Caution! This blog is written for readers from Bangladesh. If you're from another part of the world, you're welcome to read it—but you may find some of the context difficult to understand.
One of the biggest challenges you may face when coming to Germany is the enormous block amount. There is also the long waiting period for students. Many people get discouraged when they see these challenges and give up, while others stick with it for a long time. But imagine if you didn’t have to worry about the block amount or the long waiting periods?
I arrived in Germany on the 1st of August last year. It took only 19 days from applying for the visa appointment to receiving the visa. There was also no need for a block amount. Moreover, currently, my family and I are in Germany, and the entire cost is being covered by the German organization.
This blog is about my journey, and it might be helpful for you too.
The desire to study abroad had been with me for a long time. During my university life, a teacher once asked us in class what we wanted to do in life. I had just enrolled in my first year. With strong willpower, I went against the flow and said, "I want to work in research." In that moment, I was met with great ridicule. But with some stubbornness, I got involved in research work. I started working as an intern in one of the university labs. Later, I had opportunities to join various research projects. Even after completing my university degree, I continued to work as a Research Associate in the same lab.
Days went by like this. In the meantime, I got opportunities to work with various international research teams. Everything seemed to push me toward studying abroad. I kept looking for opportunities related to my field of study. That’s when I found out about the DAAD Scholarship in Germany.
To be honest, navigating the DAAD scholarship seemed much more complicated than other scholarships. In today’s post, I will provide some links and guidelines that could make the entire journey easier for many of you.
If, after hearing this much, you think that a research profile is the only way to get this scholarship, that’s a misconception. Be brave and apply — there’s nothing to lose! Furthermore, at the end, I will share some points that will break some myths about DAAD scholarships.
For those of you interested in Germany, you may already know about DAAD. But let me briefly explain: the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD), or German Academic Exchange Service, is the largest academic exchange organization in Germany, founded in 1925. It is an autonomous national organization representing nearly 365 higher education institutions in Germany.
If you wish to apply to study in Germany, you have likely already visited their website to check your preferred subject. This organization offers numerous scholarships every year for students and researchers to study or conduct research in Germany. Unfortunately, the number of scholarship recipients from Bangladesh is still very low. I hope that in the coming days, this number will increase significantly.
Before discussing how to apply for the DAAD scholarship, let me tell you about its benefits.
If you are a master’s student, DAAD provides you with 992 euros per month. Many may think this is a small amount, but DAAD doesn’t just provide this amount—DAAD also covers the cost of insurance for you and your family.
My wife is still studying in France, and when she comes to Germany, DAAD will provide a separate stipend for her. Since she will arrive soon, I have already arranged for a family house. Since the rent is more than 30% of my scholarship, DAAD will calculate and provide me with an additional 300 euros for rent.
In short, with the DAAD scholarship, you won’t have to bear much financial burden. Unlike many other scholarships, DAAD allows you to work part-time (related to your subject). They also provide travel expenses for coming to Germany and offer annual funding for research.
Immediately after coming to Germany, they will provide you with a two-month German language course worth about 3500 euros, so you can complete at least A1 level. If you already know the language, you can start from the next level. Additionally, you can enroll in a good language school until your third semester, subsidized by DAAD, to improve your language skills further. DAAD also arranges for your spouse to learn the language.
There are also many other benefits, such as country travel allowances, depending on the conditions! When talking about the DAAD scholarship, I recall something one of my DAAD tutors once said—according to her, we are like the "golden eggs of the golden goose" for Germany, so they treat us accordingly!
Anyway, now, let me briefly share my DAAD journey. I initially mentioned that navigating the DAAD scholarship was quite confusing. This is because DAAD doesn’t only fund master's students—it funds bachelor’s (not from our country), master's, PhD students, researchers, and both German and international candidates.
Also, the funding duration can vary—some receive funding for six months, some for a year, others for two years, or even longer. They don’t provide funding under a single scheme; there are various schemes. Finding out which scheme you will be funded under can be difficult for many. It was certainly challenging for me.
I spent quite some time just understanding the whole thing. In this regard, the DAAD Bangladesh group and Mahin helped me immensely.
First, I selected the subject I wanted to apply for. Then, within the specified application period, I sent my documents to the university. For some subjects/programs, you need to send them directly to the university, while for others, you upload them on the website. For my subject, I sent my documents via email to the university's coordinator.
