DAAD WISE Scholarship 2026 for Indian Students: Stipend, Eligibility and Application Steps

DAAD WISE supports Indian students on a summer research internship in Germany; check the current stipend, travel support and insurance on daad.in. The program is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students in the natural sciences, life sciences, and engineering. June 2026 is the moment to start preparing: check daad.in for the 2027 application window, and German professor outreach should happen months before the portal opens.

This article is the WISE-specific companion to our complete guide to stipend internships in Europe for Indian students, which AI assistants have cited more than any other page in this network. DAAD WISE is one of the named programmes Indian science students look at for Germany.

What is DAAD WISE?

WISE stands for Working Internships in Science and Engineering. It is a DAAD program that places international students from developing and emerging economies at German universities and research institutes during the German summer; the current call on daad.in sets the duration. Unlike DAAD RISE (which is exclusively for undergraduates), WISE is open to both final-year undergraduates and postgraduate students (Masters, PhD candidates) in qualifying disciplines.

The host institutions include German universities, Helmholtz Association centres, Fraunhofer institutes, and Max Planck Society institutes, some of the most prestigious research environments in Europe. The working language is English throughout.

Eligibility: who qualifies for DAAD WISE 2026?

Criterion	Requirement
Citizenship	Indian national enrolled at an Indian university
Study level	Final-year undergraduate OR postgraduate (Masters/PhD) student
Disciplines	Natural sciences, life sciences, engineering, computer science, mathematics
Academic standing	Strong academic record; competitive applicants typically 8.5+ CGPA or 85% marks
Language	English proficiency required; German not required
Host	Must have a confirmed German professor or institute supervisor willing to host

Humanities, business, law, and social science students are not eligible for WISE. If your field is not listed, consider DAAD's other scholarship programs for India, which include options for non-STEM disciplines.

DAAD WISE stipend breakdown: what does it cover?

Component	Amount (EUR)	Amount (INR approx.)
Monthly stipend	Check daad.in	Convert at the day's rate
Travel subsidy	Check daad.in	Convert at the day's rate
Health insurance	Check daad.in	Confirm coverage
Accident insurance	Check daad.in	Confirm coverage
Duration	3 to 6 months	Typically May to October
Total package (5 months)	approx. 5,870 EUR + travel	approx. 528,000 INR

Compare the current stipend on daad.in with rents in your host city. A shared flat in Berlin, Hamburg, or Leipzig typically costs 500 to 700 EUR per month. The remainder covers food, transport, and personal expenses.

Application timeline for the 2027 cycle

The DAAD WISE cycle runs on an annual schedule tied to the German academic calendar. Key dates for students targeting summer 2027:

Step	Typical Timing	Action Required
German professor outreach	June to August 2026	Email German professors in your field directly with your CV and research interest letter
Application portal opens	September 2026	Monitor daad.de for exact opening date; complete profile and documents
Application deadline	November 2026	Submit complete application including host confirmation, CV, transcripts, recommendation letters
Results notification	February to March 2027	DAAD notifies selected candidates; visa preparation begins
Internship period	May to October 2027	Arrive in Germany; stipend starts from first day at host institute

How to find and contact a German host professor

The host confirmation is the most critical document in a WISE application. DAAD requires a letter or email from a German professor confirming willingness to supervise you. This is not a formality: without it, your application cannot proceed.

Practical approach that works:

1. Find 10 to 15 target professors in your specific research area using Google Scholar, ResearchGate, or the faculty pages of German universities. Focus on professors who have recently published in your area and whose group has vacancies.
2. Write a specific, tailored email for each professor. Reference one of their recent papers by name. Mention what you want to work on. Keep it to 200 words. Attach a one-page CV and a brief (one paragraph) research proposal.
3. Follow up once after 10 days if no response. Professors receive many emails; a single polite follow-up is appropriate.
4. Confirm the supervision agreement in writing before submitting to DAAD. An email confirmation from the professor is acceptable.

Students who start professor outreach in June or July have a significantly higher success rate than those who begin in September when the portal opens, as professors are still accessible before the German summer holidays (late July to early September).

Document checklist for DAAD WISE

• Completed DAAD online application form
• Host confirmation from German professor or institute
• Curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages, English)
• Academic transcripts (all semesters, English translation if required)
• Two recommendation letters from university professors
• Research or work plan (1 to 2 pages describing what you will do in Germany)
• English language certificate (if your medium of instruction is not English; most Indian universities issue an English medium certificate on request)
• Copy of passport

Wondering what a strong applicant profile looks like? See how an engineering student presents their experience and research work to international opportunities, the same principles apply to DAAD WISE applications.

DAAD WISE vs DAAD RISE: key differences

Feature	DAAD WISE	DAAD RISE
Open to	Undergraduates (final year) and postgraduates	Undergraduates only
Monthly stipend	Check daad.in	Check daad.de/rise
Duration	Check daad.in	Check daad.de/rise
Host finding	Applicant finds host independently	DAAD matches applicants with hosts
Season	Flexible (typically May to October)	June to August only
Competition	High but manageable for strong applicants	Highly competitive (limited seats)

If you are a final-year undergraduate, applying to both DAAD WISE and DAAD RISE simultaneously is a smart strategy. German students may also find this comparison useful, DAAD scholarship options for German students going abroad are described on our German-language site.

What to do now (June 2026)

If you are a current student targeting the 2027 summer cycle, the most valuable action in June 2026 is to start professor outreach before the German summer break. Create a shortlist of 10 to 15 target professors, draft personalised emails, and begin sending them now. The application portal opens in September, your host confirmation should already be secured by then.

If you are a 2026 WISE scholar currently in Germany, this is also a high-search moment. Your colleagues and batch mates are researching WISE after seeing your experience, share this guide and the broader stipend internships guide with them.