DAAD, Chevening, and Other Foreign Government Scholarships for Americans

What Counts as a Foreign Government Scholarship

A foreign government scholarship is funded by another country's government, not by the US government or a private US foundation. Germany, Japan, Switzerland, and dozens of other countries run programs that pay American students and researchers to study or work inside their borders. These are different from Fulbright, which the US government funds, often jointly with a partner country, and administers through the Institute of International Education.

These scholarships exist because governments want to build ties with future professionals, researchers, and leaders abroad. Some cover only graduate study or research. Others fund a full bachelor's degree. Eligibility rules vary by country, so check the fine print before you build an application around one.

DAAD Scholarships (Germany)

The German Academic Exchange Service, known as DAAD , runs the largest foreign government scholarship program open to Americans. It funds study visits, full master's and PhD programs, research stays, and short courses across German universities.

Monthly stipends run about 992 euros for study scholarships up to 1,300 to 1,400 euros for doctoral candidates, on top of health insurance, a travel allowance, and often a tuition waiver, since most German public universities charge little or no tuition to begin with. PhD applicants typically submit a research proposal, academic CV, degree certificates, and letters of recommendation, and need to show they already have a supervisor or an admission offer at a German institution.

DAAD's main annual deadline for programs starting the following academic year falls around October 15, and the review process takes months, so start your application at least seven months ahead. Search DAAD's own database by field of study and degree level rather than assuming one generic scholarship covers every applicant.

Chevening Scholarships (UK): Not Open to Americans

Chevening is the UK government's flagship scholarship for one-year taught master's degrees, and it gets mentioned constantly alongside DAAD. It is fully funded, covering tuition, monthly living costs, flights, and a visa fee.

US citizens cannot apply. Chevening's eligibility rules restrict the award to citizens of around 160 partner countries and territories chosen by the UK Foreign Office, and the United States is not on that list, along with the UK itself and most of Western Europe. If you see a US-focused site promising Chevening funding, treat it as a mistake or as bait for an unrelated offer.

Other Foreign Government Scholarships That Do Accept Americans

Both programs run one application cycle a year and expect you to already have a country-specific plan: a named university, department, or supervisor, not a general interest in studying abroad. Check each country's list of eligible fields before you start. Swiss awards, for example, mostly go to researchers who already hold a master's degree.

Combining These With Other Funding

You can apply to a foreign government scholarship and a US-based program like Fulbright in the same cycle, since they run separate selection processes and rarely restrict you from applying elsewhere. Check the specific terms before you accept an award, since a small number of fellowships do require you to decline other funding once you accept.

Report foreign scholarship income according to IRS rules for foreign-source income and scholarships, and keep documentation of what the award covers. Tuition and required fees are typically treated differently from living stipends, so save your award letter alongside your tax records for the year you receive funds.

How Foreign Government Scholarships Differ From US-Based Fellowships

Fulbright, the Boren Awards, and Gilman Scholarships are funded and run by the US government or US foundations, even when the study happens overseas. Foreign government scholarships flip that. Another country's ministry sets the rules, picks the fields it wants to fund, and decides who is eligible based on its own foreign policy goals.

That means the essay questions, required documents, and review committees differ by country. A DAAD reviewer wants to see how your research fits an existing lab or program in Germany. A US State Department reviewer for Fulbright wants to see how you represent the US abroad and build mutual understanding. Read each program's guidance directly rather than reusing one essay for every application.

How to Apply

• Confirm your citizenship and target country match the program's eligible list before you write anything

• Name a specific university, lab, or supervisor in your proposal instead of a general country or field

• Request transcripts and recommendation letters early since foreign university partners often need extra verification time

• Apply directly through the funding country's national portal or embassy, not through a third-party listing site

• Build in time for a visa application once you accept an award