DAAD Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 10 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
3 roles · 10 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at DAAD.
DAAD
Lecturer
Mid Average Negative experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Presentation Panel
Interview formats
Presentation Behavioral Technical
As a DAAD lecturer, you'll teach German higher education at a foreign university. The interview is with a committee of three and lasts about 20 minutes. DAAD doesn't give much guidance, but a short PPT presentation is appreciated. They focus on your academic and international experience. The committee might not be experts in your field, so expect general questions. A member from the host institution might attend and ask questions, but they don't vote.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Could you describe your language abilities?
- Can you share your experiences with cultural immersion abroad?
- What is your background in teaching?
DAAD
PhD Student
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Presentation
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
After they pre-selected candidates based on their project proposals, they invited a few for individual interviews. I had a 15-minute interview where I answered questions from about 8 people with different backgrounds, so I couldn't get too specific about my project. I felt pretty good about answering everything. One committee member seemed really judgmental and unfriendly, and she asked the trickiest questions. I'd advise being upfront about your German language skills, as they might switch the interview to German. Mine started in Portuguese (I'm from Brazil), then shifted to English.
Confirmed questions6 questions
- Could you briefly describe your proposed project?
- Tell me more about the statistical software you plan to use.
- What is your proficiency in German?
DAAD
Sachbearbeiter
Entry Average Positive experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Presentation Technical screen Group
Interview formats
Presentation Technical Case
First, there was a presentation of my solution to a task, then I presented my strengths (which was fair as they were mentioned beforehand and I could prepare well), followed by technical questions from the department head. After him, the HR person conducted a mailbox exercise. Overall, it was very fair. I also asked many questions, which was received positively. A works council member was also present, but was quite reserved.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Technical questions about the department.
- Otherwise, questions were mostly character-based.
- Two mailbox exercises were conducted.
DAAD
DAAD Fellow
Entry Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call
Interview formats
Behavioral
There's a lot of competition for this. The interview itself is about 20 minutes long. You get shortlisted before the interview based on your application. The selection is mainly based on your research proposal and application, with some importance given to the interview, though how much isn't super clear.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- What are your motivations for pursuing a PhD?
- Why did you choose to pursue it in Germany?
- What are your career goals?
DAAD Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from DAAD interview reports.
“Do you speak German?”
Read reports →“Is your host institution experienced with non-native speakers?”
Read reports →“What are your reasons for wanting to go to Germany?”
Read reports →“Why did you choose to pursue it in Germany?”
Read reports →“What is your proficiency in German?”
Read report →“Why did you choose this statistical software?”
Read report →“What are your motivations for pursuing a PhD?”
Read report →“What motivated your choice of this institution?”
Read report →“What makes you interested in public policy?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 10 DAAD interview reports.