Introduction to DAAD (Germany) funding and scholarship programs

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is a non-profit organization founded in 1925 as a scientific bridge. To date, DAAD has become one of the leading organizations in supporting exchange programs for students and scientists.

In Vietnam, the DAAD Representative Office was opened in Hanoi in 2003, and the Information Center in Ho Chi Minh City in 2002. The Hanoi Representative Office supports the exchange of students, scientists, artists and higher education administrators. The DAAD awards short-term and long-term scholarships annually; promotes internationalization in the field of science; supports the development of the German language in Vietnam through cooperation with universities; and advises on education, diplomacy and development policy.

Head of DAAD Representative Office in Hanoi Stephen Hase-Bergen hopes to receive many registration requests from candidates at USSH

Typically, DAAD full scholarship programs include cash support (850 €/month for master's students, 1,200 € for doctoral students), airfare, family pick-up support, research support of 460 €/year, health insurance, accident insurance. Candidates will study German for 2, 4 or 6 months and enjoy good care.

The programmes are divided into three types with three different targets: for postgraduate students such as the Master's Programmes with Topics Related to Developing Countries (EPOS), the Study Programmes for Foreign Students in the fields of Performing Arts, Architecture, Music, Fine Arts; for doctoral students such as the Scholarships to Complete a Research Project in Germany, the 1-year Co-Supervised Research Scholarship, the Short-term Research from 7-10 months; for university lecturers and researchers such as the Invite-back Programme and the Advanced Research Programme. There are also other programmes such as the DAAD Government Scholarship Programme, the Fund for Alumni Seminars, the Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies (DIES) training course.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung introduces DAAD's scholarships and sponsorships.

In her presentation, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung focused mainly on programs for PhD students. Accordingly, PhD students can register according to the traditional model or according to each course. In the traditional model, PhD students are sponsored by a German professor whose major best suits them, work independently, and are free to explore their research interests. In the course-based model, PhD students register for pre-structured programs, participate in experimental research groups, schools or international doctoral programs, and receive active support from the academic team in the group.

DAAD representatives also suggested a suitable timetable for candidates. In the first year, candidates spend the first 8 months researching, writing a proposal, searching for a doctoral course or a professor in Germany, contacting professors, submitting applications and keeping in touch with DAAD. If the application is accepted, candidates complete the application process via the DAAD Portal with a deadline of October 15. At the end of November, candidates will be interviewed. In the second year, candidates receive interview results in February and March, attend a German language course from May to August in Vietnam or Germany, come to Germany to get acquainted with the living and studying environment in September, and officially start the doctoral program at a university in October. To have their application accepted, candidates need to have a clear and coherent research proposal; along with a letter of sponsorship from a German professor or an admission letter to a doctoral course.

After the presentation, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung also spent time advising the audience on her experience of studying and researching in Germany, her experience in interviewing and improving foreign languages, and the necessary conditions for the application documents for each type of program.