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The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is the world’s largest funding organisation with 100 years of experience dedicated to promoting the international exchange of students and researchers.
Who we are
Since it was founded in 1925, the DAAD has supported around 3 million academics in Germany and abroad.
The DAAD is an association of German higher education institutions and their student bodies. It stimulates the internationalisation of higher education institutions and science. Drawing on this expertise, the DAAD acts as an experienced and competent mediator between international higher education systems. With its global network, it supports foreign cultural and education policy as well as foreign science policy. The DAAD is a scientific organisation in Europe and the National Agency for Erasmus+ higher education cooperation. Together with its European partners, it contributes to shaping the European education and research realm.
What we do
The DAAD's work focuses on the internationalisation of the German higher education and science system. In addition to granting scholarships, this includes various tasks...
The tasks of the DAAD include granting scholarships, promoting the internationalisation activities of German higher education and research organisations, providing advice on internationalisation and international marketing of higher education institutions, strengthening German studies, the German language and culture abroad, as well as supporting countries of the Global South in establishing strong higher education bodies.
The DAAD’s multifaceted tasks not only focus on developing Germany as a centre of science and innovation but also on developing sustainable solutions for global challenges and strengthening democracy and social cohesion in Germany, Europe and worldwide.
Global network
Regional Offices & Information Centres
Thanks to its network of Regional Offices and Information Centres covering more than 70 countries, the DAAD has a comprehensive view of the higher-educational, social, economic, and political circumstances in each respective country. This expertise enables the DAAD to develop suitable programmes and ensure that funding is put to the best possible use on location. The overseas offices also offer advice to researchers around the world who are interested in working abroad or becoming better acquainted with the German research sector. Please find the addresses of the Regional Offices and Information Centres on the interactive map on the DAAD’s website.
Our motto
Create new perspectives
Through international academic exchange, the DAAD promotes the personal development and qualification of people and contributes to shaping social and global change for a better future on our planet.
Global challenges such as climate change, the supply of sustainable energy and issues of education, health and food security, as well as refugees and migration, can only be solved together through international, science-based cooperation. In this context, the DAAD is acting in line with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Through targeted funding programmes for individuals and higher education institutions, the DAAD supports the education of cosmopolitan and globally aware people. In doing so, the DAAD makes a decisive contribution to the creation of an internationally networked academic system in Germany. You can find more information on our website.
Strengthen academic exchange
Our three central fields of action
Funding
We fund international academic exchange through providing scholarships for people from Germany and abroad, and by supporting collaborative projects involving German higher education institutions and international partner organisations. Our funding programmes include opportunities for academics at all career stages and in all academic disciplines. We are continuously developing our programme portfolio in a needs-based manner.
Networking
The DAAD brings people from higher education and science together and – with our members, partners and alumni – establishes crisis-resilient international channels for dialogue and cooperation. We engage in German, European and international partnerships. The DAAD’s network is the basis for building and shaping international academic networks and partnerships.
Advising
As the world's largest funding institution for international academic exchange, the DAAD has extensive experience and practical knowledge as well as regional and subject-specific expertise in all areas of internationalisation in higher education and science. It also promotes dialogue between science and politics regarding foreign and science policy perspectives.
Our strategic intersecting dimensions
The DAAD takes three strategic intersecting dimensions into account in its fields of action and institutional activities: sustainability, diversity and digitisation.
In the implementation of the strategic intersecting dimensions, we consider them in combination so that they strengthen each other reciprocally whenever possible.
Sustainability
The DAAD is firmly committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, which reflect ecological, social and economic dimensions of sustainability.
Diversity
From a global perspective, the DAAD contributes to diversity and a variety of perspectives in academia by promoting global exchange and dialogue. For an open-minded and diverse society.
Digitisation
Shaping global exchange digitally: promoting international cooperation and utilising opportunities for greater participation, efficiency and sustainability. The DAAD uses the opportunities of digital change in all its fields of activity and sees itself as the driver of digital innovation regarding the internationalisation of the higher education system.
More information at daad.de