The DAAD is the world’s largest funding organisation for the international exchange of students and researchers.

Since it was founded in 1925, around two million scholars in Germany and abroad have received DAAD funding. It is a registered association and its members are German institutions of higher education and student bodies. Its activities go far beyond simply awarding grants and scholarships. The DAAD supports the internationalisation of German universities, promotes German studies and the German language abroad, assists developing countries in establishing effective universities and advises decision makers on matters of cultural, education and development policy.

The motto of the DAAD is “Change by Exchange” – a concept that applies to more than the students and researchers we support. For the DAAD as a funding organisation, change means welcoming the challenges of this dynamic process and participating in shaping it.

We are

• The independent organisation of German higher education institutions and their student bodies, devoted to internationalising the academic system
• An experienced intermediary between university systems and a worldwide network of external partners
• A German institution in Europe, which contributes to shaping the European Higher Education Area and the European Research Area and promotes European interests throughout the world
• A professional organisation continually aiming to improve its work, living on the professionalism and international expertise of its employees and committed to looking after their interests

See website for more information.