r/DAAD

Hi everyone,

So I know DAAD motivation letter limit is 1-3 pages and the ideal is 2 pages, but due to different formats, it is not always the same length. Can anyone guide me in terms of the word limit, what range is ideal? I don't want to make my letter too long, but at the same time have so much to add, so don't want to remove important stuff.

Same content as title.

I rejected at the interview, so I'm considering a second try.
I think I screwed up my interview because I didn't have some clear future goal at that time and bad english skill.

I'm wondering is there anyone who received a scholarship on their second attempt.

And any advice is welcome.

Hi everyone!

I’m moving to Germany for the Winter Semester this year and I’ve been spending a lot of time researching how to adapt and survive as a student there. I’m even taking German classes already :)

I would love to hear your BEST tips, hacks, recommendations, or “things you wish you knew earlier” to save money as a student in Germany.

Anything helps:

• cheapest supermarkets
• student discounts
• phone plans
• transport tips
• where to buy furniture/kitchen stuff
• health insurance advice
• apps/websites worth using
• ways to find cheaper housing
• hidden student benefits
• etc.

The cities I’m currently choosing between are:

1. Lübeck
2. Magdeburg
3. Köthen
4. Iserlohn

So if you have city-specific advice, even better.

Thanks a lot in advance!

Hey everyone,

I am a DAAD scholarship holder (Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines) and I am currently in the process of applying for my German student visa.

One of the required documents for the visa application is travel insurance. My question is: does the health and liability insurance provided by DAAD through Continentale already fulfill this requirement, or do I need to purchase a separate travel insurance policy on top of it?

For context, DAAD has already sent me my insurance certificate (Versicherungsausweis) which covers health, accident, and personal liability starting from my insurance inception date.

Has anyone been through this process and can confirm whether the DAAD insurance was accepted by the embassy as sufficient proof of travel insurance, or did you have to get additional coverage?

Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone,
I was wondering if anyone took the admission exam for the MSc in Digital Health and what kind of areas/topics I should be studying to prepare for it. My exam is on the 20th of May, 2026.

Thank you for your help

hey, i won a 12 month scholarship during my phd and im gonna be in humboldt and womdering if i can get the d-ticket in reduced price or i have to pay the normal price.

thanks in advance!

Hello everyone,

I need guidance from someone, especially DAAD SECAI scholarship holders or related scholarship holders in the tech field, regarding my motivation letter. I have finalized it, but I would love to have feedback from you guys.

Also, in this scholarship, a recommendation letter is not required, but to justify my CGPA, I was planning to submit one as per someone's suggestion. I have a genuine case of transferring uni and working alongside studying.

Please comment below, and I will DM you my letter. Any suggestions or advice for the application process/motivation letter would also be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

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Hi everyone,

I’m from India and currently preparing for PhD applications in Germany for 2026, mainly through DAAD and other humanities/social science scholarships.

My broad area is media/cultural studies. The project I’m developing looks at food media, cultural memory, sensory experience, indigenous ritual practices, cookbooks, print culture, and food vlogs/digital media in Bengal.

Current status (April 2026):

MA completed from JNU

Topic mostly fixed

Research questions developed

Concept note ready

Academic CV ready

Draft proposal in progress

Contacted around 7–8 professors already

Got a couple of replies (one professor said the topic sounds fascinating but there is no funded project position currently)

Planning to contact more professors

IELTS not done yet

Writing sample currently being edited

I’m trying to understand the REALISTIC timeline from here onward because online information is honestly confusing.

Some things I genuinely want to understand from people who went through this process:

At what stage do supervisor conversations usually become serious for humanities applicants?

Is April considered late / normal / early for first-contact emails?

How many professors did you contact before finding a suitable supervisor?

How important is it to already have a professor informally interested before DAAD applications?

Professors often mention “no funded positions” — does this still leave room for DAAD-funded supervision later?

When should IELTS realistically be completed without rushing?

When should APS/document verification processes begin for Germany?

How competitive is DAAD specifically for humanities/media/cultural studies applicants from India?

Any major mistakes humanities applicants commonly make during this phase?

Would especially appreciate responses from:

DAAD applicants

humanities/social science PhD students

media/cultural studies researchers

people who applied from India

Trying to build a realistic roadmap instead of panicking later.

Thanks in advance.

( used ai for assistance )

Hi everyone,

I’m currently preparing my profile for a DAAD scholarship and looking for NGOs/organizations based in Lahore working in areas like women’s rights, gender studies, climate justice, transgender rights, social development, and community advocacy.

I’m especially interested in organizations that are open to students or young professionals for volunteering, internships, research assistance, campaigns, or field/community work.

If you know any credible Lahore-based NGOs, feminist collectives, climate organizations, or human rights groups, please share your recommendations and experiences.

Thanks a lot!

Hello everyone,

I need guidance from someone, especially a DAAD SECAI scholar, regarding my motivation letter. I have reviewed it multiple times myself, but I would love to have feedback from you guys.

Please comment below, and I will DM you my letter. Any suggestions or advice for the application process would also be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

I have a bachelor's degree in Bioengineering, and I intend to apply for the DAAD Scholarships for STEM disciplines. Has anyone here received this scholarship for Msc Biotech, Bioengineering or Bioscience,…I kinda heard that these fields are very competitive and that it’s more difficult to get the scholarship compared to other fields. Is that true? Can you guys give me some advice?

Hey there,

is there any Whatsapp group for those admitted to the DAAD All Studies Masters Scholarship?

Thanks!