DAAD AI Scholarships

SECAI scholarships were created by DAAD to support outstanding students who intend to study AI or a related field at TU Dresden or Leipzig University. The scholarship covers living expenses in Germany to allow students to focus on their studies, kick-start their research career, and build their professional network. The scholarship is mainly awarded based on academic excellence, and it also aims to improve internationalisation and diversity in AI-related teaching programmes.

The scholarship is aimed at highly qualified (current or prospective) Master’s students who have achieved excellent results in their Bachelor’s studies and who pursue Master’s level studies in Artificial Intelligence, broadly conceived. Eligible programmes include several Master’s programmes at TU Dresden and Leipzig University, and other programmes if students specialise in AI-related topics through electives or project/thesis topics.

Selection is mainly based on academic excellence. Exceptions may be made in case of adverse personal circumstances. Special personal circumstances are taken into account, for example where students are systematically disadvantaged or prosecuted in their home countries, or are refugees of war. Women in STEM subjects are particularly encouraged to apply.

The scholarship duration is up to 24 months. The grant consists of a monthly allowance as defined in the SECAI scholarship regulations (currently 934 EUR). Any extra income must be declared, and the scholarship may be reduced by the amount of gross income exceeding 603 EUR. Foreign students may be entitled to a monthly family allowance.

• Currently are or soon will be students of TU Dresden or Leipzig University at Master’s level.
• Can apply for the scholarship in parallel to applying for a Master’s programme; this requires 2 independent applications.
• Master’s level studies are in Artificial Intelligence or related subjects, closely related to the research areas of SECAI.
• Academic track record must be above-average, typically with a cumulative grade point average of 1.7 or better (after conversion to the German grading system).
• Exceptions may be made in case of adverse personal circumstances.
• For students in German Diplom study programmes: considered to be at the Master’s level after completion of the first 2 years of study (Grundstudium).
• Eligible study programmes include: MSc Computer Science (TUD); MSc Computational Modeling and Simulation (TUD) in the tracks “Applied Artificial Intelligence” and “Computational Life Science”; MSc Data Science (UL); MSc Nanoelectronic Systems (TUD); MSc Bioinformatik (UL); MSc Medizininformatik (UL); MSc Medical Informatics (UL).
• Applicants from other programmes may apply if they have specialised towards an AI-related topic via elective courses or project/thesis topics; relevant examples include: MSc or Diplom in Computer Science; LLM with a focus on legal aspects of AI; MA studies at TUD and UL focused on human and societal dimensions of AI; and MSc studies in psychology focused on socio-technical systems and human-machine interaction.
• If the applicant’s status and/or country is not included in the list in the DAAD portal, they cannot apply for this scholarship programme.

• Monthly allowance for living expenses in Germany: 934 EUR (currently), paid as defined in the SECAI scholarship regulations.
• Reduction condition: any extra income must be declared; the scholarship may be reduced by the amount of gross income exceeding 603 EUR.
• Foreign students may be entitled to a monthly family allowance.
• Scholarship duration: up to 24 months.

1. Prepare the required application papers (motivation letter, CV, Bachelor’s certificate if available, transcript of records, other certificates if relevant, declaration of other sources of income including other scholarships, and if applicable the reference number and submission date of a parallel Master’s admission application).
2. Submit the complete application by sending it to [email protected], preferably via the TU Dresden SecureMail Portal (https://securemail.tu-dresden.de).
3. Ensure the application is complete; incomplete applications cannot be taken into consideration.

• Motivation letter, including topical connection to SECAI and AI in the applicant’s planned or current studies at TU Dresden or Leipzig University.
• CV.
• Bachelor’s certificate (if available).
• Transcript of records.
• Other certificates if relevant.
• Declaration of other sources of income, including other scholarships.
• If the applicant applied for admission to a Master’s programme in parallel: reference number and submission date of the admission application.