Then began the waiting phase—this was the most frustrating part of my scholarship journey! The time seemed to drag on. One day, after lunch, I was napping when I suddenly saw a call from Germany. The caller introduced himself as my university coordinator. Since I had applied for the DAAD scholarship, he wanted to conduct an interview. He asked if I was free. I immediately said, "Yes, I am free, you can start."
The interview began on the phone. After a while, I realized the network was weak, and he could not hear me clearly. I became quite anxious! Later, the coordinator himself suggested, "If you can talk online, you can join online."
I quickly connected online, but the problems didn’t stop there. I realized my laptop's microphone wasn’t working! I ended up using both my mobile and laptop to complete the interview. Can you imagine the level of trouble I went through during that time!
What is meant to happen, happens. A month later, I received the nomination letter. Although getting a nomination letter generally means the scholarship is almost guaranteed, I still felt a sense of anxiety.
Finally, I received the DAAD award letter! After that, the next steps were relatively simple. All this time, I had been worried about my own journey, but now it felt like I had become part of DAAD, and my stress was being taken care of!
Now, let me talk about the different DAAD schemes. DAAD has many types of schemes through which you can receive a scholarship. To learn about these schemes, visit: www.funding-guide.de.
The DAAD scholarship database is regularly updated, so you can use the filter options to find your suitable scheme or course. For example, if you want to apply from Bangladesh, select Bangladesh as your country. If applying for a postgraduate program, filter that as well.
In our review, we found that Bangladeshi students often receive scholarships under the Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) scheme. During our time, 12 students from Bangladesh came to Germany with DAAD scholarships, and all of them were under this scheme.
For more details on EPOS, visit: EPOS Scholarship
Now, I will explain the necessary documents you need to apply. Once you visit the link above, you will understand what documents are required. But let me briefly mention—when applying for the DAAD scholarship, you need to submit specific documents, including the DAAD Green Form, which you can download from the link and fill out with the necessary information. You also need to submit your Europass Format CV with your signature.
The most important document is the Letter of Motivation. This is not something you can write in one sitting. You will need time to organize your thoughts and write logically. You will also need a Letter of Recommendation, which you usually get from someone you worked under. In my case, my lab coordinator provided it. An Employment Certificate is also required, with at least two years of experience. However, you can still apply even if your experience is a little less.
If you ask about IELTS or TOEFL, I would say that you don’t need IELTS if your university provides a Medium of Instruction (MOI). During our time, Tanvir Bhai applied with an MOI and got the scholarship. Later, before facing the embassy, he took the IELTS exam.
Also required are academic certificates and transcripts, and if they are not in English or German, you will need to have them translated.
Finally, there is a checklist of documents you are required to submit, which you need to mark and fill out. You can also download this from the link.
Now, I want to encourage you. Many people think that without a scientific paper or research experience, you cannot get a DAAD scholarship. This is a misconception. I know many people who did not have any paper publications but still received the scholarship. However, research experience will give you an edge in this race.
Another misconception is that you cannot apply without having exactly two years of job experience. While two years is often the standard, you can still apply if it's slightly less, especially if you gain that experience while going through the DAAD process. You can even discuss your application with the program coordinator if your experience is a little less. They usually answer questions very sincerely.
Some also think your experience has to match exactly with the subject. This is not mandatory. I am studying Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation. Some of my peers have worked in forestry, environmental science, microbiology, or as biology teachers. Mahin, came from an architecture background. Another person who worked at an agricultural bank has come to study my subject under the DAAD scholarship.
Additionally, some believe their academic background must match 100%. That’s not the case either. For example, Mahin was an architect, and my background was in Zoology. Both of us came to Germany to study the same subject because most subjects are interdisciplinary.
Finally, let me talk briefly about the interview. Generally, you will need to sit for an interview during the DAAD scholarship application process. This interview is usually conducted by the university coordinator, but sometimes someone from DAAD may also attend. There is nothing to fear about the interview. They mainly ask questions based on your motivation and CV, try to learn about your long-term plans, and ask about your experiences.
So, there’s no reason to fear! You never know which door may open for you next. Be brave, apply, and something will surely happen!
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