The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is the world’s largest funding organisation for the international exchange of students and researchers. As an association of German universities, the DAAD represents 231 higher education institutions and maintains a global network with more than 500 representatives in nearly 100 countries.
By supporting outstanding students and researchers, the DAAD helps prepare future specialists and leaders for responsible roles in academia, science and society. The organisation fosters long-term international connections and promotes the professional and cultural exchange of its scholarship holders, alumni and partners worldwide.
The DAAD also supports higher education institutions in their internationalisation strategies and contributes to shaping the European Higher Education and Research Area. It also advocates German as a language of science and a Europe of multilingualism. The DAAD is mainly funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union.