Overview
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. Stanford has a direct agreement with DAAD that allows Stanford to nominate a certain number of students each year.

The Awards
There are two categories of graduate awards for which Stanford students may apply.

Study Scholarship: A 10-month scholarship to be used for a full master's degree program at a German university or for study at a German university as part of a postgraduate or master's degree program completed in the home country. All recipients of study scholarships must enroll in courses.
Study Scholarship Website: http://www.daad.org/?p=gradstudy

Research Grant: Available to doctoral and post-doctoral students whose goal is to conduct research for either 1-6 or 7-10 months. Students may apply for multi-year research grants to pursue a doctoral degree.
Research Grant Website: http://www.daad.org/?p=gradresearch

DAAD offers other grant opportunities in addition to the two graduate awards listed above for which Stanford students may apply. More information can be found on the DAAD website: http://www.daad.org/page/46131/

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

It is recommended that students enrolled at Stanford apply for one of the direct graduate awards through the Overseas Resource Center. Applicants who have graduated from Stanford may apply directly to DAAD through the general application pool.

Applicants for a DAAD direct award must:

For Study Grant: Graduating seniors, graduate students and recent graduates who have completed their degrees no longer than 6 years before the application deadline. Students who are in the first year of a full Master’s program in Germany may also apply for an extension to fund the second year of the Master’s.

For Research Grant: full-time enrollment in doctoral program or in a full-time postdoctoral position. For short-term grants (1-6 months) applicants must have ABD status by the time of application, but those applying for long-term (7-10 months) should have reached ABD status by the time of the grant period. Post-Docs applying for short-term (1-6 months) should have completed their degrees no longer than 4 years before the time of application. Those applying for long-term grants (7-10) should have completed their degrees no longer than 2 years before the time of application.

Be enrolled at Stanford University (undergraduate or graduate) at the time of application.
Have a bachelor's degree by the starting date of the grant.
Be a U.S. or Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Foreign nationals may be able to apply if they have been full-time students at Stanford for at least two years 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 German faculty member.
Have adequate knowledge of the German language to carry out proposed research.

The Application
An exact list of components of a completed application may be found on the awards’ respective websites (listed in the “Awards” section).

DAAD STUDY SCHOLARSHIP application includes the following:

DAAD Online Application Form
CV/Resume - in chronological/tabular form (3 pages maximum)
Statement about academic and personal reasons for the planned study in Germany (letter of motivation; 3 pages maximum).
Letter of admission to a study program in Germany
OR For a postgraduate or Master’s degree to be completed in Germany: Form "Information about your preferred master programmes" (see website)
OR For a study period in Germany as part of a postgraduate or Master’s degree to be completed in the USA and Canada: Proof that the academic achievements rendered in Germany will be recognized in the USA and Canada (e.g. letter from your dept.).
Official Transcripts
DAAD Language Evaluation Form (Sprachzeugnis)
For Campus Level: One Letter of Recommendation (Original letter on letterhead stationary with signature and 2 photocopies enclosed in one sealed envelope)

DAAD RESEARCH GRANTS application includes the following:

DAAD Online Application Form
CV/Resume - in chronological/tabular form (3 pages maximum)
List of publications (10 pages maximum), if applicable
Extensive and detailed description of the research proposal which has been discussed with the academic adviser and a description of previous research work (10 pages maximum)
Schedule of planned research work
OR In case of structured doctoral study program in Germany, description/course catalog of the chosen program
Letter confirming supervision by an academic adviser in Germany, which refers to the applicant's proposal and confirms that the host institute will provide a workplace
OR For structured PhD programs, proof of admission to a PhD program or evidence of existing contact with the university
Official Transcripts
DAAD language evaluation form (Sprachzeugnis)
For Campus Level:
1) One Letter of Recommendation (Original letter on letterhead stationary with signature and two photocopies enclosed in one sealed envelope)
2) For Ph.D. candidates, a letter on university letterhead from your department confirming that you are in ABD status.*
*Note: PhD Candidates at North American institutions applying for short-term grants (one to six months) must have ABD status by the time of application deadline, but no more than four years before applying. For those applying for long-term grants (seven to 10 months) must have reached ABD status by the start of the grant period, but no more than four years before applying.

The Campus Process
If you are interested in either of the DAAD awards and you are enrolled at Stanford, you may apply through the Overseas Resource Center (ORC).

If applying through the campus process, all application materials for both the Study Scholarship and the Research Grant must be submitted by the October 21 campus deadline. A campus panel reviews all application materials, and it is imperative that applications be submitted by the deadline.

Music, Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Architecture applicants must submit material by October 31.

Students interested in the short-term research grants can also apply again in early spring. Please check web site for further information.

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 handout "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 to the ORC:

Stanford-DAAD Coversheet (attached to each copy of the application, see link above in yellow section)
3 copies of the DAAD application (printed from online application)
Letters of Reference, Language Evaluation, Contact Letters (originals only)
Official Transcripts (one original and 3 copies)

At the campus level, applications will be reviewed by a committee of Stanford faculty and staff from various departments that 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.

Other DAAD Awards:
DAAD Intensive Language Course in Germany Grant - for graduate students

Useful Resources:
Research in Germany - opportunities for funding research, job searches, and preparing for your research stay in Germany.

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