DAAD WISE (Working Internships in Science and Engineering) places Indian STEM students at German research institutes for 12 weeks in summer, with a stipend of 800 EUR per month plus travel allowance. The 2027 portal opens in October 2026. Indian students currently researching the program (45 Google Search Console impressions confirm active demand) need to start now: the competitive application takes 3 to 4 months to prepare properly.
What is DAAD WISE?
DAAD WISE is a bilateral program funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and administered by the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst). It places undergraduate and Master's STEM students from India at German universities and Helmholtz/Leibniz research institutes for a 12-week summer internship. The program started in 2007 and has placed more than 3,000 Indian students in Germany to date.
WISE is the Indian equivalent of DAAD RISE (which targets US/Canadian students). The academic standard is high: host research groups select students based on their research project fit, not a central DAAD committee. This means the quality of your application to the research group matters as much as the DAAD application itself.
For German students interested in India, the sibling program overview is available on internshipabroad.de.
Eligibility for Indian Students
DAAD WISE has strict eligibility requirements. Check all criteria before applying:
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Academic level | 3rd or 4th year undergraduate, or current Master's student |
| Field of study | Engineering, natural sciences, life sciences, computer science, mathematics (STEM only) |
| CGPA minimum | 7.5/10 (published minimum); competitive applications typically show 8.5+ |
| Institution | Any recognized Indian university or college; IITs, NITs, and central universities have strongest track record |
| Language | English proficiency required; German not required (WISE operates in English) |
| Citizenship | Indian citizen enrolled at an Indian institution |
Final-year undergraduates are eligible as long as they are enrolled during the internship period (May to August). Students who complete their degree before the internship starts are not eligible.
Stipend Breakdown: What You Actually Receive
The DAAD WISE financial package for summer 2027 (based on 2026 rates, subject to annual review):
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly stipend | 800 EUR/month | Covers approx. 12 weeks; paid in EUR to your German account |
| Travel allowance | Up to 600 EUR (one-time) | Economy class, direct route; receipts required |
| Health and accident insurance | Included | DAAD arranges via a German insurer; does not replace travel insurance |
| Visa fee reimbursement | Not included | German student visa (C or D) costs approx. INR 6,000 to 8,000 |
| Accommodation | Not provided by DAAD | Host institute often helps arrange student housing; budget 400 to 600 EUR/month in German university towns |
Net monthly budget estimate: 800 EUR stipend minus 400 to 600 EUR rent equals approximately 200 to 400 EUR for food, transport, and activities. Germany is affordable compared to London or Amsterdam. Most WISE alumni report breaking even or saving a small surplus.
In INR terms (approximate at June 2026 rates of 90 INR/EUR): stipend is roughly INR 72,000/month; travel allowance is INR 54,000.
Application Timeline for 2027 Summer
| Step | Approximate Date | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Research groups listed on DAAD portal | September to October 2026 | Browse available research groups; note project topics you match |
| DAAD WISE portal opens | October 2026 (typically) | Create DAAD account; start filling application |
| Contact research groups | October to November 2026 | Email professors; attach CV, transcript, motivation paragraph (keep to one page) |
| Application deadline | November to December 2026 (check daad.de for exact date) | Submit full DAAD application including professor confirmation |
| DAAD results | February to March 2027 | Acceptance email from DAAD; begin visa process immediately |
| Visa application | March 2027 | Apply at German consulate; DAAD acceptance letter is the key document |
| Internship period | May to August 2027 | 12 weeks at German research institute |
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Register on the DAAD portal at daad.de when WISE opens (October 2026). Create your profile with your personal data and academic details.
- Browse research groups. DAAD lists participating institutes and their research topics. Filter by your STEM field. Read group profiles; shortlist 8 to 12 groups whose work genuinely aligns with your coursework or research experience.
- Contact professors directly. Write a concise email (250 to 350 words): introduce yourself, mention your CGPA and relevant coursework, explain why their specific research interests you, and confirm you are applying for DAAD WISE. Attach your CV and one-page transcript. Do not send generic emails to 50 groups.
- Upload documents to DAAD portal. Required: CV, academic transcript (CGPA visible), motivation letter (1 to 2 pages), two recommendation letters (academic), proof of enrollment, language certificate if required.
- Secure professor confirmation. Your application is significantly stronger if the hosting professor confirms interest before your submission. This is not mandatory but DAAD weighs it heavily.
- Submit and wait. DAAD evaluates applications centrally. Results arrive February to March 2027. There is no partial result; it is a single accept or reject notification per application cycle.
What Makes a Strong DAAD WISE Application?
Based on patterns from accepted applicants across IITs and NITs, the key differentiators are:
- Research specificity: Mention a specific paper from the professor's lab. Generic motivation letters are the most common reason for rejection.
- Strong recommendation letters: Letters from professors who supervised you in a project or thesis carry more weight than general character references.
- CGPA above 8.5: Not a hard cutoff, but applicants from highly competitive institutions with CGPA below 8.0 face significantly lower selection rates.
- Early professor contact: Groups that already know your name when DAAD contacts them for confirmation respond faster and more positively.
See how engineering students present their skills and project experience via this example profile. The same clarity applies to DAAD WISE applications: specific, concrete, project-driven.
What About Netherlands and Other European Countries?
If Germany is your primary target, DAAD WISE is the strongest funded option. If you are also considering the Netherlands (the Netherlands Embassy in India actively recruits interns, a query ranking position 11 with 29 impressions in current search data), internships there do not have a dedicated stipend program equivalent to WISE. You would self-fund or apply for institutional grants from Dutch universities directly. Our Germany destination pages have full visa and cost information for Indian students once accepted.
Planning your internship abroad beyond DAAD WISE? Create a free profile on Internship Abroad to connect with international companies across 17 countries, including Germany, Netherlands, and the UK.