DAAD Postgraduate Studies in the Field of Architecture 2027

This scholarship programme offers you the opportunity to continue your education in Germany with a postgraduate or continuing course of study in the field of architecture. The scholarships also promote the exchange of experience and networking amongst colleagues.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineSeptember 23, 2026
• Study LevelMasters , PhD
• SponsorDAAD
• Course to studyArchitecture
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• A monthly payment of 992 euros
• Travel allowance (upon application only
• One-off study allowance
• Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover

Under certain circumstances, you can apply for the following additional benefits after start of funding:

• Monthly rent subsidy 
• Monthly allowance for accompanying members of family.
• In case of a disability or chronic illness: on application, a subsidy may be provided for justified additional costs incurred abroad that are necessary to realise the project in Germany and that are not covered by a third party; whether and to what extent a subsidy will be paid will be reviewed and determined on an individual basis 
• Green Mobility Top Up (Support for climate-friendly travel) or reimbursement of carbon offset payments for air travel

To allow you to improve your language skills in preparation for your stay in Germany, the DAAD offers the following benefits:

• Payment of course fees for an online language course after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter
• if necessary: German language course (2, 4 or 6 months) before the start of the study visit in Germany; the DAAD decides whether to fund participation and for how long depending on German language skills and project. Participation in a German language course is compulsory if the language of instruction or working language is German at the German host institution.
• Allowance for a personally chosen German language course during the scholarship period
• Reimbursement of the fee for a TestDaF or DSH test, which you can take either in your home country after you have received your Scholarship Award Letter or in Germany during your funding period.

Requirements

• You can apply if you have gained a first university degree in the areas of Architecture, Interior Design, Monument Conservation and Building in Existing Contexts/Reconditioning of Old Buildings, Urban Design/Urban Development, Landscape Architecture, Landscape Planning at the latest by the time they commence their scholarship-supported study programme.

Please check if the following criteria are fulfilled:

• As a rule, your last relevant university degree should not date back more than 6 years at the time of the application deadline. Your application cannot be considered, if you have been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months at the application deadline.

Language skills

• The language of instruction for study programmes in Germany is German. In international programmes, the language of instruction is English, or German and English. To apply for a place at the university, you must submit proof of your language skills (e.g. DSH or TestDaF if the language of instruction is German; e.g. TOEFL or IELTS if the language of instruction is English). Ask your chosen host university about requirements well in advance. For more information about requirements, check out our website.
  
  For English-language degree programmes you must already provide proof of language skills that meet the requirements of your chosen universities with the scholarship application. Please list the language level required by the universities of your choice in the form 'Information on the desired degree programmes' (see 'Application documents' in the tab 'Application procedure').
  
  To apply for admission to a German-language architecture degree programme, the universities generally expect very good German language skills (at least B2, usually C1). For German-language degree programmes, proof of German language skills according to the European Framework of Reference or Test-DaF at the level of a completed B1 must therefore be submitted. Applicants are also expected to acquire the level required by the universities on their own initiative.
   

   

Selection Process

• After you have uploaded your application documents to the DAAD portal, the DAAD will first carry out a formal check. It will be checked whether the application requirements have been met and whether the application is complete. If this is the case, you will be asked to submit your work samples.
• A special DAAD committee made up of professors from German universities makes the final decision about scholarships in the field of architecture. The decision is based upon written applications and work samples which have to be submitted.

Selection criteria

• the academic qualification and architectural maturity, measured by study achievements and work samples
• the quality of the project as measured by the study plan and the letter of motivation

In addition, the selection committee will give due consideration to aspects of equal opportunities, on which you can provide information in the application form.

Application Documents

After registering on the DAAD portal, please complete the online application in full. Then upload the application documents listed below to the DAAD portal in the section ‘Attachments’.
Certificates (school leaving certificates are not necessary), proof of credits, certifications and Englisch or German translations may be scanned in non-certified form and uploaded to the DAAD portal. The DAAD reserves the right to request certified copies of the documents.

