'DLR-DAAD Research Fellowships' is a programme implemented by the 'German Aerospace Center' (DLR) and the 'German Academic Exchange Service' (DAAD). DLR is Germany´s national research center for aeronautics and space. Its extensive research and development work in Aeronautics, Space, Energy, Transport, Digitalisation and Security is integrated into national and international cooperative ventures. As Germany´s space agency, DLR has been given responsibility for the forward planning and the implementation of the German space program by the German federal government as well as for the international representation of German interests. Approximately 10,000 people plus approx. 550 visiting scientists are employed in DLR´s 55 institutes and facilities at 30 locations in Germany.
What can be funded?
The current offers are published under DLR-DAAD Fellowships - Current offers on the homepages of the DAAD and the DLR in the research fields:
- Aeronautics
- Space
- Energy
- Transportation
- Digitalisation
- Security
Please note that within the DLR-DAAD programme, you can apply only for a DLR institute, not for a university or any other institution.
Table of Content
Summary
Requirements
At the time of their application, applicants for a DLR-DAAD Fellowship must
- not be of German nationality, or must be able to proof that the main place of residence lies outside of Germany for at least six years,
- be able to prove their outstanding study or research achievements in the field of research corresponding to the fellowship offer,
- Type A: applicants have completed a first qualifying degree (Bachelor's, Diploma, equivalent) and must be enrolled in a Master's programme at a foreign or German university,
- Type B: have completed their studies or research with a university degree not more than six years ago,
- Type C: have completed their studies with a doctorate/PhD/Candidate (Russia) not more than two years ago,
- Type D: applicants must be working in higher education or at a research institute; positions are open to outstandingly-qualified academics and scientists who should generally hold a doctorate/ Ph.D., additional prerequisites may differ and are stated in the fellowship offers,
- have an excellent knowledge of English; knowledge of German is advantageous.
Earliest Start Date: 15.09.2025
Application Documents
The application procedure occurs online through the DAAD portal. Your referees should send their letters of recommendation by post to the application address.
Certificates, proof of credits, certifications and translations may be scanned in non-certified form and uploaded to the DAAD portal. DAAD's Head Office in Bonn will only request certified copies of the submitted documents in paper form if a grant is awarded!
Type A
The following documents have to be uploaded to the DAAD portal:
- Online application form;
- Cover page;
- Statement of the reasons for applying for a certain fellowship: Appendix;
- Complete curriculum vitae;
- Abstract of the final Bachelor (or equivalent) thesis;
- Bachelor or similar degree certificate indicating final grade(s): the certificate must be subsequently submitted before the grant-supported research begins if it is not yet available at the time of application;
- German or English translation of documents submitted in the national language;
- All university certificates on all annual examinations with individual grade(s), incl. explanation of grading system;
- Proof of Enrollment for Master’s program;
- Proof of English proficiency;
- Documents to be sent to the DAAD application address by post:
One letter of recommendation from a professor of the applicant’s home institution. The form of the letter of recommendation has to be generated in the DAAD portal in the section 'Request recommendation form' after registration and downloaded. Please send the form by e-mail to your referees and ask for the completed form to be sent to the application address in Bonn in a sealed envelope. The documents are confidential and must not be read by the applicant.
The letter of recommendation cannot be accepted in digital form and must be sent by your referees by post to the DAAD head office in Bonn. The letters of recommendation must arrive 4 weeks after the application was uploaded in the DAAD portal at the latest, at the application address (see below). Please regard the instructions given on the tab 'Submitting an application'.
Type B and Type C
The following documents have to be uploaded to the DAAD portal:
- Online application form;
- Cover page;
- Statement of the reasons for applying for a certain fellowship: Appendix;
- Complete curriculum vitae;
- List of publications, if applicable;
- Abstract of the final Master or PhD thesis (max. 3 pages);
- University degree certificate indicating final grade(s): the certificate must be subsequently submitted before the grant-supported research begins if it is not available at the time of application;
- English language certificate giving evidence of the applicant's Level of proficiency (e.g. TOEFL IBT min. 79, IELTS min. 6.5);
- German or English translation of documents submitted in the national language;
- All university certificates on all annual examinations with individual grade(s), incl. explanation of grading System.
Applicants are not required to submit any confirmation of academic supervision.
- Documents to be sent to the DAAD application address by post:
Two letters of recommendation, which should be written by senior academics of the applicant´s own choice. The form of the letter of recommendation has to be generated in the DAAD portal in the section 'Request recommendation form' after registration and downloaded. Please send the form by e-mail to your referees and ask for the completed form to be sent to the application address in Bonn in a sealed envelope. The documents are confidential and must not be read by the applicant.
The letters of recommendation cannot be accepted in digital form and must be sent by your referees by post to the DAAD head office in Bonn. The letters of recommendation must arrive 4 weeks after the application was uploaded in the DAAD portal at the latest, at the application address (see below). Please regard the instructions given on the tab 'Submitting an application'.
Type D
The following documents have to be uploaded to the DAAD portal:
- Online application form;
- Cover page;
- Statement of the reasons for applying for a certain fellowship: Appendix;
- Complete curriculum vitae;
- List of publications.
Important notice for all applicants:
Within the DLR-DAAD programme, you can apply only for a DLR institute, not for a university or any other institution.
By applying for a fellowship within the 'DLR-DAAD Research Fellowhips' Programme you give your consent to the DAAD to forward your documents and your personal details to DLR and its relevant institutions. The DAAD and the DLR will not pass on your details to third parties.
Application location
Please ask the referees to send the letters of recommendation to:
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Section ST43/DLR
Kennedyallee 50
53175 Bonn
Germany
Application Deadline
Not SpecifiedHow To Apply
Are you qualified and interested in this opportunity? Kindly go to
DAAD on mydaad.b2clogin.com to apply
General information on the application via DAAD portal
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.
This is what you have to do:
1. Register in the DAAD portal (Read notes about registering in the portal >>)
2. Request recommendation form
You can generate the recommendation form in the DAAD portal as a writable PDF under 'Request recommendation form'. Please send it to your referee and ask him or her to complete the form in full. The letter of recommendation must be returned to you in a sealed envelope, or alternatively it can be sent directly to the DAAD. Provide your referee with the application address (see tab 'Application procedure' under 'Application address') so that he/she can send the letter of recommendation directly to the DAAD.
Please note that the form for completion by a referee can only be generated during the application period (from about 6 weeks before the application deadline). Please generate one form for each referee.
The document is confidential and may not be viewed by the applicant!
3. Applying online in the DAAD portal (Read notes on applying in the portal >>)
- Prepare application documents
- If necessary, translate documents (unless they are already in German or English).
- Scan paper documents and save in PDF format. You can only upload PDF files to the portal.
- Fill out the application form and upload the application documents to the portal in PDF format. Translations, if applicable, should be uploaded together with the document issued in the original language.
- Submit the application online.
4. Sending application documents by post
Letters of recommendation must be sent in the unopened envelope to the application location below.
Application location
Please ask the referees to send the letters of recommendation to:
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Section ST43/DLR
Kennedyallee 50
53175 Bonn
Germany
Information for applicants from non-EU countries:
Please remember to specify the exact contents of your postal consignment in the documents for the customs authorities, e.g. 'Application documents for scholarship (contains no commercial goods, no merchandise or insurable value)'.
Please note:
If you have any technical questions or problems your local information and advice centres could not help you with, please do not hesitate to contact our technical Portal support via e-mail [email protected].
For more information, kindly visit DAAD scholaship portal.
