DAAD RISE Germany: A Funded Summer Research Internship for Canadian Science Students

What RISE Germany is

Research Internships in Science and Engineering, or RISE Germany, places undergraduate students from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland into a summer research internship at a German university or research institute. You work in a lab alongside a PhD student or postdoctoral researcher on an active project, in fields including biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, earth sciences, or a closely related discipline. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD ) runs the program and matches every accepted student to a host lab based on stated research interests.

German is not a requirement. The working language in the labs is English, so you apply and work without needing prior German study.

Who can apply

You need to be enrolled as an undergraduate and have completed at least 2 years of your degree program by the time you apply, and you keep undergraduate status through the internship. You need to be currently enrolled at a university in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, or Ireland, and if you are an international student at that university, you generally show enrollment there for more than 12 months by the application deadline. German citizens applying from a partner country show 6 or more years living outside Germany.

Your field has to sit within biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, earth sciences, or engineering. A strong academic record and a clear match between your coursework and a listed project both matter, since projects are competitive and hosts choose from a pool of applicants.

What the funding covers for Canadian students

Canadian applicants go through a partnership between DAAD and Mitacs , which sets aside up to 100 positions for Canadian students each cycle. Accepted Canadian students receive 7,000 CAD toward travel and living expenses, plus insurance coverage from DAAD for the length of the placement. Students from the US, UK, and Ireland go through a separate DAAD scholarship structure instead, so the funding source and amount differ by home country even though the internship itself works the same way.

The stipend needs to cover rent, food, and local transport in Germany for about 3 months, so budget carefully, especially in higher cost cities. You still arrange your own housing and, if your stay runs past 90 days or you are not otherwise visa exempt, your own entry documentation.

How the matching process works

You apply with a motivation letter for each project you are interested in, a CV, a one page course list, your university transcript, a certificate of enrollment showing your expected graduation date, and a letter of reference from a professor or supervisor familiar with your research ability. You apply to more than one project, ranking your preferences, and DAAD matches you to a host lab based on your stated interests and the host's selection.

Once matched, you correspond directly with your host lab about the specific dates and project scope before you travel.

RISE Germany also brings interns from every partner country together partway through the summer for a shared meeting, where you present your project and connect with other students working across German labs. Build this multi day trip into your summer schedule once DAAD sends you the dates.

Timeline

For the 2026-27 cycle, the application window runs October 15 to November 30, 2026, and letters of reference are due by December 15, 2026. Hosts rank their preferred applicants in January, and DAAD sends position announcements around February or March 2027 for the summer internship that follows. Apply early in the window, since strong projects fill from the applicant pool DAAD ranks first.

Why it differs from a standard exchange term

RISE Germany is a research placement. You do not register for classes or earn transfer credit through your Canadian university automatically, since the value is the paid research experience and mentorship rather than academic credit. If you want the term to count toward your degree, arrange that separately and in advance with your home department, since DAAD and Mitacs handle the placement and funding, not your Canadian course requirements.

Because the internship sits within your degree's summer break rather than a term, it also does not require a leave of absence or a reduced course load the way a semester abroad might, which makes it a practical option if you want international research experience without shifting your graduation timeline.