What is the DAAD WISE Fellowship stipend amount for Indian students?

The DAAD WISE Fellowship provides Indian students 934 EUR per month (2026 rate) plus a travel allowance. The related DAAD Research Internship (Working Internship in Science and Engineering) provides 650 EUR per month for self-arranged industry internships. Monthly living costs in most German cities run 1,000-1,400 EUR, so the stipend covers the majority of expenses.

Can Indian students combine a DAAD scholarship with an Indian government scholarship?

Some combinations are possible, but you must disclose all funding sources in your DAAD application. DAAD requires that scholarship amounts do not result in double-funding of the same expense category. Consult DAAD's funding conditions and your Indian funding body before applying to both simultaneously.

Which German cities have the most DAAD Indian interns?

Munich, Berlin, Heidelberg, and Aachen host the largest numbers of DAAD Indian interns, reflecting the concentration of research universities and industry labs. Munich and Berlin have higher living costs (1,200-1,400 EUR/month) while Heidelberg and Aachen are more affordable (900-1,100 EUR/month).

DAAD Scholarship for Indian Students 2026: How to Get an Internship in Germany

Q: Can Indian students without German language skills apply for DAAD?

Yes. Most DAAD programs for Indian students are conducted in English, including WISE, RISE, and the general Working Internship. German language skills strengthen your application but are not mandatory for most programs. Programs requiring German proficiency explicitly state it in the eligibility criteria.

Q: What GPA is required for DAAD?

DAAD does not publish a universal GPA cutoff, but successful applicants typically have a CGPA of 7.5/10 or higher (equivalent to approximately 3.0/4.0 GPA or First/Second Division). Competitive programs like WISE attract top performers from IITs, NITs and central universities. Research the specific program's stated requirements at daad.de.

Q: How long does the DAAD application process take?

From opening the DAAD portal application to receiving a decision takes approximately 3-5 months. The WISE deadline is October 15; decisions are typically communicated in February-March. Start preparing your documents (recommendation letters, transcript, motivation letter) at least 2 months before the deadline.

DAAD offers Indian students up to 1,200 EUR per month for internships and research stays in Germany through multiple programs. The October 2026 deadline for the next WISE Fellowship cycle is the most important date for Indian undergraduates planning a Germany internship in 2027. This article breaks down which DAAD program fits your profile, what the application requires, and what Germany actually costs.

This guide is the direct companion to our broader guide to stipend internships in Europe for Indian students, which is the most-cited page in our India network. DAAD is the single most valuable named funding source for Indian students targeting Germany specifically.

DAAD Programs Open to Indian Students: Side-by-Side Comparison

Program	Stipend/Month	Duration	Who Can Apply	Deadline
DAAD WISE Fellowship	934 EUR + travel	6-12 weeks	Indian undergrads, STEM	October 15, 2026
DAAD RISE	800 EUR + travel	6-12 weeks	All non-EU undergrads, STEM	January 15, 2027
DAAD Working Internship (IAS)	650 EUR	6-12 weeks	All fields, self-arranged	Rolling (mid-Oct)
DAAD Research Grant	1,000-1,200 EUR	1-6 months	Postgrads and doctoral	October 31, 2026
Humboldt Research Fellowship	2,670 EUR	6-24 months	Postdoctoral only	Rolling

For most Indian undergraduate students, DAAD WISE is the primary target. It is India-specific (unlike RISE, which is open to all non-EU students), offers a higher stipend than the general Working Internship, and targets exactly the STEM talent pipeline between India and Germany.

DAAD WISE Fellowship: Deep Dive

WISE (Working Internships in Science and Engineering) is designed specifically for Indian students. It places Indian undergraduates in German research institutes and university labs for a paid summer internship.

Eligibility:

Enrollment: Must be enrolled in an Indian university during the internship (typically June-August 2027)
Academic stage: Undergraduate students who have completed at least 2 years of study. Final-year students are eligible if still enrolled during the internship period.
Fields: Engineering, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Life Sciences
GPA: No official cutoff, but competitive applicants typically have 8.0+ CGPA (10-point scale) or equivalent First Division
Language: English proficiency. No German required.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Register on the DAAD portal (portal.daad.de). Create an account and select the WISE Fellowship under the India-specific funding section.
Identify a host supervisor at a German university or research institute. Browse faculty profiles in your field. Email professors with a specific, one-page research interest statement. One personalized email to a relevant professor beats ten generic applications.
Prepare required documents:
- Academic transcripts (all semesters to date, certified by your institution)
- Two recommendation letters from professors at your Indian university
- Motivation letter (maximum 1.5 pages, focused on the specific research area)
- CV/resume in English (academic format, not corporate format)
- Language certificate (English medium certificate from your institution usually sufficient)
- Letter of intent from a German host (if you have already made contact)
Submit via DAAD portal before October 15, 2026 for the 2027 internship cycle.
Results: Typically communicated February-March 2027.

