What PhD scholarships are available in Germany?

Germany offers a diverse range of PhD scholarship options, with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) being the most common, but you'll also find excellent programs from other foundations and institutions.

#1. DAAD PhD Programmes

#DAAD Research Grants - Doctoral Programmes in Germany

• Duration: 3-4 years
• Monthly Stipend: 1,200 € (higher than Master's scholarships)
• Coverage: Health insurance, travel allowance, and research support
• Target: For students with a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Turkey who want to pursue a PhD in Germany
• Application: March, May, September

#DAAD Bi-nationally Supervised PhD

• Duration: 1-3 years
• Monthly Stipend: 992 €
• Target: For Master's graduates from Turkey pursuing a joint PhD (supervised by professors in both Turkey and Germany) using a sandwich model

#DAAD Re-invitation Doctoral

• Duration: 1-3 months
• Monthly Stipend: 2,070 €
• Target: For previous DAAD scholarship holders returning to Germany for short-term research

#2. Excellence Initiative Scholarships

#Max Planck Society PhD Programmes

• Duration: 3-4 years
• Monthly Stipend: 1,365-1,615 € (TVöD scaled)
• Coverage: Health insurance, travel allowance, and research materials
• Advantage: Opportunity to work at a globally prestigious institute
• Application: Directly to the institute, twice a year

#Helmholtz Association PhD

• Duration: 3-4 years
• Monthly Stipend: 1,400-1,800 €
• Coverage: Salary at TVöD-13 level
• Target: Natural sciences and engineering fields

#Leibniz Association PhD

• Duration: 3-4 years
• Monthly Stipend: 1,200-1,600 €
• Target: All disciplines

#Fraunhofer Society PhD

• Duration: 3-4 years
• Monthly Stipend: 1,500-2,000 €
• Target: Applied research (especially in engineering)
• Advantage: Strong industry connections and often a job guarantee after graduation

#3. Political Foundation PhD Scholarships

#4. Religious Foundation PhD Scholarships

#KAAD (Catholic Academic Exchange Service)

• Monthly Stipend: 1,500 €
• Target: Muslim and Christian students (open to applicants from Turkey)
• Advantage: Turkish language support, Turkish student network

#Evangelisches Studienwerk

• Monthly Stipend: 1,365 €
• Target: Protestant students

#Cusanuswerk

• Monthly Stipend: 1,800 € (highest)
• Target: Academic elite (GPA 1.8/4.0+ or 90+ in Turkey)
• Note: Highly competitive

#5. University + Department PhD Positions

#Research Assistant Positions (Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiter)

• Monthly Salary: 1,800-3,200 € (TVöD-13, 50-100% time)
• Duration: 3-6 years
• Advantage: Full salary, health insurance, and pension contributions
• Requirement: Requires a direct agreement with a professor and involves teaching and research duties within the department

#Scholarship Positions (Stipendium-Position)

• Monthly Stipend: 1,200-1,800 €
• Duration: 3-4 years
• Advantage: Fewer responsibilities, allowing you to focus solely on your research

#6. Industry Scholarships

#Bayer, BASF, BMW, Daimler, Siemens

• Monthly Stipend: 1,800-2,500 €
• Duration: 3-4 years
• Target: PhD topics relevant to the company's research interests
• Advantage: Potential job guarantee and high salary

#Bosch PhD Programme

• Monthly Stipend: 2,000-2,400 €
• Target: Engineering, IT, materials science

#7. TÜBİTAK from Turkey

#TÜBİTAK 2214-A Overseas PhD Research Scholarship

• Duration: 12 months in Germany
• Monthly Stipend: 2,500 USD (~2,300 €)
• Target: For PhD students currently enrolled in Turkey who want to conduct research in Germany
• Advantage: No age limit, and no need for additional scholarships

#TÜBİTAK 2213

• Duration: Full PhD
• Monthly Stipend: 2,500 USD
• Target: Full PhD studies abroad (including Germany)

#Which Scholarship Is Most Advantageous?

#Regarding Salary

✅ University Research Assistant Position (TVöD-13): 2,500-3,200 € net ✅ Industry PhD (Bosch, Bayer): 2,000-2,500 € ✅ Fraunhofer PhD: 1,500-2,000 €

#Regarding Academic Freedom

✅ DAAD PhD: Independent research, full control ✅ Max Planck: Prestige + research-focused ✅ Helmholtz: Natural sciences + technology

#Regarding Part-time Work During Your PhD

✅ DAAD: Part-time work (up to 50%) is possible ✅ Political foundations: Part-time work (up to 50%) is possible ✅ University research assistant: Salary is already high, making additional part-time work unnecessary

#PhD Application Strategy

#Step 1: Find a Professor in Germany

• Identify 2-3 professors whose research aligns with yours.
• Contact them via email with your research plan and CV.
• Ask for a Betreuungszusage (supervision confirmation).

#Step 2: Choose Between a PhD Position or a Scholarship

✅ A Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiter (research assistant) position means a full salary and teaching duties. ✅ A scholarship (from DAAD, foundations) is fully research-focused.

#Step 3: Prepare Your Forschungsexposé

• This is a 5-15 page document (in German or English).
• It should outline your research topic, questions, methodology, timeline, and expected outcomes.

#Step 4: Apply for Scholarships

• Apply to DAAD and 2-3 political foundations in parallel.
• Tailor your motivation letter for each application.

Related: DAAD application | Konrad Adenauer.