About My GUIDE

My GUIDE is a platform provided by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) that allows prospective students from abroad to find suitable degree programmes at German higher education institutions.

My GUIDE will assist you on your individual journey to studying in Germany by showing you precisely the information that is relevant to you personally. My GUIDE offers you:

• A search that will help you find the right degree programme among over 20,000 courses in Germany, based on your profile
• Functionality to compare your qualifications and the respective admission requirements
• A way to contact higher education institutions regarding your desired course of study

After answering three introductory questions you are presented with suitable degree courses at German higher education institutions. In a second step you can enter information on your previous qualifications to conduct a preliminary check that will tell you for which of these courses you meet the admission requirements, narrowing down your results. You can further refine this selection in accordance with your individual interests. Your personal login allows you to step away at any time and return to the search and selection procedure later on.

You can then use an integrated form to send an individual enquiry to the higher education institution of your choice in order to connect with them directly for any further questions and to submit your application. German higher education institutions receive a wide range of different enquiries from prospective students every day. A pre-structured enquiry via My GUIDE has the advantage that it includes important information that will help the higher education institution respond to your questions. But you are always in control of your data and can choose what information you want to include. Your My GUIDE enquiry also provides the higher education institution with your e-mail address, enabling its staff to respond to you directly.

The range of degree programmes presented in My GUIDE comes from two databases. If you would like a complete overview of all study programmes in Germany, you can find the data from the so-called Higher Education Compass under “All degree programmes” in the navigation menu. If you are specifically looking for study options designed for international students, you can find the data from the DAAD database “International Programmes in Germany.”

Higher Education Compass

The Higher Education Compass is an information portal provided by the German Rectors’ Conference. Here, state and state-recognised German higher education institutions publish details about their study and doctoral programmes. All information is approved by the higher education institutions themselves and maintained by their staff. This ensures that My GUIDE always offers a reliable and comprehensive overview of study opportunities in Germany – while also making sure that your enquiries are forwarded directly to the appropriate contact person within each institution.

DAAD Database “International Programmes in Germany”

Information on international degree programmes is drawn from the DAAD database “International Programmes in Germany”. In this database, German higher education institutions and research organisations publish their internationally oriented programmes – ranging from Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees to language and short-term courses. These programmes are characterised by English-taught courses, extensive support services for international students, and globally focused content. The database is updated annually and, with its high level of traffic, ranks among the most important information sources for students worldwide seeking a suitable programme in Germany. Through My GUIDE, you can explore Bachelor’s and Master’s study options that are precisely matched to your academic background and study goals.

DAAD Database on admission requirements

To help you assess your chances of admission based on your previous education, My GUIDE draws on the DAAD database on admission requirements. This database is maintained in cooperation with uni-assist e.V. and is based on the evaluation guidelines of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK), as published in the anabin database of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). The information serves as a reference for the relevant recognition authorities when determining which foreign qualifications allow you to study in Germany. My GUIDE provides an initial orientation but does not replace an official admission assessment. For a binding decision, please use the My GUIDE contact form to get in touch directly with the higher education institution.

DAAD Scholarship Database

Each study option is accompanied by information on suitable scholarships. These come from the DAAD Scholarship Database, which includes both DAAD programmes and selected funding opportunities from other organisations. My GUIDE does not award its own scholarships but automatically displays relevant funding options that match your chosen programme.

My GUIDE is a free service provided by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
The DAAD is the world’s largest funding organisation for the international exchange of students and researchers. Since it was founded in 1925, the DAAD has provided funding for around two million academics in Germany and abroad. The DAAD is a registered association and its members are German institutions of higher education and student bodies. Its activities go far beyond awarding grants and scholarships: The DAAD supports the internationalisation of German higher education institutions, promotes German studies and the German language abroad, assists developing countries in establishing effective higher education institutions and advises decision-makers in the fields of educational and academic relations as well as development policy.

The DAAD on the one hand assists German higher education institutions in publicising their degree programmes worldwide and recruiting qualified international students. On the other hand it is tasked with helping prospective students from abroad to find suitable study places in Germany. That is My GUIDE’s mission.

My GUIDE is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).