DAAD Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees / Cotutelle
DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)
Application deadline
Check the official page
Overview
The DAAD Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees / Cotutelle programme lets you do your PhD partly at your home university in India and partly at a university in Germany.
There are two options. In option a), the 'sandwich model', you start and finish your doctorate in India, make research trips to Germany in between, and are guided by a supervisor in each country. Your Indian university awards the degree. In option b), the 'Cotutelle model', your Indian university and the German university sign a cooperation agreement and award the doctorate jointly.
Who can apply. For the sandwich model you need a Master's degree or Diplom (in exceptional cases a Bachelor's) by the time funding starts. For the Cotutelle model you must be admitted to a doctoral programme by the time funding starts. Your most recent degree should be no more than six years old at the deadline, and a PhD already begun should not have started more than 3 years ago. You cannot apply if you have lived in Germany for more than 15 months.
What you get. EUR 1,400 a month while you are in Germany, a EUR 460 research allowance, travel allowances for up to three return journeys, insurance cover, German language course support, and travel for your supervisor. Funding runs for 7 to 24 months.
How to apply. Register on the DAAD portal and submit the online form with all documents. Applications are possible between 1 June and the stated deadline each year.
At a glance
| Who can apply | PhD |
|---|---|
| Streams | — |
| Category | All |
| Age | — |
| Income limit | — |
| Gender | — |
| States | All India |
| Benefit / amount | EUR 1,400 per month while you are in Germany, plus a research allowance of EUR 460, travel allowances for up to three outward and return journeys, and payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance. Extra rent and family allowances are possible for uninterrupted stays of over 6 months. No payments are made during periods spent at your home university. |
| Duration | Between 7 and a maximum of 24 months; the exact length is decided by the selection committee. Funding must begin in 2027. |
| Renewable | No |
| Last date | See official page |
| Opened | — |
Documents you'll need
- Full curriculum vitae in tabular form (max. 3 pages)
- List of your published publications (max. 10 pages), if applicable
- Letter of motivation (1-2 pages)
- Research proposal (max. 10 pages in total), discussed with the academic adviser in Germany
- Informal schedule for the planned research work for the entire funding period
- Declaration from the scientific supervisor in Germany on safety-relevant and ethical aspects of the research project
- If applicable: proof of admission to / enrolment for doctoral studies at the home university, including the start date
- All university degree certificates already obtained (e.g. Bachelor's, Master's) stating final grades
- Transcripts of Records (undergraduate and postgraduate) showing individual grades
- Option a) sandwich model: written confirmation agreed and signed by both academic advisers, guaranteeing a workplace at the German host institute
- Option b) Cotutelle model: individual cooperation contract (Cotutelle contract) between the home university and the German university
- One recent letter of recommendation from a university teacher
- Optional: other supporting documents (employment certificates, internships, voluntary work, etc.)
How you're selected
An independent selection committee of specialist scientists reviews all applications. The criteria are: (1) qualification - academic achievements, academic progress, language skills, and any publications or conference papers after graduation; (2) quality of the research project - originality, relevance, choice of host institution, and how feasible and consistent the study plan and time schedule are; (3) potential of the applicant - career prospects, motivation, and non-study activities such as civic engagement. The committee also gives due consideration to equal opportunities.
FAQs
Who can apply? Doctoral candidates who will do their PhD both in India and in Germany. For the sandwich model you need a Master's degree or Diplom (in exceptional cases a Bachelor's) at the latest when funding starts. For the Cotutelle model you must be admitted to a doctoral programme by then. Your most recent degree should normally be less than six years old, and if your PhD has already started, it should not have begun more than 3 years ago.
How much money do I get? DAAD pays 1,400 euros a month for the time you actually spend in Germany. You also get a research allowance of 460 euros, travel allowances for up to three outward and return journeys, and payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance. For uninterrupted stays of more than 6 months you may also apply for a rent subsidy and a family allowance. Nothing is paid for the months you spend at your home university.
How long does the funding last? Between 7 and a maximum of 24 months. The selection committee decides the exact length based on your project and study plan. You can split the money into several shorter stays in Germany. Your progress is reviewed once a year. Funding must begin in 2027.
What is the last date to apply? We could not confirm a date. The DAAD page says applications are possible "between 1 June and the stated application deadline" and that deadlines are updated every year in the second quarter. At the time we checked, the page said you cannot apply right now. Please check the official notification for the current date.
How do I apply? Everything is done online through the DAAD portal. Register first, then generate the recommendation form in the portal and send it to your teacher, then fill in the application form and upload all documents as PDFs. The link to the application portal only appears on the DAAD page while the application period is open.
Can I get an extension? No. The grant is awarded for a maximum of 24 months in total. Your academic progress is checked once a year, and if you are on track the scholarship simply continues as planned within that limit.