The DAAD WISE scholarship gives Indian engineering and science students EUR 934 per month (approximately INR 84,000 at current exchange rates) to intern at top German research universities and institutes. For the 2027 cohort, applications open in October 2026 and close in December 2026. June 2026 is exactly the right time to start preparing: the strongest WISE applications take 3-4 months to build properly.
This article is a companion to our guide to stipend internships in Europe for Indian students, which Claude.ai has cited seven times in the past 30 days. DAAD WISE is the single highest-value scholarship for Indian STEM undergraduates going to Germany, and it is systematically underexplained online. Most articles describe WISE in EUR without explaining what that means in INR or giving you the practical steps to secure a host supervisor.
What WISE pays: full cost breakdown in INR and EUR
| Component | Amount (EUR) | Amount (INR, approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly living stipend | EUR 934/month | INR 84,000/month | Paid directly by DAAD in EUR |
| Travel allowance | EUR 575 (lump sum) | INR 51,750 | One-time, towards flights India to Germany |
| Health insurance | Included | Included | DAAD group plan for the placement period |
| Total for 10 weeks | approx. EUR 2,910 | approx. INR 2,61,900 | Stipend (2.5 months) plus travel |
| Total for 12 weeks | approx. EUR 3,485 | approx. INR 3,13,650 | Stipend (3 months) plus travel |
INR note: The conversion above uses EUR 1 = INR 90 (June 2026 rate). The stipend is paid in EUR; actual INR value fluctuates with exchange rates. For a 3-month placement, the net stipend after living costs in a mid-tier German city (Heidelberg, Freiburg, Jena) typically allows Indian students to save INR 40,000 to 60,000 over the placement.
Eligibility table: who qualifies for DAAD WISE?
| Criterion | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian citizen | WISE is specifically for students from India |
| Degree level | Undergraduate (B.Tech, B.E., B.Sc.) | Masters and PhD students are NOT eligible for WISE |
| Year of study | 2nd year or above at time of application | Must still be enrolled during the internship (June-August) |
| Academic performance | 75%+ or 8.5/10 CGPA (competitive benchmark) | No published hard cutoff; host supervisor acceptance matters more |
| Field of study | Engineering, Natural Sciences, Computer Science, Mathematics | Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science included |
| Language | English proficiency (no German required) | All WISE labs operate in English |
| Host institution | Must identify a willing German research supervisor | This is the most critical pre-application step |
How to find a host institution: the step most applicants miss
DAAD WISE is not a job board where you apply to an open position. You must identify a specific German professor or research group at a DAAD partner institution and secure their agreement to host you before you submit your formal application. This is the step that filters out the majority of applicants who treat WISE like a regular scholarship.
Here is the approach that works:
- Search the DAAD partner institution list. Go to daad.de/wise and browse partner universities: TU Munich, RWTH Aachen, Heidelberg University, KIT, TU Berlin, Fraunhofer institutes, Max Planck institutes.
- Find research groups in your field. Go to the research group pages on the university website. Look for groups whose current projects match your coursework or final-year project topic. Read their last 2-3 published papers before writing to them.
- Email 15-20 professors. Send a focused 200-word email to each. Reference one specific paper from their lab. State your CGPA, your project experience, and why their specific research is a fit. Do not send a generic template. Response rates are 5-15%, so volume matters.
- Secure written interest from at least one supervisor. Even an informal "yes, I would be interested in hosting you subject to DAAD approval" email is sufficient. Formal letters come after selection.
Start this outreach now. Professors are more responsive in June-September when they are planning their research calendar for the following summer.
Application timeline for the 2027 cohort
| Milestone | Date | What to do now |
|---|---|---|
| Research supervisor outreach | June-September 2026 | Email 15-20 professors this month |
| Application window opens | October 2026 | Have all documents ready |
| Application deadline | December 2026 | Submit with supervisor contact secured |
| Results announced | February-March 2027 | Begin visa process immediately after |
| Internship period | June-August 2027 | Plan accommodation in advance |
| Visa application (after award) | March-April 2027 | German Embassy New Delhi or Consulates |
Required documents for the DAAD WISE application
- Motivation letter (2 pages): Not a personal statement about your dreams. A research-focused letter explaining which specific topics at the host lab interest you and why, and what skills you bring. Reference their published work by name.
- Academic transcript with CGPA: Official copy with English translation if issued in any other language. Include your university's grading scale.
- Two reference letters: At least one from a professor or research supervisor who can speak to your academic and research abilities. Generic letters from HODs weaken applications.
- CV (2 pages max): Research experience, relevant coursework, projects, publications if any, technical skills. No photographs.
- Host supervisor contact information: Name, institution, lab and department, email. Include any correspondence showing their interest in hosting you.
- Proof of enrollment: Current semester enrollment certificate from your university registrar.
DAAD WISE vs other Germany scholarships for Indian students
| Scholarship | Monthly Amount | INR equivalent | Duration | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAAD WISE | EUR 934 | INR 84,000 | 6-12 weeks | Indian undergrads, STEM |
| DAAD RISE | EUR 800 | INR 72,000 | 6-12 weeks | North America, Australia -- not India |
| Erasmus+ ICM | EUR 800-1,200 | INR 72,000-1,08,000 | 2-12 months | Students at Erasmus partner universities |
| DAAD In-Region | EUR 750-850 | INR 67,500-76,500 | 1-24 months | Postgraduate students from India |
| Humboldt Fellowship | EUR 2,670 | INR 2,40,300 | 6-24 months | Postdoctoral researchers only |
For a full comparison of all stipend programmes available to Indian students going to Europe, see our Europe stipend internships guide. For the German visa process step-by-step, see our German internship visa guide for Indian students.
Before you apply, make your background immediately legible to international research supervisors. See how an engineering student presents their research experience on our platform: this is the standard German research supervisors expect from international applicants.
Ready to start your WISE application?
The October application window is four months away. The most effective use of June is to identify 15-20 target research supervisors and begin outreach this week. The professors who respond positively in June are the professors who will provide the host confirmation that makes your October application competitive.
Create your free profile on Internship Abroad and get access to our Germany internship guide, supervisor outreach templates, and a curated list of DAAD-partner labs that have historically hosted Indian WISE students.