The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is the
world's largest funding organization for international academic exchange, supporting
students, researchers and academics from around the globe to study or conduct
research in Germany. For Nepali students, DAAD scholarships provide excellent
opportunities, particularly at the master's and PhD levels, as there are no
dedicated DAAD scholarships for bachelor's degrees.
Nepal is eligible for many DAAD programs, especially
those targeted at developing countries. As of 2025-2026, Nepali citizens can
apply for approximately 17-20 DAAD funding options, with around 6-10
specifically for degree-seeking master's students in Germany. These are highly
competitive and focus on development-related fields, STEM, public policy and
more.
DAAD
scholarships are fully or partially funded, typically covering:
1. Monthly
stipend: EUR 934 for master's students, EUR 1,300 for PhD candidates
2. Travel
allowance
3. Health,
accident, and liability insurance
4. Study
and research subsidies
5. Preparatory
German language course
6. Sometimes
family allowances
DAAD does not cover tuition fees at public
universities as most are free anyway, except in some states like
Baden-Wurttemberg, where non-EU students pay EUR1,500/semester.
Key
DAAD Scholarship Programs Open to Nepali Students
Development-Related
Postgraduate Courses (EPOS)
· For
master's/PhD in development-related fields (e.g., economics, engineering,
public health, environment)
· Requires
at least 2 years of professional experience
· Last
degree not older than 6 years
· Highly
recommended for Nepalese
· Specific
courses are listed annually
Helmut-Schmidt-Programme
(Public Policy and Good Governance)
· Master's
in public policy, governance, law, etc.
· Focuses
on future leaders from developing countries.
Study
Scholarships (Master's for All Academic Disciplines)
· Open
for most fields; 10-24 months
· Study
Scholarships for STEM Disciplines
· Targeted
at STEM graduates from developing countries
In-Region/In-Country
Scholarships
· Some
for studies in South Asia (e.g., at IIT Delhi or IIT Bombay in India), with
possible research stays in Germany.
· For
masters/PhD in fields like atmospheric sciences, geology, physics.
Research
Grants and Doctoral Programs
· For
PhD candidates or short-term research.
Other options include bi-nationally supervised
doctoral degrees and specific calls for South Asia.
Eligibility
Criteria (General for Most Programs)
1. Nepali
citizenship
2. Bachelor's
degree completed (for master's) or master's (for PhD), with strong academic
record
3. Last
degree not older than 6 years at application time.
4. For
EPOS/Helmut-Schmidt: Minimum 2 years professional experience.
5. Language
proficiency: IELTS 6.0+ or TOEFL equivalent for English programs;
DSH-2/TestDaF-4 for German
6. Not
resided in Germany longer than 15 months at application deadline.
7. Commitment
to return and contribute to Nepal's development (for some programs).
Application
Process and Deadlines
1. Applications
are submitted via the DAAD Portal (portal.daad.de) or directly to the
university/course for some programs like EPOS.
2. Deadlines
vary by program: Typically August to October/November for intake starting
October next year (e.g., deadlines in 2025 for 2026 start).
3. Required
documents: CV (Euro pass format), motivation letter, references, transcripts,
language proof, employer recommendation (for EPOS).
4. Selection:
Based on academic merit, motivation, professional experience, and development
impact.
5. Start
preparations early, aim for applications 12-14 months before intended start.
6. Nepali
applicants are handled by the DAAD Regional Office in New Delhi (no dedicated
office in Kathmandu).
Official
Websites for Further Updates
DAAD Scholarship Database: https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/
DAAD Regional Office New Delhi: https://www.daad.in/en/nepal/
Study in Germany Portal: https://www.study-in-germany.de/en/
DAAD India/Nepal Contact Page: https://www.daad.in/en/about-us/daad-in-nepal/