The professor contact is non-negotiable. DAAD WISE applications without a German host contact succeed at a much lower rate. Send outreach emails to 10-15 professors before the deadline. The response rate is typically 10-20% but one positive response is enough to significantly strengthen your application.

German Visa for Indian Students

Once accepted by DAAD, you apply for a German National Visa (Type D) at the German Consulate or via VFS Global India.

Application through: VFS Global India (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata)
Processing time: 6-8 weeks. Begin immediately after receiving DAAD acceptance
Cost: Approximately Rs. 9,000 (EUR 100) at current rates
Documents required: DAAD acceptance letter, passport valid 6 months beyond return date, passport photos, visa application form, accommodation confirmation in Germany, proof of sufficient funds (DAAD stipend letter counts), health insurance certificate
Official resource: new-delhi.diplo.de (German Embassy India)

Monthly Living Costs in Germany for Indian Interns

City	Rent (shared room)	Food	Transport	Total/Month
Munich	700-900 EUR	200 EUR	57 EUR (semester ticket)	1,000-1,200 EUR
Berlin	500-750 EUR	180 EUR	86 EUR (monthly pass)	800-1,050 EUR
Hamburg	550-750 EUR	190 EUR	107 EUR (monthly pass)	850-1,050 EUR
Heidelberg	450-650 EUR	160 EUR	65 EUR	700-900 EUR
Aachen (RWTH)	400-600 EUR	150 EUR	55 EUR	620-820 EUR

The WISE stipend of 934 EUR per month is sufficient for most German cities except Munich, where you will need to budget carefully or supplement from savings. The DAAD travel allowance (typically 300-500 EUR for India-Germany) is paid as a lump sum.

Top Sectors for DAAD Indian Interns in Germany

The sectors where Indian DAAD interns most frequently land placements, based on DAAD mobility data:

Engineering and materials science: TU Munich, RWTH Aachen, KIT (Karlsruhe). German automotive and industrial engineering is world-leading.
Pharmaceutical and biotech: BASF, Bayer, and Max Planck Institutes for biochemistry. Strong demand for chemistry, biology and biotech students.
Automotive and mobility: BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen all run structured intern programs. DAAD-funded students often transition into these post-graduation.
Climate technology and renewable energy: Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, Siemens Energy. Germany's Energiewende creates significant research demand.
Computer science and AI: Particularly at Berlin's TU and FU Berlin, and Munich's TU. AI research groups here actively recruit Indian CS students.

Before submitting your application, check how an engineering student structures their profile to speak to German research supervisors effectively. The way you frame your skills matters as much as the skills themselves.

South African students have a parallel guide

South African students researching the same DAAD programs can find the ZA-specific breakdown, including STIBET vs WISE comparison and VFS Johannesburg visa details, at our DAAD guide for South African students.

Ready to Build Your DAAD Application?

The WISE October 2026 deadline sounds far away, but the document preparation and professor outreach phase takes 6-8 weeks. The right time to start is now, during the June-July semester break, when you have time to write careful outreach emails and draft a strong motivation letter.

Create your free profile on Internship Abroad and access our Germany-specific internship guidance, including DAAD professor outreach templates and host university directory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DAAD WISE Fellowship stipend for Indian students?

The DAAD WISE Fellowship pays Indian students 934 EUR per month plus a travel allowance for the Germany-India route. This is higher than the general DAAD RISE stipend (800 EUR) and the Working Internship rate (650 EUR).

Can Indian students without German language skills apply for DAAD?

Yes. Most DAAD programs for Indian students (WISE, RISE, Working Internship) are conducted in English. German is not required. However, basic German skills are useful for daily life and strengthen your application in competitive rounds.

What GPA is required for DAAD?

No official cutoff, but strong applicants typically have 8.0+ CGPA (10-point scale) or First Division. Research universities receive many applications; academic excellence combined with a clear research interest letter is what differentiates successful applicants.

How long does the DAAD application process take?

Submit by October 15, 2026; decisions come in February-March 2027. From first preparation to stipend payment is approximately 8-10 months. Start preparing documents at least 2 months before the deadline.