For almost every Indian undergraduate, the correct program is DAAD WISE, not DAAD RISE. DAAD RISE is officially reserved for students from North America, the UK, New Zealand and Western Europe. WISE (Working Internships in Science and Engineering) is the DAAD program built specifically for India, Brazil, Pakistan and a short list of other countries. Every year, Indian students lose time applying through the RISE portal before discovering they were never eligible in the first place. This guide puts both programs side by side so you apply to the right one, the first time.
DAAD RISE vs DAAD WISE: the core differences
| Factor | DAAD RISE | DAAD WISE |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | North America, UK, New Zealand, Western Europe | India, Brazil, Pakistan and select countries |
| Monthly stipend | 800 EUR | 692 EUR |
| Travel grant | Up to 200 EUR | Approx. 500 EUR (India) |
| Duration | 6-12 weeks | 2-3 months (June-August) |
| Degree level | Undergraduate only | Bachelor's, year 2-4 only |
| Fields | Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Sciences, Engineering, CS | Natural sciences, engineering, CS, mathematics |
| Application process | Open portal, browse host projects | Nomination first, no open portal |
| German required | No | No, English B2 expected |
The one-line rule: if you hold an Indian passport and study at an Indian university, you apply to WISE. RISE will not accept you regardless of how strong your profile is, eligibility is nationality and region based, not merit based.
Why the application process is completely different
This is the part most Indian students get wrong. DAAD RISE has an open portal: German professors post available research positions each November, and you browse and apply directly, similar to a job board. DAAD WISE has no such portal. It is nomination first: a professor or research group at a German university or institute (Fraunhofer, Max Planck, or a TU department) has to agree to host you before DAAD is involved at all. That professor then submits your nomination to DAAD.
In practice this means the real work for a WISE application is cold outreach, not portal browsing:
- Identify 15-20 target labs on Fraunhofer, Max Planck or TU research group pages whose current work matches your field.
- Write a short, specific email to the professor or lab lead, referencing a recent paper or project, not a generic "I am interested in your research" message.
- Secure a verbal or written yes from the host before DAAD paperwork starts. This is the step most applicants underestimate the time for.
- The host submits your nomination to DAAD through the official WISE nomination process.
- DAAD confirms funding and issues the acceptance letter you will need for your German visa appointment.
Because outreach and host confirmation happen before the October-January application window even opens, Indian students targeting the 2027 summer cohort should start identifying labs and writing to professors by August or September 2026, not wait for the portal to open.
Stipend and total value compared
| Component | RISE (non-Indian applicants) | WISE (Indian applicants) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly stipend | 800 EUR | 692 EUR |
| Travel | Up to 200 EUR | ~500 EUR from India |
| Insurance | Included | Included |
| Total, 10-12 weeks | ~2,600 EUR | ~2,576 EUR (3 months) |
The totals land close together once travel grants are factored in, so stipend size should not be the deciding factor for Indian students. Eligibility is. See our full breakdown of how to apply for DAAD WISE step by step for the complete host-lab identification process, and the equivalent DAAD RISE guide if you also hold a second passport or dual eligibility through an exchange program that qualifies you for RISE.
Other funded routes if you are not accepted
WISE is competitive and nomination based, so it is worth applying in parallel to backup routes. Indian students researching Germany also frequently look at internships through European government offices in India, our guide on applying for an internship at the Netherlands Embassy in India covers a comparable funded, application-based route for students who want European work experience without waiting on a single professor's response.
Whichever program you pursue, build a profile that makes your research interests and academic background immediately clear to a potential host: see how an engineering student structures their profile for international recruiters and research supervisors, or check the free internship toolkit before you send your first outreach email.
Ready to start your outreach?
The August-September window to contact professors for the 2027 WISE cohort is short. Start building your target list and your profile now, before the nomination window opens in October.
Create your free profile on Internship Abroad and get matched with international companies and research contacts while you prepare your DAAD applications.