DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
The German Academic Exchange Service is one of the world's largest and most respected intermediary organisations in its field.
Scores of students, teachers, researchers and scientists supported by the DAAD have been able to gain valuable experience abroad.
The German Academic Exchange Service is a joint organisation of the institutions of higher education in Germany. The DAAD has the function of promoting university relations abroad, expecially through the exchange of students and academic staff. German and foreign scholars, professors and graduates representing all disciplines from almost every country in the world participate in this exchange. These objectives take on a concrete structure in the well over two hundred programmes which the DAAD runs. However, there are also many other sides to the work of the DAAD.
Goals and roles
The great number and variety of DAAD programmes can be arranged into five strategic goals which facilitate their long-term orientation. These are shown in the following, which is modelled on the Olympic Rings, symbols ofpeaceful competition. In fact, they simultaneously visualise the intersections, interdependencies and interactions which exist between the various action fields.These five goals are:
- To promote young foreign elites as a means of gaining future leadersin education, science, research and culture, in business and industry, inpolitics and in the media as partners and friends of Germany. (Goal 1)
- To promote young German elites in order to qualify them asopen-minded future leading figures in education, science and research,in culture, in business and industry, in politics and in the media in thespirit of international and intercultural experience. (Goal 2)
- To promote the internationality and appeal of Germany’s universitiesto ensure that Germany remains a leading address for young academicsand researchers from all around the world. (Goal 3)
- To promote German studies, the German language, literature andarea studies at selected universities around the world in order tostrengthen German as a major international cultural language andlingua franca and to advance interest in, knowledge of and understandingfor Germany. (Goal 4)
- To promote academic and scientific advancement in developingcountries and in the transformation countries of Central and EasternEurope as a means of supporting the economic and democraticreform process there. (Goal 5)
Programmes and projects: 200 programmes worldwide
The 200 and more programmes with which the DAAD pursues its goals range from short-term research or teaching exchange through to doctoral scholarships for (post) graduates from developing countries which last several years, and from information visits by delegations of foreign university rectors and vice-chancellors through to the long-term regional programme which aims to create efficient higher education systems in the Third World. Essentially, DAAD funding programmes areopen for all countries of the world and for all disciplines. In some cases, the exchange frameworks and procedures have been embedded in international cultura lagreements or defined in arrangements reached between the DAAD and its partner organisations abroad. As a rule, the other party will also offer corresponding measures (e.g., reciprocal scholarships, payments and services from the host country,exemption from fees).
Scholarships
The scholarships offered by the DAAD are awarded to young higher education graduates (and in exceptional cases also to advanced students) from all fields of science and humanities as well as from fields of music and art. Young academics, scientists, university teachers, former scholarship-holders and study visit groups accompanied by a university teacher may also receive support. Detailed programme descriptions can be found in the sholarship database on the DAAD website (www.daad.de/stipendien ), where you can enter your individual profile (country of origin, field of study, status) and get a list of the grants that apply. As a rule, the minimum age for applicants is 18. The age limit for most programmes is 32 (for details, please consult the specific programme descriptions). Study beginners (ie, first year students) cannot be considered for support.
Application papers
The forms generally required for application can either be downloaded from the website or obtained from the diplomatic and consular representations of the Federal Republic of Germany (LINK), from the DAAD Lektors on assignment at foreign universities (LINK) or from the partner organisations The programme descriptions will specify exactly which application form you need. If not specifically mentioned in the programme description, the application forms on the DAAD website (www.daad.de/stipendien) will list in detail which documents and papers you need to submit with your application. You will also find information on the exact deadlines for the submission of application papers.
Contacts with former foreign scholarship holders
The DAAD uses various instruments to keep in touch with former long-term scholarship holders (Alumni) from abroad – including those who once studied with a scholarship in East Germany. These measures include the alumni magazine "DAAD-Letter – Hochschule und Ausland" with a print-run of just under 32,000 copies, a dedicated information service on the DAAD website (Alumni Forum), literature and equipment donations plus re-invitation visits lasting several months, and seminars with German colleagues.
In addition, subject-related seminars for former scholarship holders are held abroad which generally originate from initiatives taken by Alumni Clubs or by Lektors or, occasionally, constitute part of a BMZ programme under which German higher education institutions organise events for their own alumni from developing countries. The year 2001 saw Alumni Seminars held in Australia, Chile, Cuba, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, the Netherlands, North Korea, Poland, Portugal, Syria and in Uganda, and elsewhere. In addition, ten major Alumni Seminars were organised by the DAAD in Argentina, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Romania, Spain and in Yugoslavia.
Former scholarship holders have meanwhile set up more than 120 Alumni Clubs around the world. While the DAAD cannot provide these clubs with institutional support, it can and does support appropriate projects.
Kroatien
Hrvatski DAAD Klub
Herr Prof. Dr. Mladen Franz
Ivana Lucica 5
10000 Zagreb
Kroatien
Tel.: (00385-1) 616 8397
Fax: (00385-1) 615 6941
E-mail: daad.klub@fsb.hr, mladen.franz@fsb.hr
WWW: http://www.fsb.hr/daad-klub
Further questions
Do you have specific questions about studies, research and science in Germany? Please take a look at our list of "frequently asked questions". From the numerous inquiries that reach us we have gathered a selection with the corresponding answers. Because - answers to most of your questions can be found on our web pages.
If you are interested in studying or doing research in Germany, please click on the list of FAQs on "Study and Research in Germany".
Questions on scholarhips and funding may also be answered by the German diplomatic missions in your home country. For Croatia: http://www.zagreb.diplo.de/
You can also get further information and advice as well as application forms for scholarships from the three DAAD-lecturers in Croatia:
Dr. Christine Magerski
University of Zagreb
Faculty of Philosophy
German Department
Ivana Lucica 2
10000 Zagreb
E-Mail: christine.magerski@web.deSascha Preiss, M.A.
Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek
Faculty of Education
ul. Lorenza Jägera 9
31000 Osijek
E-Mail: p.selbst@gmx.netKarin Olfermann, M.A.
University of Zadar
Faculty of Philosophy
German Department
Obala K.P. Kresimira IV/2
23000 Zadar
E-Mail: karin.olfermann@unizd.hr
Our virtual advisor answers your questions about studying in Germany at once and 24 hours a day. And he shows you where to find more helpful information.
If you are a DAAD-Alumni, you will find specific information in the Alumni pages of our website. There you will also have the chance to get in contact with the members of the Alumni Section.
For general information about the DAAD and its work, please refer to the section "DAAD Profile". All addresses of the DAAD, in Germany and abroad, can also be obtained from here.