Content

University landscape & General advice for cooperation

Students in the corridor of a university.
© DAAD/Himsel/Ausserhofer

There are multiple examples of successful academic cooperation between foreign universities and German higher education institutions (HEI) involving the exchange of students and/or professors, as well as joint academic projects. Nevertheless, there is an even greater potential for establishing new collaboration in diverse fields of science.

German Universities: Strong Partners for Cooperation

Germany is one of the most attractive study destinations in the world. German HEIs are renowned in areas of university cooperation, particularly as concerns potential for innovation, secular tradition, engagement with international cooperation and a focus on internationalization.

The German university system is highly. There are three kinds of HEIs in Germany; Universities, Applied Science Universities focusing on applied research (Fachhochschulen) and Art and Music Academies (Kunst- und Musikhochschulen). Most HEIs are funded through public financing, and thus are subject to State-run quality control systems. More information available at the Higher Education Compass portal.

Steps to Establish Cooperation with German Universities

Step 1: Determine the cooperation objective of the foreign HEI

The objective to follow must be set forth at the beginning of a cooperative endeavor. One begins by defining:

  • The field(s) of expertise involved, bearing in mind areas of shared and own interest of the HEI.
  • The academic level, whether study, research and/or teaching.
  • The goals to attain, such as increasing the number of German students and/or researchers at a given institution or vice versa, complementing study programs with subjects taken via online German HEI platforms, collaborative research projects, etc.
  • The grounds on which the contact is established with the destination HEI – such as existing cooperation, visits or fellowships of students and/or researchers and/or teachers, and more.
  • The duration of the cooperation action.

Lastly, it is important to consider the definition of the objective on an individual basis with each one of the HEIs with which collaboration is desired so as to offer an attractive cooperation project.

Step 2: Identifying possible German partners

There are various paths to embark on to identify possible partners. For example, scientific journals publishing articles written by German researchers in their field of specialization can offer an initial contact. Another idea is to identify in your own institutions former DAAD scholarship or fellowship recipients and/or graduates of German HEIs and take advantage of their direct contact with German members of academia.

Yet another option would be to use Internet search engines, i.e.:

  • Higher Education Compass: Provides information and links to all State HEIs or others recognized by the German State; discusses study and research possibilities as well as international cooperation agreements.
  • German Research Institutions (GERiT): Directory of the German Research Foundation (DFG) and DAAD, in cooperation with the German Conference of Deans (HRK) with over 23,000 institutions listed, both universities and other.
  • Study in Germany: Official portal of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) regarding university studies, addressed to international students.
  • Research in Germany: Information to encourage innovation and research in Germany. Facilitates understanding the German research system and the financing opportunities available.

Step 3: Contact with German universities

  1. Identify the person in charge of the internationalization department, the researcher or academic with whom one wishes to establish a relationship for cooperation, or the dean of the faculty in question.
  2. Draft an email in English or in German. The email should introduce your institution and explain the interest in cooperating with the counterpart, clearly and directly stipulating the cooperation objective sought.
  3. Maintain contact after the first email. Follow up on the specification of priorities and guidelines proposed for cooperation, as well as other aspects as deemed necessary.

Find Funding

DAAD has a broad array of possibilities to establish or foster collaboration between foreign and German HEIs, at both the individual and institutional levels.

More information can be found in the daad.de funding database (only in German).

Advertisements by German Universities

Munich Center for Machine Learning: PhD positions

The Munich Center for Machine Learning (MCML) offers several fully funded PhD positions in any field of research within the domains of machine learning!

More

Full Scholarships Available: Master of Law & Business

Apply by 15 January and study with a full or partial scholarship at one of Germany’s top private universities: Bucerius Law School in Hamburg. Find out more!

More

Boost your career with the International Master‘s in Project Managemen...

Boost your career. Acquire a German Master’s degree in Data Science & Project Management. Join us at HTW Berlin – On Campus or Online!

More
Coburg University (Bavaria) - Financial Management

Kick-start your future career in Financial Management

If you are interested in management and finance our premium MBA program Financial Management with an optional Dual Degree from UniSC Australia and a Bloomberg Lab could be just right for you!

More
1/4

Contact

  • DAAD Lektorat Auckland

    VISITORS: 18 Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, CLL Building, School of Cultures, Languages and Linguistics, level 4, room 414 MAIL: University of Auckland, German, DAAD, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142

    DAAD Lektorat in Christchurch

    Besuche: 20 Kirkwood Avenue, Logie Building, Global, Cultural and Language Studies, Level 5, Room 509, 8140 Christchurch
    Post: University of Canterbury, German Studies / DAAD, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140

    E-Mail: anne.blumenthaldaad-lektorat.de

Screenshot of map with location of DAAD-office marked