r/DAAD

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Hi everyone,

I’m from India and currently preparing for PhD applications in Germany for 2026, mainly through DAAD and other humanities/social science scholarships.

My broad area is media/cultural studies. The project I’m developing looks at food media, cultural memory, sensory experience, indigenous ritual practices, cookbooks, print culture, and food vlogs/digital media in Bengal.

Current status (April 2026):

MA completed from JNU

Topic mostly fixed

Research questions developed

Concept note ready

Academic CV ready

Draft proposal in progress

Contacted around 7–8 professors already

Got a couple of replies (one professor said the topic sounds fascinating but there is no funded project position currently)

Planning to contact more professors

IELTS not done yet

Writing sample currently being edited

I’m trying to understand the REALISTIC timeline from here onward because online information is honestly confusing.

Some things I genuinely want to understand from people who went through this process:

At what stage do supervisor conversations usually become serious for humanities applicants?

Is April considered late / normal / early for first-contact emails?

How many professors did you contact before finding a suitable supervisor?

How important is it to already have a professor informally interested before DAAD applications?

Professors often mention “no funded positions” — does this still leave room for DAAD-funded supervision later?

When should IELTS realistically be completed without rushing?

When should APS/document verification processes begin for Germany?

How competitive is DAAD specifically for humanities/media/cultural studies applicants from India?

Any major mistakes humanities applicants commonly make during this phase?

Would especially appreciate responses from:

DAAD applicants

humanities/social science PhD students

media/cultural studies researchers

people who applied from India

Trying to build a realistic roadmap instead of panicking later.

Thanks in advance.

( used ai for assistance )

Hey everyone,

If you accept a DAAD offer but later decline before starting, do you have to pay for the language course even if you never attended? Are there any penalties for backing out after accepting?

Thanks!

Hello everyone,

I need guidance from someone, especially a DAAD SECAI scholar, regarding my motivation letter. I have reviewed it multiple times myself, but I would love to have feedback from you guys.

Please comment below, and I will DM you my letter. Any suggestions or advice for the application process would also be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

hi! I'm an applicant for the DAAD Auslandsschule Stipendium and as I know one person has already received an acceptance from the DAAD. I've been waiting the whole day for anything from DAAD- checked my email and portal a thousand times. Does this surely mean that I'm rejected? Someone I know that applied last year got a rejection letter from them the same day as when the others got acceptances.

hello, has anyone received a pdf document saying that they've been selected? For those who received this --> have you guys received a declaration of acceptance tab on your portal? I contacted them about it because I don't have that tab even until now, they told me a week ago I will soon hear about it, but I wonder if anyone is going through the same situation as me right now.

Hi everyone,

Is there any DAAD scholar here who applied for a German visa from the UAE?

My preparatory language course is starting in June, but my visa application has been put on hold because I haven’t submitted an admission letter. I’ve already written to the consulate explaining the DAAD structure that the language course comes before university admission but it seems they’re still insisting on it.

Most universities are still in the application phase, so receiving an admission letter at this stage is almost impossible.

Would really appreciate if anyone who has been through a similar situation could share their experience or advice.

Hello Everyone,

I really need DAAD Scholars' guidance on my motivation letter. I am feeling stuck on my letter as I am mixing things up. If you guys can share your motivation letter structure, that would really mean a lot.

Foreg.
Right now, my structure is:

Para 1: Hook+Two research project mention+Uni/program want to pursue

Para 2: Research project 1 connected back to both unis

Para 3: Research project 2 connected back to both unis

Para 4: Professional experience again connected back

Para 5: Conclusion including connecting everthing, long-term plan, home country impact

I am applying for an AI-specific scholarship

Please let me know if I am missing anything or how to improve it.

Hello everyone i got the DAAD scholarship and currently working through the VISA process i have to fill the VIDEX form but i encountered this question

Will the permanent residence be maintained outside the Federal Republic of Germany?

I believe i am applying for a student VISA so should i answer this by yes or no?

Hello, I‘m wondering if there‘s a group chat for those who were selected for the masters scholarship in the field of fine art? I‘d love to connect with the other awardees. If you’ve also got the scholarship, feel free to message me.