Technische Universität Darmstadt has confirmed its participation in the DAAD-administered Hilde Domin Programme, opening a protected academic pathway for at-risk international students and doctoral candidates preparing for the 2026 application cycle.
Through this initiative, TU Darmstadt can nominate eligible candidates from around the world who face serious threats to their educational rights, enabling them to begin or continue a master’s or doctoral degree in Germany starting from the summer semester 2027. This opportunity is designed for individuals whose access to higher education has been restricted due to political, civic, religious, gender, or identity-based circumstances, offering them a safe and fully supported route into Germany’s academic system.
What the Hilde Domin Programme Offers?
Successful nominees under this DAAD programme receive comprehensive financial support to focus fully on their studies or research in Germany. Master’s students are provided with a monthly stipend of €992, while doctoral candidates receive €1,300 per month. The funding duration generally covers up to 24 months for a master’s degree and up to 48 months for doctoral studies, depending on the academic programme and progress. The programme strictly supports first-time master’s or PhD degrees, meaning second degrees are not eligible for funding.
Who This Opportunity Is Designed For?
The programme is open to international master’s aspirants and PhD candidates from any country who face credible threats to their safety, freedom, or educational access in their home country. Importantly, applicants cannot apply directly at Technische Universität Darmstadt. Instead, they must be nominated by a German university or higher education institution, which assesses eligibility and submits the nomination to DAAD.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for scholarship nomination at Technische Universität Darmstadt, candidates must:
- Clearly demonstrate or credibly explain a threat to personal safety or educational rights
- Hold academic qualifications that allow admission to a German university
- Be able to realistically complete the intended study or research programme
- Not be residing in Germany or the EU at the time of nomination
- Have no academic gap longer than six years since their last enrollment
- Provide language proficiency proof (German or English, depending on the programme language).
For candidates aiming to begin studies in the summer semester 2027 at Technische Universität Darmstadt, the final university nomination deadline is 20 February 2026.