DAAD Prize

The DAAD Award, endowed with €1,000, honors outstanding international students or doctoral candidates who demonstrate both excellent academic achievements and exceptional social or intercultural engagement.

Eligibility and Conditions

• Each university may award only one DAAD Prize per fiscal year.
• The award can be granted to a recipient only once.
• In exceptional cases, the prize may be shared (e.g., a musician duo or a dance pair).

Who is eligible for the DAAD Award?

The award is intended for international students ("Bildungsausländer*innen") who:

• hold a foreign nationality,
• obtained their university entrance qualification abroad (including German schools abroad) or supplemented it through a German Studienkolleg,
• are regularly enrolled at a German university (not as exchange or guest students),
• reside primarily in Germany.

Eligible candidates should be in an advanced stage of their studies:

• Bachelor’s program: at least in the 2nd or 3rd year
• Master’s program: at least in the 2nd semester
• Recent graduates: degree completion typically within the last three months
• Doctoral candidates

Additionally, they should have strong academic performance and demonstrate social commitment.

Selection and Further Information

• The university is responsible for selecting the award recipient.
• Simultaneous funding from another German organization, foundation, or company is possible. However, the award particularly aims to recognize students who successfully manage their studies independently and do not receive additional financial support.
• The DAAD Award is not a research award and is not intended to honor a dissertation.