| Quick answer: The DAAD SECAI scholarship funds around 20 master’s students per cycle studying AI or AI-related fields at TU Dresden or Leipzig University, paying roughly €934 a month. Applications open annually around April 1 and close June 30 for a winter-semester start; the most recent window (through June 30, 2026) has already closed, so the next realistic opportunity is the spring 2027 cycle. It’s one of the smallest, most specialised DAAD programmes on this list — worth knowing about early if AI is your field. |
If you’re set on TU Dresden or Leipzig for an AI-adjacent master’s, SECAI is worth building into your plan a full year ahead — not something to discover the week before it closes.
What Is the DAAD SECAI Scholarship?
SECAI stands for the Zuse School of Embedded Composite Artificial Intelligence, a joint initiative between TU Dresden and Leipzig University. The scholarship treats AI as inherently interdisciplinary — not just computer science, but engineering, mathematics, medicine, natural sciences, law, and social sciences, wherever the research question involves AI. That framing matters for eligibility: your degree program doesn’t need “artificial intelligence” in the title to qualify, as long as your coursework, electives, or thesis genuinely engage with it.
DAAD SECAI Scholarship Eligibility
You can apply if:
- You’re currently enrolled, or about to enrol, in a Master’s programme at TU Dresden or Leipzig University
- If you haven’t been admitted yet, you can still apply for the scholarship in parallel with your programme application — these are two separate, independent applications
- Your studies are closely connected to SECAI’s research areas — direct fits include programmes like the MSc Computational Modeling and Simulation (TU Dresden, “Applied Artificial Intelligence” or “Computational Life Science” tracks) or MSc Medical Informatics (Leipzig University)
- If your programme isn’t AI-specific, you can still qualify by showing your electives, project work, or thesis topic are AI-focused — this has included students in psychology programmes focused on human-machine interaction, for example
- You have an above-average academic record, typically a GPA of 1.7 or better once converted to the German grading scale
SECAI also explicitly weighs diversity and inclusion in selection: women in STEM are particularly encouraged to apply, and applicants facing adverse personal circumstances — including refugees or students from systematically disadvantaged backgrounds — are given consideration alongside academic merit.
What the Scholarship Covers
- A monthly stipend, currently around €934
- A possible family allowance for scholars with dependents
- Funding tied to your remaining standard study duration (Regelstudienzeit), or the length of your stay at TU Dresden or Leipzig
One detail worth knowing before you budget around this: additional income above €520 a month must be declared and may reduce your scholarship by the amount over that threshold.
DAAD SECAI Scholarship Deadline and Timeline
- Call opens: typically April 1 each year
- General deadline: June 30 each year, for a winter-semester start
- Early consideration: a small number of specific programmes offer an earlier optional deadline (historically mid-to-late April) for applicants who want to be considered ahead of the general round
The most recent cycle closed on June 30, 2026. If you’re reading this after that date, the practical move is to prepare now for the next window, which should open around April 2027 — treat that as a strong estimate rather than a confirmed date until DAAD publishes the new call.
How to Apply
- Confirm your target master’s programme at TU Dresden or Leipzig University genuinely connects to SECAI’s AI research areas — check the current list of eligible programmes on the SECAI or DAAD listing.
- If you’re not yet admitted to the programme, submit that application first, or in parallel — you’ll need the reference number and submission date for your scholarship application.
- Write a motivation letter that specifically explains your connection to AI and to SECAI’s research focus — generic “I’m interested in AI” framing is the weakest version of this letter.
- Submit your complete scholarship application through the DAAD portal before the deadline. Incomplete applications are not considered.
- If applying in parallel with programme admission, keep both applications moving — the scholarship decision depends on your admission outcome as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for SECAI before I’m admitted to a Master’s programme?
Yes — you can apply for the scholarship and the Master’s programme at the same time, but they’re two separate applications, and you’ll need to reference your programme application’s submission details in your scholarship application.
Does my degree need to be explicitly labelled ‘AI’ to qualify?
No. What matters is that your electives, project work, or thesis are genuinely AI-related, even if your programme’s title is something broader, like psychology or medical informatics.
How competitive is SECAI?
Very — only around 20 scholarships are awarded per cycle across two universities, so a specific, well-argued connection between your work and SECAI’s actual research areas matters more here than in broader DAAD programmes.
What GPA do I need?
DAAD’s own benchmark is a cumulative GPA of 1.7 or better on the German scale, though exceptions are considered for applicants with adverse personal circumstances.
Figures and deadlines are current as of the 2026 cycle and are set annually by SECAI and DAAD. Confirm the latest call for applications on the official SECAI scholarship page before applying.
Looking for other DAAD options? See the companion document, “DAAD Scholarship Germany 2026/2027: The Complete Guide, DAAD Helmut Schmidt Scholarship, DAAD EPOS Scholarship, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.”