DAAD Study Scholarships - Postgraduate Studies in Fine Art, Design, Visual Communication and Film
DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)
Application deadline
15 Oct 2026
Calculating…
Overview
DAAD (the German Academic Exchange Service) offers Study Scholarships for Indian graduates who want to continue their art education in Germany. This programme is only for the artistic and creative fields: Fine Art, Design, Visual Communication and Film.
You can apply if you have already earned a first university degree in the field of arts. As a rule, that degree should not be more than 6 years old on the application deadline. You may use the scholarship either for a Master's or postgraduate degree course at a state or state-recognised German university, or for a complementary course of study without a degree. The course must be full-time and attendance-based; part-time and mostly e-learning programmes are not accepted. If you have already lived in Germany for more than 15 months on the deadline, your application cannot be considered.
The scholarship pays 992 euros a month. You also get a travel allowance (on request), a one-off study allowance, and payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance. DAAD may add a rent subsidy, a family allowance, support for climate-friendly travel, and German language course support. DAAD does not pay your tuition fees.
Applying happens in two steps. First you register on the DAAD portal and upload your documents. If the formal check is cleared, DAAD emails you a link to upload your artistic portfolio to the DAAD media database. The portal is open from 1 June until the deadline.
At a glance
| Who can apply | PG |
|---|---|
| Streams | Fine Art, Design, Visual Communication, Film |
| Category | All |
| Age | — |
| Income limit | — |
| Gender | — |
| States | All India |
| Benefit / amount | EUR 992 per month, plus a travel allowance (on application), a one-off study allowance, and payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance. Tuition fees are not covered. |
| Duration | Master's/postgraduate degree course: between 10 and 24 months, depending on the length of the chosen study programme. Complementary studies without a degree: one academic year (usually 12 months). |
| Renewable | — |
| Last date | 15 Oct 2026 |
| Opened | — |
Documents you'll need
- Full curriculum vitae in tabular form
- Letter of motivation (statement of academic and personal reasons for the planned study project in Germany, 1-3 pages)
- For a Master's/postgraduate programme: the form 'Information about your preferred master programmes'
- Letter of acceptance from the host university, if already available
- For complementary studies: confirmation of supervision from a German university teacher, or proof that credits earned in Germany will be recognised by your home university
- A current Transcript of Records with individual grades
- All university degree certificates indicating final grades
- Proof of proficiency in the language of instruction (language certificates may not be older than three years)
- Other supporting documents such as internships or awards
- Artistic portfolio with work samples, uploaded later to the DAAD media database
- Supplementary list for the portfolio (DAAD template), uploaded with the portfolio
How you're selected
DAAD first carries out a formal check of the application uploaded to the DAAD portal, to see whether the requirements are met and the application is complete. If it passes, you are asked to upload your artistic portfolio to the DAAD media database. A special DAAD committee made up of professors from German art, design and film schools takes the final decision, based on the written application and the artistic portfolio. Selection criteria are 'the artistic qualification and artistic maturity, measured by study achievements and portfolio' and 'the quality of the project as measured by the study plan and the letter of motivation'. The committee also gives due consideration to aspects of equal opportunities. There is a period of up to seven months between submitting the application materials and being told the committee's decision; the selection date is in April 2027.
FAQs
Who can apply? Anyone who has gained a first university degree in the field of arts and wants to do a Master's/postgraduate course or a complementary course in Fine Art, Design, Visual Communication or Film in Germany. As a rule your 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 deadline.
How much money do I get? DAAD pays "A monthly payment of 992 euros". On top of that you may get a travel allowance (only on application), a one-off study allowance, and payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance. Extra help such as a monthly rent subsidy, a family allowance for accompanying family members, a disability/chronic illness subsidy and German language course support is possible in certain cases. DAAD does not cover tuition fees.
What is the last date to apply? The official page for India lists the current date as 15.10.2026, with the selection in April 2027 and funding starting from October 2027. Applications are possible between 1 June and this deadline. The DAAD portal closes at 24.00 hrs (CET or CEST) on the last application day. Always re-check the deadline on the official page before you apply.
How long is the funding? For a Master's or postgraduate degree course, between 10 and 24 months, depending on how long your chosen programme is. For complementary studies without a degree, one academic year (usually 12 months). You must state the full period you want funded in your application.
How do I apply? Apply online through the DAAD portal, then upload your artistic portfolio to the DAAD media database when DAAD sends you the link after the formal check. Both parts must be submitted for your application to be valid. All documents must be in German or English. Late or incomplete applications cannot be considered.
Do I need a university admission letter first? No. You can apply for the DAAD scholarship before you receive the admission letter. But a DAAD Scholarship Award Letter is only valid if you are admitted to the host university named in your application, so you must hand in the admission letter before the scholarship starts.
Who can I contact in India? DAAD Regional Office New Delhi, c/o DLTA Complex, R.K. Khanna Stadium, 1 Africa Avenue, New Delhi 110029. Phone +91 (11) 6646-5500, e-mail info.newdelhi@daad.de.