PROMOS International Scholarships 2026 Admissions to Open in June 2026

Germany continues to strengthen its global academic exchange programs as the PROMOS International Scholarships remain one of the most flexible mobility funding schemes for students enrolled at German universities. Designed to support short-term academic experiences abroad, the PROMOS program enables students to pursue international study, research, internships, and thesis work outside traditional exchange frameworks.

Funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with financial resources provided by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), the PROMOS program allows German universities to independently allocate international mobility scholarships to their students.

Unlike many centralized scholarship schemes, PROMOS funding is distributed to universities, which then manage their own selection processes through their International Offices. This decentralized approach enables institutions to tailor mobility funding according to their internationalization strategies while expanding global academic engagement for both undergraduate and graduate students.

For the 2026 cycle and beyond, the program continues to play an important role in supporting international exposure for students who want to complement their studies in Germany with academic experiences abroad.

Understanding the PROMOS International Scholarship Program

The PROMOS (Programme for the Mobility of Students at German Universities) was launched in 2010 to encourage international academic exchange and increase global mobility among students enrolled at German higher education institutions.

Through this initiative, universities receive funding from DAAD to support their students in pursuing international academic activities such as study visits, research stays, internships, and thesis-related travel.

One of the distinctive features of the program is that students do not apply directly to DAAD. Instead, each participating university manages its own internal selection process and awards the scholarships through its International Office or a central administrative unit responsible for international programs.

The program ultimately helps German universities strengthen their global networks while enabling students to gain valuable cross-border academic experience.

Financial Support Structure Offered by PROMOS Scholarships

PROMOS scholarships provide partial financial support for short-term international academic activities. While the exact funding amount may vary depending on the host destination and university guidelines, the program generally offers financial assistance to reduce the cost of international mobility.

Typical PROMOS financial support includes:

• Monthly stipend starting at approximately €350, depending on the destination country
• Funding duration usually ranging from 1 to 4 months
• Financial support for study visits, internships, or research stays abroad
• Additional support possibilities for students with disabilities or chronic health conditions
• Universities may provide top-up mobility grants depending on institutional funding allocations

Since PROMOS is designed as a mobility support scholarship, students are expected to organize their travel, housing, and academic arrangements independently. Travel costs are usually not included within the core funding package.

Who Is Eligible to Apply for PROMOS International Scholarships?

Eligibility for the PROMOS program is determined primarily by the individual German university administering the scholarship. However, the general eligibility framework remains consistent across institutions.

Applicants typically must meet the following conditions:

• Must be currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program at a German university
• Both German and international students studying in Germany may apply
• The proposed study, internship, or research stay must take place outside the Erasmus+ program zone
• The international mobility activity must be academically relevant to the student’s degree program
• Students usually cannot apply to study in their home country, particularly if they have resided there in the last five years
• Applicants must apply through their university’s International Office.

Doctoral candidates may be eligible for certain mobility formats depending on institutional policies, although many universities recommend alternative DAAD research funding programs for PhD-level applicants.

Types of International Activities Supported by PROMOS

PROMOS scholarships support a variety of short-term international academic experiences that enhance the global exposure of students studying in Germany.

Typical activities funded through the program include:

• Semester study visits abroad lasting between 1 and 4 months
• International internships outside Erasmus+ or DAAD special program frameworks
• Thesis research stays connected to bachelor’s or master’s dissertations
• Short-term academic mobility programs organized by partner institutions
• Academic fieldwork or research projects abroad

The program focuses on international destinations that are not already covered under other structured exchange schemes, allowing universities to support a broader range of global academic opportunities.

Destination Rules and Mobility Restrictions

PROMOS scholarships generally support international mobility outside the Erasmus+ area, particularly for destinations where students may otherwise struggle to secure funding.

Common destination guidelines include:

• International destinations outside the Erasmus+ exchange framework
• Host countries that are not subject to official travel warnings by Germany’s Foreign Office
• Universities or research institutions with recognized academic relevance

Some host institutions may not be eligible for funding depending on institutional policies. In many cases, internships at organizations such as international governmental institutions or programs already supported by other DAAD funding lines may not qualify.

Students are therefore encouraged to confirm the eligibility of their destination with their university’s International Office before submitting an application.

How Students Can Apply for the PROMOS Scholarship?

Since PROMOS scholarships are administered by universities rather than directly by DAAD, the application process is handled locally at each institution.

Students interested in applying should follow these steps:

1. First, identify an eligible international activity such as a study visit, internship, or thesis research stay abroad that aligns with their academic program.
2. Second, contact the International Office of your German university to confirm whether your planned mobility activity qualifies for PROMOS funding.
3. Third, submit the required application documents through your university’s internal mobility funding portal or application system.

Most universities require materials such as:

• Academic transcript
• Motivation letter
• Internship or research confirmation
• Study or research plan
• Faculty recommendation (in some cases)

After evaluation, universities select scholarship recipients according to their own internal criteria and available PROMOS funding allocations.

Application Timeline and Key Deadline Information

PROMOS scholarship application timelines vary depending on the university administering the program. Students should therefore always confirm deadlines directly with their university’s International Office.

For the broader PROMOS funding cycle, the DAAD call for proposals for the 2027 PROMOS program will be published on June 15, 2026 through the DAAD project database, allowing German universities to submit their institutional funding applications through the DAAD portal.

Students planning international mobility programs during the upcoming academic year are encouraged to contact their university’s International Office early to learn about internal application deadlines and available funding opportunities.

Application Links

1. https://www.daad.de/de/infos-services-fuer-hochschulen/weiterfuehrende-infos-zu-daad-foerderprogrammen/promos/
2. https://www.htw-berlin.de/en/international/wege-ins-ausland/internships-abroad/promos-funding-for-internships/
3. https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/studium/im-studium/stipendien-foerderung/~bgjo/promos-auslandsstipendien/