Why DAAD WISE and Charpak Lab stand out
Most scholarships for international research internships are either very competitive across all nationalities (CERN, Vienna BioCenter) or require institutional agreements that are not always available. DAAD WISE and the Charpak Lab Scholarship are different: both are specifically designed for Indian students, which means you are competing against a defined peer pool rather than the global applicant market.
The Charpak summer track pays EUR 700 per month for up to 2 months, according to Campus France India. The DAAD scholarship database currently lists WISE as not available, so there is no current amount to quote. Check daad.in for any new call before you plan around it.
DAAD WISE: Germany-specific research internships for Indian students
What DAAD WISE funds
DAAD WISE (Working Internships in Science and Engineering) was a DAAD programme for Indian STEM students to do research internships at German universities and research institutions. The DAAD scholarship database currently lists WISE as not available, so there is no current amount to quote. Check daad.in for any new call before you plan around it.
The scholarship covers:
- Monthly stipend: check the current amount on daad.in
- Travel and insurance: check what the current call covers on daad.in
- Visa support letter: DAAD provides an invitation letter that simplifies the German visa application at the Indian consulate
What DAAD WISE does not cover: accommodation (you arrange this directly with the host institution, many of which offer on-campus housing), food, or personal expenses beyond the stipend.
DAAD WISE eligibility for 2026
- Indian nationals enrolled at an Indian university that is registered as a DAAD partner institution (check current list at daad.in)
- Undergraduate students in their second year or above, or Master's students at any stage
- Fields: engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, agricultural sciences, and related disciplines. Humanities and social sciences are typically not eligible
- GPA: generally 3.0/4.0 or above, though individual host institutions may set higher thresholds
- English language: proficiency required (TOEFL or IELTS not mandatory at application stage, but the host institution may ask)
- No prior DAAD scholarship in the same academic year
Application process and deadlines
The DAAD scholarship database currently lists WISE as not available, so there is no current amount to quote. Check daad.in for any new call before you plan around it.
The application requires:
- Online application form through the DAAD portal
- CV and motivation letter
- Academic transcripts (unofficial acceptable at first stage)
- Two letters of recommendation, at least one from a faculty member
- Research proposal or project description (written in collaboration with your prospective German host)
- Invitation or confirmation from the German host institution (you must secure this independently before applying)
Key practical note: You need to find and contact the German host laboratory yourself before applying. DAAD does not match you with a host. Browse German university research group websites, identify a professor whose work aligns with yours, and send a cold email with your CV and research interests. Allow at least 4 to 6 weeks for this outreach process before the application deadline.
Charpak Lab Scholarship: France's government-funded research internship for Indian students
What Charpak Lab funds
The Charpak Lab Scholarship is offered by the Institut Francais in India (French Embassy) to support Indian students in undertaking research lab internships at French universities and research institutions. It is named after Georges Charpak, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist of Indian-born ancestry.
The scholarship covers:
- Monthly grant: EUR 700 for a maximum of 2 months (Campus France India)
- Student visa fee waiver and Campus France procedure fee waiver (Campus France India)
- Not covered: medical or travel expenses, travel insurance or accommodation (Campus France India)
- Timing: preferably between May and August
What Charpak Lab does not typically cover: accommodation (though many French research institutions have campus housing or can help with accommodation lists), food, or living expenses beyond the monthly grant.
Charpak Lab eligibility for 2026
- Indian national residing in India at the time of application
- Enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's programme at an Indian institution
- Preferred fields: life sciences, chemistry, materials science, physics, earth sciences, computer science, and mathematics. Engineering and technology also eligible
- Invitation letter from a French laboratory or higher education institution
- Not more than 30 years old
- Language: English proficiency sufficient (French not required, though beneficial for daily life)
- Stay of 1 to 2 months
- Host institution must be a French higher education institution, CNRS lab, INSERM, INRAE, or other recognized French research organization
Charpak Lab application deadlines 2026
According to Campus France India, the call for the 2026 session is closed. Watch the Campus France India website for the next call.
DAAD WISE vs Charpak Lab: side-by-side comparison
| Factor | DAAD WISE (Germany) | Charpak Lab (France) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly stipend | Check daad.in | EUR 700, max 2 months (Campus France India) |
| Duration | Check daad.in | 1 to 2 months |
| Who can apply | Students at DAAD partner Indian universities only | Indian Bachelor's or Master's students, max age 30 |
| Fields | STEM only (engineering, natural sciences, maths) | Broader STEM including life sciences and CS |
| Language | English sufficient for research | English sufficient; French beneficial |
| Travel support | Check daad.in | Visa fee waiver; travel not covered |
| Host country cost of living | Higher (Germany mid-tier: EUR 900-1,200/mo) | Higher (Paris expensive; other cities more manageable) |
| Application deadline | Check daad.in | Check Campus France India |
| Scholarships per year | Not published here | Not published here |
| Visa support | DAAD invitation letter simplifies visa | Visa fee waiver for scholars |
Which programme is right for you?
Choose DAAD WISE if: You are at an IIT, IISc, NIT, or other DAAD partner institution. Your research interests align with German strengths in automotive engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, chemistry, or physics. You are comfortable with a slightly higher cost of living that the stipend covers reasonably well in cities like Heidelberg, Munich, or Stuttgart.
Choose Charpak Lab if: Your university is not a DAAD partner. Your field is life sciences, biology, ecology, materials science, or computational science. A 1 to 2 month lab stay fits your plans. You prefer France's scientific community or have a specific French professor or CNRS group you want to work with.
Apply to both if eligible: The timelines overlap enough that you can prepare two applications back to back. The core documents (CV, academic transcripts, motivation letter) are reusable with adaptation.
How to find a host institution
Both programmes require you to independently identify and secure a host before applying. Here is a practical approach:
- Use Google Scholar to find recent papers in your specific research area. Note the corresponding authors and their institutions in Germany (for WISE) or France (for Charpak).
- Visit the research group's website. Check if they mention having hosted international interns or students.
- Email the professor directly. Keep it to three paragraphs: who you are, what specific paper of theirs you read and why it interests you, what you propose to contribute during 2 to 3 months. Attach your CV and one-page research statement.
- Follow up once after 10 to 14 days if no reply. Most professors with active labs will respond to well-targeted emails from strong candidates.
- Aim for a written confirmation or even an informal email of intent from the professor before finalizing your application.
Timeline to prepare a strong application
Whether you are targeting DAAD WISE or Charpak Lab, a realistic preparation timeline looks like this:
- 3 months before deadline: Identify 5 to 8 target professors or research groups. Send initial outreach emails. Begin drafting your CV and research motivation statement.
- 2 months before deadline: Follow up with professors. Secure at least one informal invitation. Ask two faculty members for recommendation letters (give them at least 4 weeks notice).
- 6 weeks before deadline: Finalize host confirmation. Complete online application form. Have all documents proofread.
- Deadline week: Submit application. Keep copies of all submitted documents. Note the application reference number.
- After submission: Some programmes schedule video interviews. Prepare a 15-minute summary of your academic background and research interests.