Finding Scholarships
Welcome to our scholarship database!
Here you will find information about our DAAD scholarship programmes for international students and
researchers as well as offers from other selected funding organisations.
Study Scholarships - Postgraduate Studies in the Field of Music • DAAD
Overview
Eine Druckversion dieser Ausschreibung (PDF) steht Ihnen in den weiteren Registerkarten (z.B. „Bewerbungsvoraussetzungen“) zur Verfügung.
A print version of this announcement (PDF) is available in the further tabs (e.g. “Application requirements”).
Objective
This scholarship programme offers you the opportunity to continue your studies in the field of music in Germany with an advanced postgraduate course.
Who can apply?
The programme is aimed at graduates from the field of Music. You are eligible to apply if:
- you will have obtained a first degree in music by the time the scholarship begins
- or you have exhausted all training opportunities for your instrument or subject in your home country if no degree is offered in your country of origin.
What can be funded?
In this scholarship programme, you can complete the following courses of study at a state college of music (Staatliche Musikhochschule) in Germany of your choice:
- Degree studies: A Master's degree/postgraduate course leading to a degree. Funding for postgraduate studies is available for the so-called 2nd cycle (Master’s degree) or 3rd cycle (Konzertexamen, Meisterklasse).
- Advanced studies without a degree, either as part of graduate studies at your home university that include a stay abroad in Germany, or as part of an independent project or advanced studies with a university/college lecturer in Germany. A connection to a college of music in Germany is mandatory and must be proven by a written confirmation of supervision.
If your Master's or postgraduate degree programme in Germany includes a study period abroad, funding for this period abroad is generally only possible under the following conditions:
- the study visit is essential for achieving the scholarship objective,
- it does not take place in your home country, and
- its duration does not surpass 25% of the scholarship period (for joint and double-degree programmes up to 50%, if this is specified in the study regulations). Longer periods cannot be funded, even partially.
Duration of the funding
The duration of funding varies depending on the project:
- Degree studies (e.g. Master’s degree, Konzertexamen, Meisterklasse):
The funding period is 2 to 4 semesters, depending on the standard period of study of the chosen program (10 months up to a maximum of 24 months). - Advanced studies without a degree:
The funding period is 2 semesters (12 months). In individual cases, the scholarship may be extended upon application.
Value
- A monthly payment of 992 euros
- Travel allowance (upon application only)
- One-off study allowance
- Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover
- Monthly rent subsidy (please read the important information for scholarship applicants / section F, point 9)
- Monthly allowance for accompanying members of family. Please also read our important information for scholarship applicants / section F, point 3
- In case of a disability or chronic illness: on application, a subsidy may be provided for justified additional costs incurred abroad that are necessary to realise the project in Germany and that are not covered by a third party; whether and to what extent a subsidy will be paid will be reviewed and determined on an individual basis (see important information for scholarship applicants, section F, point 8).
- Green Mobility Top Up (Support for climate-friendly travel) or reimbursement of carbon offset payments for air travel
To allow you to improve your language skills in preparation for your stay in Germany, the DAAD offers the following benefits:
- Payment of course fees for an online language course after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter
- if necessary: German language course (2, 4 or 6 months) before the start of the study visit in Germany; the DAAD decides whether to fund participation and for how long depending on German language skills and project. Participation in a German language course is compulsory if the language of instruction or working language at the German host institution is German.
- Allowance for a personally chosen German language course during the scholarship period
- Reimbursement of the fee for a TestDaF or DSH test, which you can take either in your home country after you have received your Letter of Award or in Germany during your funding period.
Please note that the DAAD does not cover tuition fees.
Selection
A special DAAD committee made up of professors from German colleges of music makes the final decision about scholarships in the field of music. The decision is based upon written applications and video/sound recordings which have to be submitted (see: www.daad.de/extrainfo).
Selection criteria
- the artistic qualification and artistic maturity, measured by study achievements and work samples
- the quality of the proposed project as measured by the study plan and letter of motivation; the quality of the project includes the following aspects: justification of the application, plausibility and feasibility of the project, level of preparation for the stay abroad, integration of the stay into the applicant's artistic development, and its relation to professional perspectives
In addition, the selection committee will give due consideration to aspects of equal opportunities, on which you can provide information in the application form.
For further information on the selection procedure, please refer to the Important Scholarship Information / Section E.
Further information
A scholarship award does not automatically mean admission to one of the colleges of music listed in the application. Admission decisions are made by the respective college of music. In most cases, an entrance examination is required. Please inquire in good time about admission requirements as well as application and audition dates at your chosen college of music and note that these may be several months before the desired start of studies or even before DAAD’s scholarship decision. Costs for participating in an entrance examination cannot be covered. If an applicant positively selected by DAAD is not admitted to any university, the scholarship already awarded cannot be used.
Application requirements
What requirements must be met?
Please check if the following criteria are fulfilled:
- As a rule, your university degree should not date back more than 6 years at the time of the application deadline. Please read our important information for scholarship applicants / Section A, point 2.
- You have not resided in Germany for more than 15 months prior to the application deadline.
Language skills
By the start of the scholarship at the latest, you should have sufficient knowledge of the language of instruction to meet the requirements of the desired university.
If you do not yet have the required language level at the time of application, your application should indicate to what extent you will be able to achieve the required level. If you are awarded a scholarship, please take advantage of the funding opportunities for language courses described under 'Value'.
Application Procedure
Application deadline
Application deadlines are updated at least once a year. In most cases, they are in the same period as the previous year. You can find the current dates here:
24.09.2026
Selection in February 2027
Funding begins from October 2027
Application documents
1. A) Online application in the DAAD portal
Applications must be submitted online via the DAAD portal. After registering in the DAAD portal, please complete the online application in full.
