DAAD University Summer Courses (HSK) Scholarship
DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)
Application deadline
Check the official page
Overview
University Summer Courses (HSK) is a scholarship from DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service. It pays for a four-week German language and culture course, or a technical-language course, at a German university or at a language-course provider attached to a university. Classes are held only in German. Summer courses run between June and September.
It is open to students from outside Germany, including India. You can apply if you are enrolled in a bachelor's or a master's programme in any subject at a university in your home country. Bachelor's students must have completed at least two years of university study by the time the scholarship starts. You must be at least 18 years old when the course begins, and you must be able to follow lectures in German and take part in group work. A recent German language certificate is required.
The award pays the full course fee. The course provider arranges a single room for you for the whole course. You also receive a one-time allowance of 475 EUR, and DAAD arranges health, accident and personal liability insurance. Students travelling from India also get a travel allowance of 1,188 EUR for the outward and return journey.
You apply online through the DAAD application portal, which you reach from the "Submit an application" tab on the official DAAD scholarship page. DAAD states the HSK application window as 1 September to 30 October, 23:59 Central European Time, each year. Check the official page for the current year's dates before you apply.
At a glance
| Who can apply | UG, PG |
|---|---|
| Streams | — |
| Category | All |
| Age | 18+ years |
| Income limit | — |
| Gender | — |
| States | All India |
| Benefit / amount | The scholarship pays the full fee for a four-week German language course in Germany. The course provider also gives you a single room to stay in for the whole course. You get a one-time allowance of 475 EUR, plus health, accident and personal liability insurance arranged by DAAD. Students travelling from India also get a travel allowance of 1,188 EUR for the outward and return journey (rate valid from 1 January 2026, subject to possible changes). |
| Duration | Four weeks (usually 5 days a week, with at least 25 teaching hours per week). Courses run in the summer months, June to September. |
| Renewable | No |
| Last date | See official page |
| Opened | — |
Documents you'll need
- Online application form (filled in the DAAD portal)
- Curriculum vitae in tabular form, in German
- Letter of motivation, in German
- Transcripts of all university examinations taken in the last two years, with individual grades
- School leaving certificate (for undergraduate students) or degree certificate (for graduates)
- German language certificate (for example onSET-Deutsch, TestDaF, Goethe-Institut Zertifikat, DSD, DSH, telc Deutsch or OeSD-Zertifikat), not older than one year at the time of application (B2/TDN4 certificates may be up to two years old)
- Optional: internship or employment certificates
How you're selected
A subject expert commission, usually based in your home country, makes the selection. DAAD states the key selection criteria are your previous academic achievements and a convincing letter of motivation. In your application you name up to three course preferences, but DAAD may assign you to a different course if the ones you chose are full. DAAD says HSK selection results are normally sent out in March.
FAQs
Who can apply? Students in undergraduate (for example bachelor's) and master's programmes in all subjects can apply. You must be enrolled at a university in your home country, both when you apply and during the course. Undergraduate students must have completed at least two years of university study by the time the scholarship period begins. You must also be at least 18 years old when the course starts.
Do I need to know German? Yes. The courses are taught only in German. DAAD says you must be able to follow lectures in German and take part in group work. You must submit a German language certificate such as onSET-Deutsch, TestDaF, a Goethe-Institut Zertifikat, DSD, DSH, telc Deutsch or an OeSD-Zertifikat. The certificate cannot be older than one year when you apply (B2/TDN4 certificates may be up to two years old).
How much do I get? DAAD pays the full course fee and the course provider gives you a single room for the whole course. On top of that you get a one-time allowance of 475 EUR, plus health, accident and personal liability insurance. Students from India also get a travel allowance of 1,188 EUR for the outward and return journey (rate valid from 1 January 2026). DAAD notes that the allowance and travel money are paid in cash by the course provider only after you arrive in Germany.
What is the last date? DAAD's official page states the HSK application window as "30 October of each year, 23:59 (Central European Time). Applications are possible from 01 September each year". We could not confirm a year-stamped last date for the current cycle, so please check the official DAAD notification for the exact date before applying.
How do I apply? Apply online through the DAAD application portal. Open the official DAAD scholarship page for University Summer Courses, go to the "Submit an application" tab, register in the portal, fill the online form and upload your documents as PDFs. You should name up to three course preferences; you cannot change them after uploading. DAAD registers you for the course itself after you accept the scholarship, so do not sign up with the course provider on your own.
Can I renew it or apply again next year? No. DAAD states that the scholarships cannot be extended and that funding from this programme can only be claimed once.