DAAD HAW.International Scholarships 2027-2028 Application Process Started
The DAAD HAW.International Scholarship can fund foreign students—but only those already studying at a German university of applied sciences.
That distinction matters. This is not a scholarship for students currently living abroad who want to begin a degree in Germany. It is designed for Bachelor’s, Master’s and Diploma students enrolled at a German Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften, commonly known as a university of applied sciences or HAW, who want to complete part of their studies or final thesis in another country.
Can International Students Apply for HAW Scholarship?
Yes. Non-German citizens may apply, provided they are properly enrolled in an eligible degree at a German university of applied sciences.
A student from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt or another country could therefore qualify after enrolling at a German HAW. However, being an international student alone is not sufficient. Applicants studying at universities outside Germany cannot use this programme to finance their first move to Germany.
Students from all academic disciplines may apply. The programme covers:
- Bachelor’s students
- Master’s students
- Diploma-programme students
- German and non-German citizens
Applicants must remain connected to their German university while completing the approved academic stay abroad.
What Can the HAW.International Scholarship Finance?
HAW.International supports two clearly defined activities: a semester or study period abroad and a stay abroad connected directly to a final thesis.
A normal study stay must last at least three months, or 12 weeks, and may be funded for up to six months.
A thesis-related stay can be shorter. It must last at least one month, or four weeks, and may also continue for a maximum of six months.
This flexibility makes the programme particularly useful for applied-science students completing laboratory work, industry-linked research, fieldwork or other project activities that require access to an institution or location outside Germany.
How Much Funding Is Provided?
There is no single monthly scholarship amount for every recipient. DAAD calculates the stipend according to the destination country, using the applicable rate for undergraduate and graduate students.
Selected scholars may receive:
- A destination-based monthly scholarship payment
- A travel allowance based on the host country
- Health, accident and personal-liability insurance coverage
- A contribution towards tuition fees for approved study stays, subject to the country-specific maximum
- Local travel support when travel is directly required for a thesis project
- A contribution towards an accompanying language course
The funding package may therefore cover considerably more than a basic monthly stipend. Nevertheless, applicants should check the DAAD scholarship calculator for their destination and compare the result with accommodation, visa, food and local transport costs before committing to the stay.
The tuition contribution is also capped. It should not automatically be interpreted as a guarantee that every fee charged by the host institution will be paid in full.
Additional Support for Families and Students With Disabilities
Recipients may be able to request additional family benefits after the scholarship begins when a spouse, partner or children accompany them abroad.
Students with a disability or chronic illness may also apply for support towards justified additional costs that are necessary for completing the approved project and are not covered by another organisation. These requests are examined individually, so additional funding is not automatic.
Can HAW.International Be Combined With Erasmus?
No. Students cannot receive HAW.International funding at the same time as Erasmus or PROMOS funding for the same stay.
Other income, including part-time earnings, foundation grants or secondary scholarships, may also be offset against the DAAD award or excluded under the programme’s funding rules.
Applicants should disclose all financial support rather than assume that two scholarships can be collected simultaneously.
Who Should Seriously Consider Applying?
This programme is a strong match for students who are already enrolled at a German university of applied sciences and have a realistic academic reason for travelling abroad.
The strongest applications are likely to connect the destination with a specific study objective, host institution, research activity or thesis requirement. A plan that merely describes international travel as personally valuable will be less convincing than one showing why the stay is necessary for the applicant’s degree or final project.
Students who are not yet studying in Germany, who attend a German research university rather than an eligible HAW, or who want funding for an entire degree abroad should look for another DAAD programme.
Application Timeline for the 2027 Funding Period
The last date to apply for the DAAD HAW.International Scholarship is August 31, 2026, for study or thesis stays beginning between February and July 2027.
DAAD expects to complete the selection process in December 2026. Applicants are scheduled to receive their selection results in January 2027.
Because the proposed overseas stay must have a credible academic purpose, applicants should begin discussing their plans with their German university, thesis supervisor or international office before the deadline rather than treating this as a last-minute travel grant.