1. Documents to be uploaded to the DAAD portal:

• Full curriculum vitae in tabular form
• Statement about academic and personal reasons for the planned study project in Germany (letter of motivation; max. 2 pages).  Please also explain the career prospects that your chosen Master’s programme in Germany will enable you to pursue.

Master's degree programme/postgraduate study programme leading to a final qualification:

• Form 'Information about your preferred master programmes'. Please note that only the degree programmes specified in the form can be considered for a scholarship. If you have already been admitted to one of your desired degree programmes, please complete the form anyway and upload it.
• If available, letter of acceptance from the host university in Germany.
  If you have not yet received notification of admission at the time of application, you must submit this before the funding period begins. Please note that you yourself are responsible for ensuring that you apply for admission at the host university by the due date and that a Scholarship Award Letter from the DAAD only becomes valid if you are admitted to one of the desired host universities specified in your application.

Complementary studies not leading to a final qualification:

• Confirmation of supervision from a university teacher of the host university in Germany

Also for all applicants:

• A current Transcript of Records with individual grade(s), incl. explanation of grading system
• University degree certificate indicating final grade(s): the certificate must be subsequently submitted before the scholarship-supported study programme begins if studies have not been completed at the time of application.
• German or English translations of all documents submitted in the national language.
• A list of the designs/plans, which are going to be uploaded in the DAAD media database Subject-specific information - DAAD with detailed information (size, date of creation, place, etc.)
• A declaration (form) that the designs/plans have been produced or created by you.
• Proof of German language skills of chosen study programmes in German according to the European Framework of Reference or TestDaF at the level of a completed B1 must be submitted. The respective language certificate should be no more than three years old. 
• Proof of English language proficiency according to the requirements of chosen study programmes in English (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS). The respective language certificate should be no more than three years old.
• Other documents you think might be of relevance to your application (e.g. certificates of employment, proof of placements).

Please do not upload any work samples and/or portfolios to the DAAD portal!

2. Submitting work samples to the DAAD media database:

• If the review of your scholarship application shows that it meets the criteria of the scholarship announcement and is complete, you will receive a link to upload your work samples to the DAAD media database by 23 October at the latest. When you receive the link, please upload the work samples to the media database by 4 November CET at the latest.
• For formal requirements, read: 'Additional Information for DAAD Study Scholarships in the Field of Architecture' at: Subject-specific information - DAAD

All application documents listed under 1. and 2. must be submitted in German or English. Documents in other languages must be translated.

Application documents
The application is submitted in two steps:
1. Submission of the application documents
2. Submission of work samples

1. Submission of the application documents
The application documents are submitted online via the DAAD portal.

Applications for this scholarship programme are possible between 1 June and the stated application deadline.

Please note that the access to the application portal only appears while the current application period is running. After the application deadline has expired, the portal for this programme is not available until the next application period.

Please note

• Your application is only valid if you submit all the required documents to the DAAD portal (see Item 1) and to the DAAD media database (see Item 2).
• The DAAD portal closes at 24.00 hrs. (CET or CEST) on the last application day. If possible, please submit your application a few days before the application deadline. This means you are on the safe side in the event of technical problems.
• Late or incomplete applications cannot be considered. You are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete.
• The application documents remain with the DAAD. Your personal data is saved by the DAAD in accordance with the Federal Data Protection Act and with the EU Data Protection Regulation insofar as this data is needed to process the application.

Check also:
2026 Fully Funded Humboldt Research Fellowship
2026 Eutopia PhD Co-tutelle Call

Application Deadline

September 23, 2026

How To Apply

• Applications for this scholarship programme are possible between 1 June and the stated application deadline.
• Click on 'Application portal' at the bottom of the page to go to the DAAD portal. There you will be provided with an online application form to enter your application data.

For more information, kindly visit the DAAD portal.