Please indicate in the application form the entire period for which you wish to apply for the scholarship. For example, if you plan a 2-year study program, you must specify two years as the desired scholarship duration. After the first academic year, your academic achievements will be reviewed. If it is evident that you will successfully complete your studies within a reasonable timeframe, the scholarship will continue as planned.
1. B) Documents to be uploaded to the DAAD portal:
After completing the application form, please upload the following application documents in the 'Attachments' section of the DAAD portal:
- Full curriculum vitae in tabular form
- Letter of Motivation stating your academic and personal motivation for the planned study project in Germany (1 - 3 pages). Please read our important information for important information for scholarship applicants / Section A, point 1.
- a) For a master’s degree/postgraduate course leading to a degree:
- Letter of admission from the host university in Germany, if already available. If you have not yet received admission at the time of application, you must submit it before the scholarship begins. Please note that you are personally responsible for applying to the host university on time, and a DAAD scholarship award only becomes effective if you are admitted to the desired host university. Please upload the documents under 'Admission/Recognition' in the portal.
- If possible, confirmation of supervision from a university teacher in Germany. Please upload the documents under 'Contact Host Institution' in the portal.
- Candidates for a Master's degree programme should also attach the form 'Information on your desired Master's degree programmes'. Please upload the form duly completed under 'Study course profile' in the DAAD portal.
- b) Advanced studies without a degree:
- Confirmation of supervision from a lecturer at the German host university. Please upload the documents under 'Contact host institution' in the portal.
- If you are pursuing a degree at your home university and the stay abroad in Germany is part of your studies: proof that the academic achievements completed in Germany will be recognized by your home university. Please upload the proof under 'Study course profile' in the portal.
- A current transcript of records with individual grades, including an explanation of the grading system. Please upload the proof under 'Academic Records/Certificates' in the portal.
- University degree certificate including final grade(s); if your studies have not yet been completed at the time of application, the certificate must be submitted before the scholarship begins. Please upload the documents under 'University Certificates' in the portal.
- German or English translations of documents submitted in the national language.
- Proof of proficiency in the language of instruction (German or English). Please observe the binding requirements in the important scholarship information (A.9 to A.10). The language certificate should not be older than three years. Please upload the proof under 'Language Certificate' in the portal.
2. Work samples to be uploaded to the DAAD media database after successfully completing the application in the portal (DAAD will send a separate request):
Shortly after submitting your application documents via the DAAD portal, you will receive a link for uploading work samples to the protected area of the DAAD media database. Please upload the work samples promptly (within two weeks of receiving the link).
Please also upload the form containing an overview of the recorded pieces to the media database: Information about the audio/video files.
Please upload video files only (mp4, maximum resolution 1080 pixels). Exceptions are subjects such as composition and audio engineering, sound studies, etc.: here audio files (mp3, wav) may also be submitted. Please note: MIDI realizations or mock-ups may not be submitted. Technically manipulated files will lead to a deduction of points.
For further formal requirements, please refer to the 'Additional Information for DAAD Study Scholarships in the Field of Music' at: www.daad.de/extrainfo.
Application location
Online via the DAAD Portal and the DAAD Media Database
Please note
- Your application is only valid if you submit all the required documents to the DAAD portal (see point 1) and to the media database (see point 2).
- The DAAD portal closes at 24.00 hrs. (CET or CEST) on the last application day. We recommend that you [fett|submit your application a few days before the application deadline. This ensures that you are on the safe side in the event of technical problems.
- Late applications after the application deadline are not possible.
- Incomplete applications cannot be considered. You are responsible for ensuring that your applications are complete.
- The application documents remain with the DAAD. Your personal data is saved by the DAAD in accordance with the Federal Data Protection Act and with the EU Data Protection Regulation insofar as this data is necessary to process the application.
Contact and Consulting
Information and advisory centres
Regional Office New Delhi
German Academic Exchange Service
Regional Office Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka
c/o DLTA Complex, R.K. Khanna Stadium, 1 Africa Avenue
110029 New Delhi
India
Tel.: +91 (11)/6646-5500
Fax.: +91 (11)/6646-5555
E-Mail.: info.newdelhi@daad.de
WWW.: https://www.daad.in
More detailed information
- DAAD website section 'Important information for scholarship applicants'
- DAAD website section 'Study programmes and language courses'
- DAAD website section 'Plan your studies' to help you prepare for your stay in Germany
- Campaign website https://www.study-in-germany.de/en/
Submitting an application
General information on the application via DAAD portal
Applications for this scholarship programme are possible between 1 June and the stated application deadline.
Click on 'Application portal' at the bottom of the page to go to the DAAD portal. There you will be provided with an online application form to enter your application data.
This is what you have to do:
1. Register in the DAAD portal (Read notes about registering in the portal >>)
2. Apply online in the DAAD portal (Read notes on applying in the portal >>)
- Prepare application documents
- If necessary, translate documents (unless they are already in German or English).
- Scan paper documents and save in PDF format. Please note that you can only upload PDF files to the portal.
- Fill out the application form and upload the application documents to the portal in PDF format. Translations, if applicable, should be uploaded together with the document issued in the original language.
- Submit the application online.
3. Upon request: Upload work samples to the DAAD media database
Please note:
If you have any technical questions or problems your local information and advice centres could not help you with, please do not hesitate to contact portal@daad.de via e-mail.
You can also call the technical portal hotline on weekdays from 9-12 and 14-16 (CET/CEST) on +49 (0) 228 882-8888.
Please consider possible processing times of your request when you are planning your application.
Funded by:
