DAAD Scholarship Motivation Letter: How to Write a Winning Application

The second-most important document in your DAAD application

Most applicants spend weeks perfecting their GPA transcripts and language certificates for DAAD scholarships. Then they write their motivation letter the night before the deadline. This is a strategic error.

"The Motivation Letter is the second most important document for your DAAD application after the Grade Point Average (GPA). Taking into account how competitive this scholarship is, your chances of winning it without a high-quality motivation letter are very slim." -- MyGermanUniversity.com

The DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst / German Academic Exchange Service) is the largest German funding organization for international academic exchange. Its scholarships cover tuition, living expenses, travel, and health insurance. The competition is correspondingly intense -- thousands of applicants from over 100 countries compete for a limited number of awards each cycle.

The DAAD motivation letter has specific requirements that differ significantly from standard university admission letters. It is longer, more personal, must be hand-signed, and evaluates different criteria. Getting this wrong is expensive: you cannot resubmit a corrected letter after the deadline.

This guide covers exact DAAD requirements, how scholarship letters differ from admission letters, the Deutschlandstipendium format, and the SBW Berlin scholarship as an alternative.

For German university admission motivation letters (which are different from scholarship letters), see our complete guide to motivation letters at 15 German universities.

Table of Contents

• DAAD motivation letter requirements: the specifics
• How scholarship letters differ from admission letters
• What DAAD evaluators look for
• Structuring your DAAD motivation letter
• The multiple-program rule: applying to up to 3 programs
• Deutschlandstipendium: different scholarship, different letter
• SBW Berlin Scholarship: the social commitment path
• Common mistakes in DAAD motivation letters
• DAAD vs. admission letter: side-by-side comparison
• Timeline and practical considerations

DAAD motivation letter requirements: the specifics

Length and format

• Minimum: 1 page. Maximum: 3 pages (some DAAD programs specify a max of 2 pages -- check your specific scholarship)
• Must be signed by hand. A digital or typed signature is not accepted.
• Language: English or German (depending on the scholarship program and your study program's language)
• Format: Standard academic document (A4, readable font, reasonable margins)

Required content

The DAAD specifies that your motivation letter should cover:

1. Professional reasons for your planned study/research project in Germany
2. Personal reasons for choosing Germany and the specific program
3. Why you wish to take the specific program (or programs, if applying to multiple)
4. Special extracurricular achievements relevant to your academic or professional profile
5. Personal qualities that make you suitable for the scholarship and the study program

The hand-signature requirement

This is not optional and it is not a formality. The DAAD requires a physical, handwritten signature on the motivation letter. This means:

• Print the final version
• Sign it by hand with a pen
• Scan the signed document
• Upload the scanned PDF

A typed name at the bottom, a digital signature, or a pasted image of your signature does not meet the requirement. Applicants who miss this detail risk having their application marked as incomplete.

Source: DAAD - Information for Scholarship Applicants

How scholarship letters differ from admission letters

This distinction is critical and poorly understood. A motivation letter for a DAAD scholarship is not the same document as a motivation letter for university admission, even if you are applying to the same program.

The most important difference: admission letters convince a department you can succeed in their program. Scholarship letters convince a funding body you are worth investing in. These are different arguments.

An admission committee wants to know you understand their curriculum. A scholarship committee wants to know what you will do with the education and how your home country or community will benefit.

For guidance on the admission side, see our German university motivation letter guide. For understanding how different countries evaluate these letters differently, see our cultural differences in SOPs guide.

What DAAD evaluators look for

Based on DAAD's published criteria and guidance from multiple German university scholarship offices:

1. Academic excellence

Your GPA is evaluated separately, but your motivation letter should contextualize your academic record. If your grades are strong, briefly reference key achievements. If there are gaps or weaker semesters, the motivation letter is your opportunity to provide context -- but do so factually, not defensively.

2. Clear study/research plan

The DAAD wants to know exactly what you plan to study and why. Vague statements about "expanding your horizons" or "gaining international experience" are insufficient. Specify:

• Which program(s) you are applying to and why each was chosen
• What specific knowledge or skills you expect to gain
• How this program connects to your previous education
• What your thesis or research focus would be (if applicable)

3. Relevance to home country development

This is where DAAD letters diverge most sharply from standard admission letters. The DAAD explicitly funds international exchange with the expectation that scholars will contribute to development and academic exchange. Your letter should address:

• How the skills you gain in Germany will be applied in your home country or region
• What gaps exist in your field at home that German training would help fill
• Whether you plan to return home, and if so, to what kind of position

4. Extracurricular and social commitment

Unlike German university admission letters (where extracurriculars are generally less important than in the US), the DAAD values:

• Volunteer work and community engagement
• Professional activities beyond academics
• Leadership roles in organizations
• Cultural exchange activities

This is where applicants who are also applying to US programs have an advantage -- the US application emphasis on extracurriculars translates directly to DAAD expectations. For more on this difference, see our SOP cultural differences guide.

5. Language preparation

Demonstrating that you are preparing linguistically for Germany -- whether by learning German or ensuring your English is at a professional level -- signals commitment. The DAAD views language preparation as an indicator of serious intent.

6. Motivation for Germany specifically

Beyond the program itself, why Germany? Strong answers reference:

• Germany's leadership in your specific field
• Specific German research institutions, companies, or industry clusters
• The German academic tradition and how it complements your background
• Post-study opportunities and the 18-month job search visa
• Prior connections to Germany (if any): previous visits, German language study, collaboration with German researchers

Structuring your DAAD motivation letter

At 1-3 pages, you have significantly more space than a typical German admission letter (500-800 words). Use it wisely.

Recommended structure

Opening paragraph (100-150 words): State your name, current academic position, the DAAD scholarship you are applying for, and your target program. Provide a one-sentence summary of your motivation. Do not open with "I have always been passionate about..." -- see our SOP opening lines guide for better approaches.

Academic background and achievements (200-300 words): Summarize your education and key academic achievements. Focus on what is relevant to your proposed study program. If you have research experience, describe it using the approach outlined in our PhD SOP analysis: situation, task, action, result. Do not simply list courses.

Why this program and why Germany (200-300 words): Address both questions substantively. Reference specific program features, courses, or research groups. Explain why Germany (and not another country) is the right place for this education. Be specific -- generic praise of German engineering or education will not differentiate you.

Study/research plan (200-300 words): Outline what you plan to focus on during your studies. If the program includes a thesis, describe your intended research direction. Show that you understand the program's structure and have thought about how you would use the time.

Career goals and return plans (200-300 words): This section carries more weight than in any other type of motivation letter. The DAAD wants to know:

• What you will do after completing the program
• How your German education will be applied
• Whether and how you plan to contribute to your home country or to international academic exchange

Be concrete. "I plan to contribute to my country's development" is weak. "I plan to join [specific institution/company/research group] in [country] where [specific gap] exists that my German training in [specific area] would address" is strong.

Extracurricular achievements and personal qualities (150-200 words): Describe community engagement, leadership, or professional activities. The DAAD explicitly evaluates these. Choose 2-3 examples that demonstrate qualities relevant to the scholarship: initiative, social responsibility, cultural openness.

Closing (50-100 words): Summarize why you are a strong candidate for the DAAD scholarship specifically. Reference the alignment between your goals and the DAAD's mission of international academic exchange. Sign off professionally.

Total: approximately 1,200-1,700 words (2-3 pages)

Then print, hand-sign, scan, and upload as PDF.

The multiple-program rule: applying to up to 3 programs

DAAD applicants may apply to up to 3 study programs. When applying to multiple programs, your single motivation letter must:

1. Explain why you chose each program
2. State your priority order (which program is your first choice and why)
3. Explain what each program offers that the others do not
4. Maintain coherence -- the letter should not read as three separate mini-letters

This requires careful planning. If your three chosen programs are in the same field (e.g., three different Data Science MSc programs at different universities), focus on what differentiates each: unique specializations, research groups, industry partnerships, or geographic factors.

If your programs span different fields or focus areas, explain the common thread. Why are these three programs, despite their differences, all aligned with your goals?

Source: DAAD - Information for Scholarship Applicants

Deutschlandstipendium: different scholarship, different letter

The Deutschlandstipendium is a nationally coordinated merit-based scholarship administered by individual universities. It operates differently from the DAAD.

Deutschlandstipendium motivation letter requirements

• Maximum: 2 pages (many universities recommend 1 page)
• Format: DIN A4, at least font size 10, preferably 1.5 line spacing
• Language: German or English
• Administered by each university individually -- requirements may vary slightly

What to include

The Deutschlandstipendium evaluates different criteria than the DAAD:

Academic and school achievements: Very good to good academic achievements are the primary prerequisite. Reference your GPA and any academic awards.

Social, political, and community commitment (within the last 3 years):

• What: describe the specific activity
• When: provide timeframes
• Where: name the organization or context
• How: explain your role and contribution

Difficult circumstances affecting studies (if applicable):

• Migration background
• Caring responsibilities (elderly parents, children, siblings)
• First-generation student status
• Financial hardship
• Health challenges

Important distinction: The Deutschlandstipendium explicitly considers personal circumstances that may have affected your academic performance. If your GPA is lower than expected because you were working to support your family or caring for a relative, this letter is where you explain that context. German admission letters typically discourage personal hardship narratives; the Deutschlandstipendium encourages them.

Source: TU Dresden - Deutschlandstipendium Motivation Letter, HS Fulda - Guide for Motivation Letter

Deutschlandstipendium vs. DAAD: comparison

SBW Berlin Scholarship: the social commitment path

The SBW Berlin scholarship serves international students, refugees, and social sector workers with a different focus than DAAD or Deutschlandstipendium.

