resume
Study Proposal (5-6 pages double spaced)
2 Letters of Recommendation
Evidence of Contact with German Institution
DAAD Language Evaluation Form
Transcripts

The Campus Process

If you are interested in the DAAD awards you must apply through the Overseas Resource Center (ORC). Information, applications, and advising are available to you at the ORC. The following is a list of preliminary steps to take if you are interested in applying.

Read "Fulbright Guide for the Stanford Applicant" A DAAD application is very similar to a Fulbright application
Read Successful Proposals (on file at the ORC)

For the Campus Deadline, please submit the following the ORC:

Stanford-DAAD Coversheet (attached to each copy of the application)
3 copies of the DAAD application (printed from online application)
Letters of Reference, Language Evaluation, Contact Letters and Official Transcripts (originals only)

At the campus level, applications will be reviewed by a committee of Stanford faculty and staff from various departments which may include, but are not limited to, the German Department, History Department, and Bechtel International Center.

The top two applicants from Stanford will be designated "preferred" and be entered into a separate pool. Non-preferred Stanford applicants will be forwarded to DAAD and will compete in the general application pool.

Top of page