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PhD Scholarships in Germany for International Students

Germany offers excellent doctoral research environments with no tuition fees and competitive stipends.

PhD scholarships in Germany

DAAD, Max Planck, and structured doctoral programmes.

20 scholarships, grouped by level
ScholarshipLevelFundingUsually closes
PhD (7)
Re-invitation Programme for Former Scholarship Holders - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer AustauschdienstPhDNot stated
Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees / Cotutelle - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer AustauschdienstPhDNot stated
Research Grants in Germany - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer AustauschdienstPhDNot statedNot confirmed
Heilbronn AI Fellowships - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer AustauschdienstPhDNot statedNot confirmed
Study Visits for Academics - Artists and Architects - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer AustauschdienstPhDNot statedUsually August (estimated)
Doctoral Programmes in Germany - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer AustauschdienstPhDNot statedNext round
GROW – Global Research Opportunities for the South - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer AustauschdienstPhDNot statedUsually April (estimated)
Several levels (13)
Equal Opportunity Scholarship – RWTH Aachen UniversityMaster's, PhDPartialNot confirmed
DAAD Hilde Domin Programme (Students at Risk)Master's, PhDFully fundedUsually March (estimated)
In-Country/In-Region Programme Sub-Saharan Africa - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer AustauschdienstMaster's, PhDNot statedUsually November (estimated)
Technical University of Munich — Oskar Karl Forster Scholarship for printing costs of dissertationsMaster's, PhDNot statedNot confirmed
KAAD Scholarship Programme (Catholic Academic Exchange Service)Master's, PhDFully fundedNot confirmed
Technical University of Munich — Funding ScopeMaster's, PhDNot statedNot confirmed
RAVE Scholarship Program GermanyMaster's, PhDFully fundedNot confirmed
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarships for International StudentsMaster's, PhDFully fundedUsually July (estimated)
Fully Funded Scholarships for STEM Disciplines in Germany from DAADBachelor's, Master's, PhDFully fundedNext round
Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP) - DAADMaster's, PhDNot statedNext round
Bayer Foundation Scientific FellowshipsMaster's, PhDNot statedNot confirmed
Heinrich Böll Foundation ScholarshipsMaster's, PhDFully funded
UNU-EHS Scholarship ProgrammeMaster's, PhDFully fundedNot confirmed
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More about PhD in Germany

What this page covers

German PhDs are either traditional (individual supervision) or structured (graduate school programmes).

  • No tuition fees at public universities
  • DAAD and Max Planck funding
  • Strong research infrastructure

German doctoral tips

  • Structured PhD programmes have fixed application deadlines
  • Individual PhDs require finding a supervisor first
  • DAAD deadline typically October

Frequently asked questions

How is a German PhD different?
German PhDs can be individual (3–5 years, advisor-supervised) or structured (3 years, graduate school programme).

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