Pillar of international academic exchange

The DAAD is the world’s largest organisation involved in the funding of international academic and scientific exchange. The Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst () enables scholarships, funding programmes and exchange projects that support students, academics, scientists and involved in and . Among other things, DAAD activities also promote the internationalisation of German higher education institutions. But DAAD activities equally make a difference in the international strengthening of German Studies and the German language.

DAAD funding: support for 3 million academics worldwide

The German Academic Exchange Service was founded in Heidelberg in 1925. Yet, whereas in those days the initiative started with a single student, the DAAD has now developed into one of the most significant points of contact for exchange in at an international level.

Nowadays the DAAD is organised as a registered association and is supported by the German higher education institutions and student bodies. The association has its headquarters in Bonn, but also has a main office in the capital, Berlin. The DAAD is mainly financed by funding from the federal government, most of which comes from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research () and the Federal Foreign Office (AA). Albeit funds from the European Union as well as private and public institutions also contribute to the DAAD’s financing.

Since it was founded the DAAD has so far been able to provide financial support to around three million individuals from the academic domain, among other things via its . Financial resources from the DAAD have accordingly benefited German as well as international academics, scientists and researchers.

How the DAAD promotes international academic exchange

Awarding scholarships is one of the DAAD's main tasks. These are for instance awarded to students, doctoral candidates or . They enable these academics, scientists and researchers to engage in studies or a research stay abroad. Albeit international students who would like to study or conduct research at a German higher education institution can also receive a corresponding scholarship from the DAAD.

Yet the DAAD also maintains a focus on cooperation among German and international higher education institutions. It therefore also initiates and promotes the international development of study programmes or research partnerships, for example.