www.daad.org

Deadline: November 3, 2008 (except for applicants in the fields of music, visual arts, and performing arts, who must submit all materials by October 24, 2008)

Fields of study: Open, but has a German language requirement

Adviser: Professor Thomas Levin • tylevin@princeton.edu • Ext. 8-1384

Description:

The Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service) offers “Study Scholarships” to highly qualified seniors and recent college graduates. The scholarship is for one academic year (10 months) of postgraduate study at a university in Germany with the possibility of a one-year extension for students in master’s degree-granting programs to complete a full degree course in Germany. Scholarships must take place during the German academic year (October 1, 2009 to July 31, 2010).

Current students must apply through a partner institution, i.e. Princeton. The grant, which starts on October 1, includes a monthly stipend of €750, health insurance, and a lump sum for travel costs. A very limited number of scholarship holders who receive 10- to 24-month grants may be awarded an additional two-month language course grant.

Eligibility:

Graduating seniors or students who received their B.A. no more than six years prior to the application deadline.

Applicants must have a well-defined study or research project that makes a stay in Germany essential. Preference will be given to applicants who have been invited by a faculty member at a German university to study or do research in a particular department, institute, or laboratory.

Applicants in the arts, humanities, and social sciences should possess a good command of the German language. Since all students will be required to enroll in courses at German universities, they must have completed at least two years of college-level German or the equivalent at the time of application and be willing to strengthen their language skills prior to the scholarship period.

Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada. Foreign nationals must have studied at an accredited U.S. or Canadian university for at least two years and should contact DAAD New York to confirm their eligibility.

Open to all fields; applicants in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or veterinary medicine should contact the DAAD for special guidelines.

Application Procedure:

The application form must be completed online at www.daad.org. You must submit the original printout of the application with your signature, your supplemental documents and materials, and five copies in one package to the campus DAAD adviser Professor Thomas Levin, 210 East Pyne, by 5 p.m. on November 3, 2008.

Exception: applicants in the fields of music, visual arts, and performing arts should submit all parts of their application as one original printout plus two copies, and supplemental materials (slides, tapes, etc. — only one set), by October 24, 2008.

Please be sure to submit all materials and the correct number of copies of each part of the application. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

* Collate, but DO NOT STAPLE, each copy of the application in this order:

1. Signed application form.

2. Supplemental form (for music, fine arts, and dance only).

3. Detailed curriculum vitae.

4. Precise description of the study or research project written in English.

5. Two letters of recommendation on university letterhead from professors in the applicant’s field of study describing the applicant’s academic achievements. The professional status of the referees should be given in these letters. These recommendations are confidential and should be sent in a sealed envelope directly to the campus DAAD adviser.

6. Evidence of contact with the German institution (usually in the form of a letter from a professor endorsing the project and indicating her/his willingness to supervise it).

7. DAAD Language Evaluation Form (also available online) filled out by your German teacher or by Professor Jamie Rankin, the coordinator of language teaching in the German department.

8. Complete, official transcripts of all post-secondary studies, including summer courses or study abroad. Applicants must submit only one official copy (plus five photocopies) of each transcript. An explanation of the grading systems should be included with the transcripts.

Within three to five weeks after the application deadline, you will receive an e-mail or letter to confirm the receipt of your application and whether any documents are missing. In December, the campus adviser will arrange a practice group interview in German for all applicants. Campus applicants may be invited for a group interview at the New York office of DAAD during the winter. A DAAD screening committee in Bonn makes the final selections, which are usually announced in April.

Advice for DAAD Applicants:

1. Applicants should have as detailed as possible a proposal outlining the project and how it can reasonably be completed within a year. Your essay should include compelling responses to the following questions:

a. Why is this topic interesting?

b. Why must it be done in Germany?

c. Why do I need to do this project in Germany now?

d. Why am I particularly well suited to undertake this project?

e. What particular resources (professors, archives, etc.) does the institution with which you would like to be associated in Germany offer that are essential to your project?

2. Preference is given to applicants with a letter of support from a professor at a German university. Start as early as possible to identify the right person and, once you have a presentable version of your proposal, write to them to ask whether they would be willing to sponsor your application. Professors in your department can often offer useful suggestions.

3. Once you have given some thought to your project and to potential contacts in Germany, should you wish to discuss it, please make an appointment with Professor Levin during his office hours using the online office hours scheduling system at weblamp.princeton.edu/~officehr/apps.php.