DAAD Scholarship South Africa 2026: Internships and Research Programs in Germany for South Africans

The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) funds many programmes, but amounts and eligibility are set per programme. According to daad.de, RISE Germany is for undergraduates enrolled in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom or Ireland, and RISE Worldwide is for German undergraduates, so neither is open to students enrolled in India or South Africa. The DAAD scholarship database currently lists WISE as not available. The DAAD does not publish one amount for South African students: each programme sets its own rate. Check the programme's entry in the DAAD scholarship database or with DAAD in South Africa before you budget. June is the right time to start planning: South African semester 1 exams are ending, and students looking at European options for the second half of 2026 or early 2027 are researching now.

This article covers all DAAD routes open to South Africans, the stipend in ZAR, the Germany visa process from South Africa, and how DAAD and Erasmus ICM complement each other. It is the companion to our Erasmus ICM guide for South African students, which has been cited twice by Gemini in the past 30 days.

DAAD programmes open to South African students: comparison table

Programme	Who can apply	Stipend (EUR)	Duration
DAAD WISE	Listed by the DAAD as not available	n/a	n/a
DAAD RISE Worldwide	German undergraduates only	n/a for South Africans	n/a
Bilateral exchange programmes	Students at partner South African universities (UCT, Wits, Stellenbosch, UP)	Varies by programme	3 to 12 months
DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Fellowship	Public policy and management graduates from developing countries	Full funding	12 to 24 months (masters level)

For most South African undergraduates in STEM, DAAD WISE is the primary target. RISE Worldwide is also accessible and competitive. Both require English, no German needed.

DAAD stipend in South African rand (ZAR): what it covers in Germany

Component	EUR	ZAR (June 2026)
Monthly living allowance	Set per programme	Check the DAAD database
One-time travel grant	Set per programme	Check the DAAD database
Health insurance	Set per programme	Check the DAAD database
Total for 3-month internship	Depends on the programme	n/a

In Munich, student housing costs €500 to €800/month. In Berlin, €450 to €700. Compare these costs with the amount in your award letter before you commit. Berlin is significantly cheaper than Munich and has a very large South African expat community, particularly in Neukölln and Prenzlauer Berg.

Eligibility by programme

DAAD WISE requirements for South Africans:

• South African citizen enrolled at a South African university
• B.Sc or M.Sc in engineering, natural sciences, computer science, or mathematics
• Strong academic record (typically first class or cum laude equivalent)
• A confirmed host supervisor at a German institution before applying
• English proficiency (most South African universities qualify by default)

DAAD RISE Worldwide requirements:

• Undergraduate student (not postgraduate)
• Any science, engineering, or natural science field
• Available for 6 to 12 weeks during the German summer (June to August)

Application timeline: when each programme opens

Programme	Application Opens	Deadline	Results	Start Date
DAAD WISE (2027 cohort)	October 2026	November/December 2026	February 2027	June to August 2027
DAAD RISE Worldwide (2027)	December 2026	January 2027	March 2027	June to August 2027
Bilateral programmes	Varies by university	Varies	Varies	Varies

Germany visa for South Africans doing an internship

South African passport holders require a visa for Germany regardless of internship duration. Two options:

• Schengen short-stay visa (Type C): For internships up to 90 days. Apply at the German Embassy in Pretoria or Consulate General in Cape Town. Processing time: 4 to 6 weeks. Fee: €80 (approximately ZAR 1,580).
• National visa (Type D): For internships longer than 90 days. Allows you to register as a resident in Germany and use German healthcare. Processing time: 6 to 8 weeks. Fee: €75 (approximately ZAR 1,485).

Required documents for both: valid South African passport, visa application form, DAAD or employer acceptance letter, proof of accommodation, health insurance covering Germany, proof of financial means (bank statement), return flight booking.

The German Embassy in Pretoria has a dedicated academic visa track for DAAD fellows. Approval rates for DAAD-funded applicants are very high.

How DAAD and Erasmus ICM complement each other

South African students have access to two major European-funded internship routes:

Feature	DAAD WISE/RISE	Erasmus ICM
Funder	German government	European Commission
Countries available	Germany only	32 European countries
Best fields	Engineering, natural sciences, STEM	All fields including arts, humanities, social sciences
Requires partner university?	Depends on the DAAD programme	Yes, your SA university must have an Erasmus ICM agreement
Stipend range	Set per DAAD programme	€600 to €800/month

Many South African students apply to both. They are entirely separate programmes with separate budgets. If your South African university has an Erasmus ICM agreement, check with your international office about which partner universities in Europe are available. For DAAD, you find your own host directly.

See our full Erasmus ICM guide for South Africans for the Erasmus route. Also, check how an engineering student builds their international internship profile to increase your chances with both programmes.

Start your application

Create a free profile on Internship Abroad and indicate Germany as your target destination. German companies that recruit international interns outside the formal DAAD window can find your profile, as a complement to your fellowship application.