Motivation letter requirements:

• Maximum: 2 pages
• A letter of recommendation from a non-profit organization or social institution is required
• Must demonstrate social commitment and a project idea

What it offers:

• 100% tuition waiver
• Monthly stipend
• Accommodation and travel allowance

Key difference: SBW Berlin requires applicants to propose a social project idea. Your motivation letter must describe a concrete project you plan to implement, how it connects to your studies, and what social impact it aims to achieve.

Application: Rolling basis (no fixed deadline), which is unusual for German scholarships.

Source: SBW Berlin Scholarship

Common mistakes in DAAD motivation letters

1. Writing an admission letter instead of a scholarship letter

The most common error. If your DAAD motivation letter reads like a slightly longer version of your university admission letter, you have missed the point. The DAAD cares about impact, return plans, and social commitment -- not just program fit.

2. Forgetting the hand signature

Applicants working digitally often forget to print, sign, scan, and re-upload. Set a reminder in your workflow.

3. Being vague about career plans

"I want to contribute to my country's development" appears in thousands of DAAD applications. Instead: "I plan to join [specific employer or institution] in [city, country] where I would work on [specific problem] using [specific skills from the German program]."

4. Ignoring the priority order for multiple programs

If you list three programs, you must state and justify your ranking. "All three programs are equally attractive to me" signals that you have not done serious research.

5. Excessive length

The 3-page maximum is a maximum, not a target. A tightly written 2-page letter is better than a padded 3-page one. German academic culture values conciseness.

"Avoid all kinds of platitudes, flowery phrases and flattery; deal with topics in a reflective and factual way without campaigning for beliefs." -- HTW Berlin - DAAD Letter of Motivation Guidelines

6. Not addressing "why Germany"

The DAAD funds study in Germany specifically. You must explain why Germany is the right country for your education, not just why the program is good. Strong answers reference Germany's position in your field, specific German research institutions, and post-study opportunities.

7. Generic extracurricular descriptions

"I volunteered at a local charity" tells the committee nothing. "I organized a weekly tutoring program for 15 first-generation college students over two years, which increased their average exam scores by 20%" tells them something.

8. AI-generated content

DAAD evaluators read hundreds of letters. AI-generated text has recognizable patterns -- generic phrasing, lack of specific detail, and a certain blandness of tone. If you use AI tools in drafting, personalize extensively and verify that every claim is accurate and specific. Running your letter through GradPilot's AI detection review before submission can identify passages that may read as machine-generated.

For more on common mistakes in academic application letters generally, see our SOP mistakes guide.

DAAD vs. admission letter: side-by-side comparison

To illustrate the difference concretely, here is how the same applicant might approach a key paragraph differently:

University admission letter approach:

"The M.Sc. Computational Engineering program at TU Darmstadt offers specializations in fluid dynamics and structural mechanics that directly build on my undergraduate thesis work in finite element analysis. The courses CE-310 (Advanced Numerical Methods) and CE-420 (Multiscale Modeling) would extend my knowledge of..."

DAAD scholarship letter approach:

"The M.Sc. Computational Engineering program at TU Darmstadt would equip me with advanced simulation capabilities that are critically needed in Bangladesh's growing manufacturing sector. My undergraduate thesis in finite element analysis demonstrated that local engineering firms lack access to state-of-the-art computational tools. After completing the program, I plan to return to Dhaka to establish a computational engineering consultancy that bridges this gap, initially partnering with the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology where my thesis advisor Professor Rahman has expressed interest in collaborating..."

Both paragraphs reference the same program and the same applicant. But the admission letter focuses on curriculum fit, while the DAAD letter focuses on impact and return plans.

Timeline and practical considerations

DAAD application timeline

The DAAD publishes scholarship deadlines on its website, and they vary by program. However, a typical timeline for the main scholarship programs:

Practical tips

1. Check your specific DAAD scholarship program's deadline. Deadlines vary. Some are as early as October for the following academic year.

2. Keep a PDF backup of your signed letter. Scan quality matters -- the signature must be clearly visible.

3. If applying to multiple programs, name all three in the letter with your priority ranking and justification.

4. Cross-reference with university admission deadlines. You may need to apply to universities independently of the DAAD application. The DAAD scholarship application and the university admission application are typically separate processes.

5. Use the DAAD International Programmes database (daad.de) to find eligible programs.

The bottom line

DAAD scholarship motivation letters are fundamentally different documents from university admission motivation letters. They are longer, more personal, more impact-oriented, and must be hand-signed. The DAAD does not just want to know if you can succeed in a program -- they want to know what you will do with the education and how it will create value beyond your individual career.

If you are applying for both DAAD funding and university admission, you will need two different motivation letters: one for the scholarship committee and one for the admissions committee. Do not submit the same document for both purposes.

For the university admission side, see our complete German university motivation letter guide. For TUM specifically, see the TUM motivation letter guide.

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Data sourced from DAAD official guidelines, university scholarship office publications, and established study-in-Germany resources. Verified as of February 2026. Always consult the DAAD website for the most current scholarship deadlines and requirements.

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