DAAD WISE 2027: Fully Funded Internship in Germany for Indians

DAAD WISE stands for ‘Working Internships in Science and Engineering’. It is a research internship offered by DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service, to Indian undergraduates. 

Here is what DAAD WISE offers:

• Who it is for: Indian nationals studying a bachelor's, integrated, or dual degree at a selected Indian institution.
• Fields of study: Engineering, mathematics, and natural sciences.
• Internship length: A research stay of 2 to 3 months (60 to 90 days) between May and August.
• Stipend: €861 (₹93.8K) a month, calculated on a daily basis for the days you spend at the host institution, plus a one-time €1,050 (₹1.1 lakh) travel subsidy and DAAD-paid health, accident and personal liability insurance.
• Where you work: A publicly funded German university or a non-university research institute. Private universities and companies do not count.
• What you do: Join an ongoing research project under a professor, doctoral student, or scientist.
• Your host: You have to find your own German professor or scientist to supervise the internship, since DAAD does not assign hosts.

Source: Fair Centre EU Official Page

DAAD has not announced a WISE application call for 2027, and its scholarship database lists the programme as ‘not available right now’. 

Here is what DAAD’s official site shows as of September 2026:

Source: DAAD

DAAD WISE offers a monthly stipend of €861 (₹93.8K), plus a travel subsidy and full insurance. 

Here is what the DAAD WISE programme covers:

• Monthly stipend: €861 (₹93.8K) a month, paid in proportion to the days spent at the host institution, as a contribution towards living costs.
• Travel subsidy: A one-time lump sum of €1,050 (₹1.1 Lakh) towards the journey to Germany.
• Insurance: DAAD covers health, accident and personal liability insurance.
• What it adds up to: A 2-month internship brings about €1,722 (₹1.9 lakh) in stipend, and a 3-month internship about €2,583 (₹2.8 lakh). With the travel subsidy, the total is roughly ₹3 lakh to ₹4 lakh.

Note: These amounts come from DAAD’s last published WISE call in October 2023. DAAD has not announced new figures for 2027.

You can apply for DAAD WISE if you are an Indian undergraduate who meets the criteria below, based on the requirements set by DAAD previously.

Below are the details on eligibility criteria for DAAD WISE:

• Nationality: Indian national and resident of India.
• Institution: Enrolled at a selected Indian institution on DAAD’s list, which considers factors such as AICTE approval, NAAC accreditation and Institute of National Importance status.
• Field of study: A programme in engineering, mathematics or the natural sciences.
• Semester: 5th or 6th semester of a 4-year bachelor’s programme, or 5th to 8th semester of a 5-year integrated or dual-degree programme.
• Marks: An aggregate of 85% or a CGPA of 8.5/10 across all completed semesters at the time of application.
• Enrolment: A registered student of the institution.
• German host: An invitation from a professor or scientist at a publicly funded German university or research institute.
• Language: Very good English proficiency. German is not mandatory.
• Past recipients: Must not have received a WISE scholarship previously.

Certificate of enrolment, no objection certificate, and academic transcripts are required to apply for DAAD WISE.

Here is the full checklist of documents required for the DAAD WISE application:

• Online application form
• CV
• Letter of motivation
• Short research proposal
• Academic transcripts of all completed semesters
• Certificate of enrolment (DAAD form)
• No Objection Certificate (DAAD form)
• Invitation letter from the German host
• Approval Form by the German host (DAAD form)
• Application summary, printed and posted to DAAD New Delhi
• Recommendation letter from an Indian university teacher

To apply for DAAD WISE, you need to secure a German host first, then submit the application through the DAAD portal and follow the document-submission requirements in the active call. 

Follow the steps below for the DAAD WISE application process:

• Step 1: Secure a German host: Contact professors or scientists at publicly funded German universities or research institutes whose work matches the proposed research. The selected host must provide the required invitation letter and complete the DAAD Approval Form.

• Step 2: Collect institute paperwork: Request the No Objection Certificate and certificate of enrolment from the Indian institution. Also arrange the host's Approval Form, recommendation letter, and academic transcripts.

• Step 3: Prepare the application documents: Prepare the CV, letter of motivation, and short research proposal, linking the proposed research to the host project and academic background.

• Step 4: Apply on the DAAD portal: Register on the DAAD portal, complete the online application and upload all required documents before the deadline. The last published WISE call closed on 10 November 2023.

• Step 5: Submit the application summary: Post one printed copy of the application summary, along with the reference from your Indian university teacher, to the DAAD Regional Office in New Delhi.

• Step 6: Wait for the selection result: DAAD reviews eligible applications and announces the selection results after the application deadline. DAAD generally announces results by the beginning of February.

DAAD does not assign hosts, so applicants need to find a suitable German professor or scientist and secure the required invitation letter. 

Here is how to approach it:

• Build a shortlist: List professors and scientists at publicly funded German universities and research institutes, such as Max Planck or Helmholtz centres, whose recent papers match the subject. Private universities and companies do not count.
• Write a short email: Mention the Indian institution, semester, and academic performance, name one recent paper or research project, and explain what the proposed internship would focus on. Attach the CV and transcripts.
• Mention your funding: Explain that DAAD provides the scholarship benefits, including the stipend, travel subsidy, and insurance. This gives the professor context about the funding arrangement from the first email.
• Ask for two documents: Once a host agrees, request the invitation letter and signed DAAD Approval Form with the exact start and end dates.
• Choose one offer: If several professors agree to host you, DAAD requires you to select one internship.

The main difference between DAAD WISE and DAAD RISE is who can apply: WISE is for Indian students at selected Indian institutions, while RISE is for undergraduates enrolled in the US, Canada, the UK, or Ireland.

Here is the table for a clear comparison between both WISE AND RISE programmes offered by DAAD:

If the institute is not on DAAD’s list, the eligibility criteria are not met or DAAD does not reopen WISE, other funded research internships in Germany are available.

The programmes below offer a stipend or salary, with some also covering accommodation and travel.

A closed DAAD WISE call does not mean research plans have to stop. Finding a German professor is often the first major step, so start shortlisting research groups and contacting potential hosts early. The same research and outreach can also help with alternatives such as CISPA, DESY and Max Planck internships.

Yocket Premium can help with shortlisting research options in Germany, preparing applications, and finding programmes that match your academic profile. It also helps compare funding options, so the research plan does not depend on DAAD WISE alone.