DAAD Double Degree Scholarship 2027–2028 Application Process Explained

International students cannot apply directly for this DAAD funding call, but they may later benefit from the new bachelor’s and master’s double-degree programmes it helps German universities establish. The programme supports courses under which students study at a German university and an international partner institution before receiving a joint degree or two national degrees. The current call is the 2027–2028 preparation phase of DAAD’s Integrated International Degree Programmes with Double Degrees initiative. Applications are submitted by eligible German universities—not individual students—by 15 October 2026.

What Is This DAAD Double Degree Programme?

The programme helps German and international universities develop integrated bachelor’s and master’s courses with shared curricula. Participating students are expected to complete parts of their studies at both institutions and obtain either a joint degree or separate national degrees from the partner universities. The scheme has three stages: a preparation phase, a funding phase and follow-up funding. The present call covers only the preparation phase, which normally lasts one year and may begin from 1 May 2027. Back to Table of Contents

Can International Students Apply Directly?

No, international students cannot submit an individual scholarship application under this announcement. Only an authorized German university can apply through the DAAD portal. Students may become eligible later when a funded university launches or operates the relevant double-degree course and opens its own admission and scholarship selection process. International students should therefore search for participating double-degree programmes and follow the admissions pages of the German and partner universities. Admission qualifications, nationality rules, grades, language certificates and age conditions will be decided at programme level. Back to Table of Contents

What Funding and Benefits Are Available?

DAAD can provide a German university with up to €15,000 for the preparation phase. A multi-partner project may request an additional €15,000 for every additional partner institution, up to six international partners.

• Development of curricula, modules and courses;
• Planning meetings with international partner universities;
• Staff and student-assistant expenses connected to the project;
• Travel costs for eligible German university project personnel;
• Websites, videos and promotional activities for the degree programme.

This €15,000 is not a personal student stipend. Student scholarships may become available during later programme stages and are normally awarded by the participating German university. DAAD’s programme FAQ states that eligible individual support generally lasts up to ten months, but availability is not guaranteed by this preparation-phase award. Partner agreements should normally provide complete tuition waivers or at least a 50% tuition reduction. DAAD expects double-degree students enrolled in Germany to receive full tuition-fee waivers. Back to Table of Contents

Who Is Eligible?

State and state-recognized German higher education institutions are the only direct applicants. The proposed project must concern a bachelor’s or master’s double-degree course and may cover any academic discipline. PhD programmes are not eligible under this scheme.

• The responsible project coordinator must be a professor at the applying German institution.
• A cooperation agreement or signed letter of intent from the international partner is required.
• The institutions must present a curricular and structural plan for the proposed programme.
• Projects involving partner institutions in Russia or Belarus are currently ineligible.
• Double-degree projects involving France must apply through the Franco-German University.

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How Does the Application Process Work?

The German university must submit the complete project application through the DAAD online portal. Required documents include the project description, cooperation agreement or letter of intent, endorsement from university management, financing plan and the proposed curricular structure. Students should not use the institutional application portal. Instead, monitor the future international-programme announcements of participating universities. Universities will conduct their own student selection and publish the relevant admission, scholarship and English-language requirements. German universities can review the official DAAD programme announcement and its downloadable funding framework before applying. Back to Table of Contents

Application Deadline

The last date for eligible German universities to apply for the DAAD Integrated International Degree Programmes with Double Degrees preparation phase is 15 October 2026. This deadline does not apply to student admission because each participating university will announce its student application period separately. Back to Table of Contents