In collaboration with Germany’s consulate generals and embassies, the German Academic Exchange Service has awarded 316 scholarships to students across South Asia for the academic year 2024/25.
The DAAD said it awarded scholarships to 287 Indians, 10 Sri Lankans, nine Bangladeshis, eight Nepalese students and two to those from Bhutan.
The scholarships will be applicable for various uses, including university summer courses; working internships in science and engineering; EPOS – development-related postgraduate courses; public policy and good governance; graduate school scholarship programs and research stays.
It will also apply, the organisation confirmed, to reinvitation and bilateral exchange of academics.
“While university summer courses, WISE, research stays, reinvitation, and bilateral exchange will be for shorter durations between three weeks to three months; EPOS, PPGG, and GSSP cater to full degree programs at the masters or PhD level,” Aditi Gosavi – senior advisor for comms at DAAD India – detailed, speaking to The PIE News.
She noted that students going for shorter durations will need a Schengen visa.
The scholarship awardees for DAAD flagship programs such as PhD, PhD Sandwich and IIT Master Sandwich programs, are yet to be announced.
The DAAD has already concluded its scholarship hand-over ceremonies in Sri Lanka and India.
“DAAD programs such as university summer courses are offered at various German universities where the DAAD facilitates participation of selected students by taking care of fees, living costs, insurance, and travel,” added Gosavi.
“For programs such as WISE [and] research stays, the applicants need an invitation letter from a German academic or researcher, and a good research proposal. Upon selection, the DAAD takes care of their living costs, insurance, and travel.”
In recent years, Germany has increasingly shifted its focus towards South Asia as a source of international students and professionals, with countries such as India now representing the largest student cohort in the country.
“DAAD programs such as university summer courses are offered at various German universities”
Over 43,000 Indian students study in Germany, highlighting a shift from traditional study destinations such as the UK, Canada, and Australia.
Moreover, Germany has also been looking to make its labour market attractive for Indians, as previously reported by The PIE.
The Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement was signed between India and Germany in December 2022, to encourage the citizens of each country to study, work or do research in the other nation.
