Highly qualified undergraduate students are invited to apply for scholarships funding study, senior thesis research and/or internships in Germany. The goal of this program is to support study abroad in Germany and at German universities. Preference will be given to students whose projects or programs are based at and organized by a German university. Scholarships are available either as part of an organized study abroad program or as part of an individual, student-designed study abroad semester or year.

Eligibility Requirements
Each year, an independent selection committee of academics and international education experts is assembled to select the Undergraduate Scholarship grantees. This committee is looking for students who:

• are currently second and third year students and will be in their third and fourth year during their stay in Germany
• are seeking DAAD support for a 4-10 month period in Germany during the German academic year.
• possess outstanding academic records and personal integrity, as evinced by both their grades and letters of recommendation.
• are US or Canadian citizens or permanent residents thereof. Foreign nationals are eligible if they have been full-time students at an accredited US or Canadian university for more than one year at the time of application and will return to the US or Canada after the scholarship period to complete their Bachelor’s degree.
• have well-defined study, research or internship plans for their stay in Germany.
• submit the DAAD language evaluation form with their application, although German language competency is not mandatory.
• demonstrate an interest in contemporary German and European affairs and who explain the significance of their project in Germany to their future studies, research or professional goals.
• are enrolled, full-time students in an undergraduate degree-granting program at an accredited North American college or university.

FAQs
How much German do I need to know? German language ability is not a requirement for this grant, however students should demonstrate language skills commensurate with their study and research needs. You must have the DAAD language certificate filled out, even if you don’t speak any German yet. If you don’t fit any of the categories listed, just have the instructor fill out the field for Sonstige Bemerkungen.

I am planning to take a language course before the German semester starts. Can the funding be extended to this class? Not if the class is part of your Study Abroad Program, but if you are planning your own stay in Germany, DAAD has a limited amount of funding for language classes. This funding is available for students who will be in Germany for the academic year. Please state in your proposal that you would like to take a language class. Be aware that you may have to arrive in Germany in late August to participate.

I am applying for a study abroad program/exchange, but won’t have official acceptance into the program until after the Undergraduate Scholarship program deadline. Can I still apply? Yes, please include a letter from your study abroad office or the program you are applying to. The letter should certify that you are indeed applying for the respective program. It should be on letterhead and have an original signature. Once you receive acceptance into your study abroad program we will need an original letter for your file.

Will I receive credit for the coursework or internship in Germany? You will need to make the arrangements to receive credit yourself. In order to apply you have to show us that you are in principle eligible to receive credit from your home institution.

Will DAAD make housing arrangements for me? No, DAAD scholarship holders find their own accommodation. Most German universities have dormitory space available and will assist with housing. DAAD can help to arrange for a one month-long stay with a German host family.

What advice can you give about the project proposal? The project proposal is one of the most important documents to hand in. Make sure to carefully review it and have it reviewed by your advisers for content but also grammar and spelling. The essay gives you the opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants. A successful project proposal should clearly state why you are going to Germany and show the link to your academic work and career plans. Please do not hand in a life history, but address the following points: WHAT, WHERE, WHEN & HOW

Can I apply if I intend to go to Germany in September? The Undergraduate Scholarship supports grantees for up to 10 months. Normally the grant period coincides with the German academic year starting in October. In a few cases it is possible to apply from September 1st (If you are on a study abroad program from September through December or from September through June, for example.)

Can I apply for study or research periods shorter than four months? No.

Is it possible for a First-Year-Student to apply? No, students in their first or Freshman year are not eligible to apply for the Undergraduate Scholarship.

When do I apply if I am planning to go to Germany between January and April 2012? Even if you are going to Germany in early 2012, you have to meet our January 31, 2011 deadline. If you do not have acceptance into a study abroad program yet, please let your advisor certify that you have or intend to apply. If you are designing your own research or study abroad, make sure that you are in touch with your mentor early on, so you can obtain an invitation to Germany.

I am planning to go to Germany in the summer of 2011. Am I eligible to apply? If you are spending only the summer of 2011 (e.g. from May to July) you are not eligible for Undergraduate Scholarship funding; you should have applied last year. However, if you are planning to stay in Germany from the summer through December 2011, you may apply for Undergraduate Scholarship funding from September through December.

Advice on recommendation letters: The recommendation letters should be by professors, not teaching assistants. If you have not been taught by professors and your letters are by assistants, make sure a professor co-signs the letters. The letters should be by professors in your major fields of study (not necessarily a German professor). Letters by high school teachers or employers will not be accepted.

How should I hand in several copies of the recommendation letters? DAAD needs to receive one original of each document and three copies. The same is true for recommendation letters: Please ask the faculty members who are writing recommendation letters to include three copies for us.

How can I make sure you receive the recommendation letters on time? You can include the sealed recommendation letters with the rest of your application. If any of your professors want to send them directly please include a list of the recommenders with your application, so we know whose letters still to expect.

Do all copies of my transcript have to be in sealed envelopes from my school’s transcript office? Applicants must submit four copies of their transcript, including at least one sealed, official transcript. We recommend you request two official transcripts from your university. Open one and make copies of it, and submit the other one in the original sealed envelope.

My university does not have a Study Abroad office. Who should sign the letter of support and credit eligibility form? In this case you should ask your undergraduate academic advisor. Make sure to list a specific advisor with their individual contact information.

What are the odds of me receiving a DAAD Undergraduate Scholarship? The success rate of our applicant pool has been anywhere from just below 20% up to 30% in the past few years. We cannot make any predictions as to how many applicants we will have in a given year.

Application Deadline
All applications for the academic year 2011/12 must be postmarked by January 31, 2011.

Visit http://www.daad.org/?p=47220

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