The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Study Scholarships for Postgraduate Studies in the Field of Architecture support international graduates who want to continue their education in Germany with a Master’s degree or a complementary postgraduate course in architecture and related design fields. The current application deadline is 23 September 2026, with selection expected in January 2027 and funding usually starting from September or October 2027.
Quick facts
- Host country: Germany
- Provider: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
- Level: Master’s / postgraduate (and complementary studies; not undergraduate)
- Fields: Architecture, Interior Design, Monument Conservation and Building in Existing Contexts, Urban Design / Urban Development, Landscape Architecture, Landscape Planning
- Monthly stipend: 992 euros
- Duration: Master’s: 10 to 24 months (standard period of study, max 24 months); complementary studies: one academic year
- Application window: From 1 June until 23 September 2026
- Selection: January 2027
- Funding start: Usually from 1 October 2027 (or earlier if a DAAD-funded German language course is taken first)
What the funding covers
Successful scholars typically receive:
- A monthly payment of 992 euros
- A travel allowance (upon application)
- A one-off study allowance
- Payments toward health, accident, and personal liability insurance
Under certain conditions after funding begins, scholars may also apply for a monthly rent subsidy, a family allowance, disability-related extra costs, or green-mobility support. The DAAD may also fund an online German language course after the award letter, a preparatory German language course (2, 4, or 6 months) where needed, an allowance for a personal German course during the stay, and reimbursement of a TestDaF or Deutsche Sprachprufung fur den Hochschulzugang (DSH) fee.
Important: The DAAD does not cover tuition fees. University admission is separate from the scholarship award.
Eligibility
- You must hold a first university degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Monument Conservation and Building in Existing Contexts / Reconditioning of Old Buildings, Urban Design / Urban Development, Landscape Architecture, or Landscape Planning by the time the scholarship-supported programme begins.
- As a rule, your last relevant university degree should not be more than 6 years old at the application deadline.
- You cannot apply if you have been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months at the application deadline.
- The programme funds a Master’s / postgraduate degree leading to a final qualification, or a complementary course that does not lead to a final qualification. Undergraduate courses are not funded.
- Funding cannot be granted for a Master’s or postgraduate programme that has already started in Germany.
- Chosen Master’s programmes must include enough Design / Projects credit points (for example at least 45 credit points in a 120-credit-point programme). Check the module overview at your target university.
- Country eligibility depends on the DAAD scholarship database filters: select your status (Graduates) and country of residence on the official programme page. If your status or country is not listed, you cannot apply under this call.
Language requirements
German-taught architecture programmes usually expect strong German (often B2 to C1 for admission). For German-taught programmes, the scholarship application requires proof of German at completed B1 level (European Framework of Reference or TestDaF), with certificates generally no more than three years old. For English-taught programmes, you must already meet each chosen university’s English requirements (for example Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS)) when you apply for the scholarship.
Key dates
- 1 June 2026: Application portal opens for this call
- 23 September 2026: Application deadline (DAAD portal closes at 24:00 Central European Time or Central European Summer Time on the last day)
- By 23 October 2026: If your written application passes the formal check, DAAD sends a link to upload work samples
- By 4 November 2026 (CET): Deadline to upload work samples to the DAAD media database
- January 2027: Selection committee decision
- From September / October 2027: Typical funding start (often 1 October)
How to apply
- Read the official DAAD programme page for Study Scholarships in Architecture and confirm your country and graduate status are eligible.
- Register in the DAAD portal and complete the online application for Study Scholarships – Postgraduate Studies in the Field of Architecture, 2027/28.
- Upload required documents (curriculum vitae, motivation letter, preferred Master’s programmes form, transcripts, degree certificate or plan to submit it later, language proofs, list of designs/plans, authorship declaration, and other relevant certificates). Do not upload portfolios to the main portal.
- After the formal check, upload work samples to the DAAD media database by the stated November deadline (see DAAD’s architecture-specific portfolio rules).
- Apply separately for admission to your chosen German universities in time; a DAAD award is only valid if you gain admission to one of the programmes named in your application.
Submit a few days early if you can. Late or incomplete applications are not considered.
Frequently asked questions
Does the DAAD Architecture scholarship pay tuition?
No. The award centres on a monthly stipend of 992 euros plus travel, study, and insurance support. Tuition is not covered.
Can I apply if I already started a Master’s in Germany?
No. Funding for a Master’s or postgraduate degree that has already started in Germany cannot be granted under this programme.
What fields count as architecture for this call?
Architecture, Interior Design, Monument Conservation and Building in Existing Contexts, Urban Design / Urban Development, Landscape Architecture, and Landscape Planning. History of Architecture or purely scientific projects usually need other DAAD programmes.
Is a portfolio required?
Yes. After the formal document check, you upload work samples to the DAAD media database (not to the main application portal). Rules differ slightly by specialisation; see DAAD’s additional architecture information page.
When is the 2027/28 deadline?
23 September 2026 for the written application in the DAAD portal, with work samples due later in the autumn if you pass the formal check.
Official sources
Use the official DAAD scholarship database entry and the architecture portfolio guidance before you apply.
