DAAD WISE Internship 2026 for Indian Students: Amount, Deadline and How to Apply

DAAD WISE (Working Internships in Science and Engineering) pays Indian STEM students 934 EUR per month (approximately INR 84,000) for a 6 to 12 week research internship at a German university or research institute. The 2026 application window opens in October 2026 for internships in summer 2027. The most important step you can take right now, in June, is to identify a German professor and secure a host confirmation letter before the portal opens.

WISE is one of the most valuable programs available to Indian engineering and science students for international research experience. Unlike DAAD RISE (which lists pre-defined projects), WISE requires you to independently contact a German professor and propose a research project. This makes it more work to apply but also means less competition for any individual placement.

What is DAAD WISE? The Program Explained

DAAD WISE (Working Internships in Science and Engineering) is a fellowship program funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and administered by the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst). It supports STEM students from India, Pakistan and selected ASEAN countries for short research internships at German universities and research institutes.

• Duration: 6 to 12 weeks (minimum 6 weeks to qualify for the grant)
• Timing: May through August (German summer semester research period)
• Host: A German university or publicly funded research institute; the host must be a faculty member who agrees in writing to supervise you
• Field: STEM only: natural sciences, life sciences, engineering, computer science
• Not eligible: MBA, economics, law, social sciences, humanities, architecture

The key differentiator from DAAD RISE: in WISE, you find the professor. DAAD does not match you to a project. This is intentional. It tests your initiative and ensures the research match is genuine.

DAAD WISE 2026 Stipend: Exact Amounts

Component	Amount	Notes
Monthly stipend	934 EUR	Paid monthly for the duration of the internship
Travel allowance	575-800 EUR	One-off, tiered by distance from India to German city
Health insurance	Included	DAAD arranges coverage through a German insurance provider
Visa support letter	Included	DAAD provides official invitation letter for German visa

For a 10-week internship in Munich or Berlin, a WISE fellow typically receives approximately 9,340 EUR in stipend plus 700 EUR travel allowance. Monthly living costs in German university cities for a shared room run 800 to 1,100 EUR, which means the stipend covers the majority of expenses.

Eligibility Checklist: Who Can Apply

• Nationality: Indian citizen, enrolled at an Indian university
• Study level: Penultimate or final year of Bachelor's, or Master's student
• Field: STEM: engineering, computer science, natural sciences, life sciences
• CGPA: Minimum 8.0 on a 10-point scale (most accepted applicants have 8.5 or above)
• Age limit: Below 32 years at the time of the internship
• Host confirmation: A letter of invitation from a German professor is required at the time of application
• English proficiency: No formal certificate required, but research is conducted in English

How to Apply for DAAD WISE: Step by Step

Step 1: Identify a German host professor (Start now, June-September 2026)
Search university websites at TU Munich, KIT, RWTH Aachen, TU Berlin, University of Stuttgart, Heidelberg University or any German institution with a strong research group in your field. Read recent papers from the group, pick a professor whose current work aligns with your interests, and write a targeted email explaining your background and proposed contribution.

Your cold email must include: your CGPA, your institution, your research interest, and a specific reference to one of their recent papers. Generic emails are ignored. Professors receive many enquiries; specificity is what earns a reply. Expect to email 15 to 30 professors to receive 2 to 5 positive responses.

Step 2: Get the host confirmation letter
Once a professor agrees, ask them to provide a written confirmation on university letterhead stating: your name, proposed research topic, internship dates, and their agreement to supervise you. This letter is mandatory for your DAAD application.

Step 3: Prepare your application documents
The DAAD WISE portal requires: CV (2 pages maximum), motivation letter (1 page, tailored to the specific research project), academic transcripts, two academic reference letters from your professors, the host confirmation letter, and a research proposal (1 page outlining what you will investigate).

Step 4: Submit via the DAAD portal (Opens October 2026)
The application portal at daad.de opens in October each year for the following summer's internship cycle. Submission deadline is typically mid-November. Results are announced in February-March 2027. See how a engineering student structures an international application profile for reference.

Step 5: Visa and pre-departure
After acceptance, DAAD sends an official invitation letter. Use this for your German student/research visa application at the German consulate in Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata or Bangalore. Processing time is 4 to 8 weeks. Apply early.

WISE vs DAAD RISE vs DAAD Bilateral: Which Suits You?

Program	Who finds the project	Stipend	Best for
DAAD WISE	You contact the professor	934 EUR/month	Indian/Pakistani STEM students, self-directed
DAAD RISE	DAAD lists projects; you apply	800 EUR/month	All nationalities, structured matching
DAAD Bilateral (India-Germany)	Project jointly defined	934 EUR/month	Master's and PhD with existing German connections

Our full guide to DAAD scholarships for Indian students in 2026 covers all three programs in detail, including the bilateral India-Germany program for postgraduate researchers.

What to Do Right Now (June 2026)

Indian students finishing their third year in June are in the ideal eligibility window for the DAAD WISE 2026-2027 cycle. The portal does not open until October, but the groundwork happens now:

• Research 3 to 5 German labs in your field whose work aligns with your thesis or final-year project
• Prepare a one-page research proposal explaining what you want to investigate in Germany and why
• Email potential host professors this month; follow up in August if you receive no response
• Ask two professors at your home institution to write reference letters by September
• Consolidate your transcripts and get official translations if needed

Create your free profile on our platform to access our network of verified German-connected research opportunities for Indian students, including companies and institutes that actively recruit through us.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does DAAD WISE pay Indian students in 2026?
934 EUR per month, plus a one-time travel allowance of 575 to 800 EUR and health insurance. For a 10-week placement this totals approximately 10,000 EUR.

What is the DAAD WISE 2026 application deadline?
The portal opens in October 2026 for summer 2027 placements. The submission deadline is typically mid-November. Results are announced in February-March 2027.

Is DAAD WISE competitive for Indian students?
Yes, acceptance rates are approximately 10 to 15%. Strong CGPA (8.5 and above), a genuine professor match and a specific research proposal are the strongest differentiators.

Do I need to speak German for DAAD WISE?
No. Research is conducted in English. No language certificate is required.

What research areas qualify for DAAD WISE?
STEM only: engineering, computer science, natural sciences, life sciences. Social sciences, economics and management are not eligible.

How is DAAD WISE different from DAAD RISE?
In WISE you independently contact a German professor and propose your own project. In RISE, DAAD lists available projects and you apply to those. WISE pays 934 EUR/month, RISE pays approximately 800 EUR/month.

Can final-year students apply for DAAD WISE?
Yes, final-year Bachelor's and Master's students are eligible, provided they remain enrolled during the internship period (typically May to August).