Can I get a DAAD scholarship for Master's in CS?

I’m planning to pursue a Master’s in Computer Science in Germany and have been researching scholarship opportunities. I’ve been told to apply for scholarships at least a year before the program start date. However, when I search the DAAD scholarship database, I don’t find many scholarships listed for Computer Science or related fields, and it seems Indian students may not be eligible for Master’s scholarships in all disciplines even if they are offered.

Questions:

  1. Are DAAD scholarships available for CS related fields?
  2. Should I look for scholarship before/after university admission?

Also, do share if there’s any guide for applying to these apart from their website.

My background: BTech CSE, 3 six-month internships, 1 year of work experience, active open-source contributor

Yes, DAAD scholarships are available for CS-related fields. The DAAD database can be tricky to navigate. Try searching with broader terms like “Informatics,” “Computer Science,” “Engineering Sciences,” or even specific areas like “Artificial Intelligence” or “Cybersecurity.” Don’t rely solely on the term “Computer Science.”

The scholarship offers a monthly stipend, travel allowances, health insurance, and language course support. The scholarship duration varies, depending on the program and level of study.

Many scholarship deadlines are before university application deadlines. You might need to have your university application submitted (or at least be in the process) to be eligible for some scholarships, but the scholarship application itself often comes first. DAAD themselves often recommend starting the scholarship search well in advance of the program start date, which usually means before you have a university acceptance.