What is DAAD?
 German national agency for international academic cooperation and exchange
 Independent association of universities
 DAAD provides:
• Scholarships and grants
• Information and counseling about studying & research in Germany
 Facts & Figures:
• 64 Regional Offices and Information Centers worldwide
• Regional Office for the US and Canada : New York City
• Annual budget : ~ 410 m € / $ 590 m in 2010
• 74,000 people supported annually
• 1,745 from North America / 4,496 to North America in 2010
• All academic levels, all fields, varied lengths of stay
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
The DAAD network – worldwide
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
Bologna Process
 Creating a European Higher Education Area

Three-tier degree Structure:
• Bachelor
• Master
• PhD

900+ “International Degree Programs”
taught in English

More competition between institutions

More transparency about
individual programs

DAAD
: : North America : :
Rankings
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
Why Germany?
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
Why Germany?
 101 million people speak German worldwide
 Most widely-spoken language of the European Union
 Number of German pages in the internet takes second place after
English-speaking pages
 Ranked 3rd worldwide for the number of books published
 More than 250,000 international students in Germany
 Largest economy in Europe & the 3rd largest in the world
 High academic standard & standard of living
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
Leader in Science & Technology
 Third only to the US, China and Japan
in R&D spending and output
 2.5% of GDP spent on R&D
 8.2% of articles in international
scientific journals (SCI): (US: 31.8%, Japan: 8.5%, UK: 7.3%)
 Strongest in physics, optics, polymer chemistry, automotive,
environmental, nuclear and food engineering
 …and don’t forget the humanities!
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
German Higher Education
 Two main types
of higher education institutions:
• Research Universities: undergraduate,
professional and doctoral programs
• Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen):
practice-oriented Bachelor’s and Master’s programs
• Outstanding research institutes outside universities:
• Max Planck Institutes
• Helmholtz Research Centers
• Fraunhofer Institutes
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
How to Select the Right Program or School
 Searchable database of all programs taught at German universities
www.higher-education-compass.de
 Research Training Groups, Collaborative Research Centers, Graduate
Schools and Research Clusters supported under the Excellence Initiative
www.dfg.de
 For Bachelor and Master programs
Program rankings from Center for Higher Education Development
www.university-ranking.de
 General information about study and research in Germany
www.study-in.de
www.research-in-germany.de
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
Example of a CHE Ranking
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
DAAD Scholarships
 Funding for study abroad,
internships or senior thesis research
 Open to students in all fields
 Previous knowledge of German not
required, but advantageous
 Monthly stipend or lump sum
 Health Insurance
 Some travel reimbursement
 All-Grantees meeting in Bonn
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
Opportunities for Study & Research
in Germany
- Undergraduates Programs and Scholarships
Undergraduate Scholarship
 Funding study, thesis research and/or internships
 Independently designed or organized programs
 For sophomores and juniors
(second- and third-year students in Canada)
 All academic fields
 4 to 10 months during
the German academic year
 €650/monthly, insurance, travel stipend
 Deadline: January 31
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
University Summer Course Grant
 Summer courses thaught in German at German Universities
 For juniors, seniors and grad students
 2 years minimum language requirement
 Focus on literary, cultural, political and economic aspects
 Hundreds of courses to choose from
 3 to 4 weeks
 $850 scholarship: tuition, room and board, health insurance,
travel reimbursement
 Deadline: December 15
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
German Studies Research Grant
 For students who are nominated by their
department/program chairs
 Short-term research (one or two months)
 North America or Germany
 Junior, senior, grad students with a German Studies major or minor
 Two years of college German are expected
 Minimum of three courses in German Studies
 $1,500 to $2,500 research support for living costs during the active
research phase
 Deadlines: November 1 / May 1
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
EMGIP – Bundestag Internship
 Internships for 2 months at
German parliament
 Advanced undergrads or
graduate students
 Fields: political science,
international relations, law,
history, economics, or German.
 Must be comfortable in written
and spoken German
 Monthly salary from German
Bundestag
 DAAD can help with health
insurance and housing
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
Deadline: September 15
InternXchange Journalism Internship
 11-week summer program in Berlin
 Journalism and communication undergrads
and grad students
 6-week seminar on German politics,
culture & media at Freie Universitaet Berlin
 Intensive five-week internship in German media companies
 Good proficiency in German required
 € 650/month, travel stipend, insurance
 Deadline: January 31
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
Summer Law School & Internship
 Intensive legal training at one of the most prestigious law schools in
Germany - the University of Freiburg
 one week seminar, three week - internship at a German law firm or
other legal institution with international focus
 Application requirements:
• outstanding candidates in their
second and third year of legal studies
• German language skills are not a prerequisite but preferred
• A proven interest in the German legal system is helpful
 Funding:
• 650 Euro stipend for the duration of the summer school
• standard rate to cover international travel
• five-day railroad pass
• health insurance, accident & personal/private liability insurance
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
Deadline: January 15
RISE - Research Internships in Science and Engineering
 6-12 weeks in summer
 Web-based matching process
 Undergrads work directly with German doctoral
students at top labs across country
 No German required
 Scholarships and housing assistance provided
 250 interns placed in 2011
 Deadline: January 31
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
RISE – professional
 For undergraduate DAAD alumni,
recent graduates or graduate students
 6-12 week summer placements in industry
internships with leading German companies
 German requirements depend on the
nature of the internship
 Scholarships and housing assistance are provided
 2 week intensive language course for RISE and RISE
pro participants with little or no German
 €250/monthly for graduates, €500/monthly for
PhD students + €500/monthly from host company
 Health insurance, travel reimbursement
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
Deadline: January 31
Study & Internship Program (SIP)
 1 semester coursework at a university of applied science
+ 1 semester internship supervised by a U.A.S.
 For sophomores and juniors (at time of application)
 Language requirements depend on individual program
 € 700/month; travel stipend; insurance
 Deadline: February 15
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
Programs for Undergraduates
internXchange
• 11 week summer
program in Berlin for
journalism &
communication
• undergrads and grad
students
• Seminar program +
internships in media
companies
• Good proficiency in
German required
• € 700/month; travel
stipend; insurance
• Deadline: Jan 31
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
SIP: Study &
Internship Program
EMGIP Bundestag
Internship
• 1 semester coursework
at a university of
applied science
• + 1 semester internship
supervised by a U.A.S.
• For sophomores and
juniors (at time of
application)
• Language requirements
depend on individual
program
• € 700/month; travel
stipend; insurance
• Deadline: Feb 15
• Intern for 2 months at
German parliament
• Advanced undergrads
or grad students
• Fields: political science,
int’l relations, law,
history, econ or
German.
• Must be confortable in
written & spoken
German
• €1,100
• Deadline: Sep 15
Tips for success
 Express why a stay in Germany is critical for
your academic or professional goals
 Obtain a letter of invitation from a German
professor or institution
 Explain clearly why you chose the location
or program you did
 Submit quality letters of recommendation
 Make sure your application is on time and
complete
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
 Visit our website for the USA and Canada:
www.daad.org
 Other funding resources:
www.funding-guide.de
www.studyabroadfunding.org
www.higher-education-compass.de
 General information about study and research in Germany
www.study-in.de
www.research-in-germany.de
DAAD
: : North America : :
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service
We hope to see you
soon in Germany!