Additional information

According to my experience there might be types of students:

1.      Who came to just roam around in Europe.

Well that’s alright, it your personal choice. I suppose the money you get in the scholarship would be sufficient for it if you spend it wisely.

2.      Who just want to finish off their project

Its not a big deal, because if you have done satisfactory work on your project you will get good grades. Just keep in touch with your professor and it’s better to keep your Indian professors updating about the project status.

3.      Who want to prepare for any other competitive Exams.

It’s not that tough to prepare even for IES or IAS or GRE here, because depending on your professor and amount of work you could get sufficient time for it. A better planning could be help you succeed.

4.      Who want to appear for placements in IIT.

Yes, its possible to go appear for placements provided you get permission from both the guides. In that case also establish some contact with TPO of the respective IIT and get information about companies. Make sure you have verified your documents at the TPO earlier.

5.      who came to pursue their career in research in Germany

If you work sincerely you can put a good impression on your department professors and this might help you get an invitation for PhD. Professors in Germany are different from that in India, they value the amount of efforts and approach instead of the results.

Travel Advice

In Europe frequently, the airlines are cheaper than trains. You should plan during

·         September/October: as there is less work load and only the language course

·         Christmas Vacation: The 2 Weeks off could be good time, provided you have booked the tickets in advance.

·         March: The semester in german universities ends in February so probably your guide would be on a holiday in this month, so pack your bags are plan the trips before you get back to India.

·         Weekends: Germans are people who work hard on working days and party harder on weekends. You might utilise this time to visit nearby cities and towns.

 Money Transfer

In case you are left with some money you can transfer that to india without much of trouble. Use this link: https://transferwise.com/u/hardikj3 to make first free transfer.

Application Procedure

If you are on this page means you have already read the summary of DAAD IIT MSP, if not you can access it here.

The Procedure is not short and simple rather it involves complexity because of involvement of two professors living at different time zones. But I have tried to explain in a simple way (rather this may not be the perfect way, but anyways its good for reference.) 

The Notification reaches the Notice Board around February, but its always better to start prior. Follow this Steps sequentially:

January

1.1 Choose the Professor as your Project guide under whose guidance you want to go, approach him and let him know that you are interested to go to Germany for your M.Tech. Dissertation under DAAD IIT Master Sandwich Program. He will agree provided you have a good impression on him along with good grades. Find out here the other ways to get the right Professor. 

1.2 Indian Professor(IP) won’t take things seriously at this stage of time but keep checking with the him about the updates from German Prof(GP) and act accordingly.

February

2.1 By this Time the notification of DAAD Program will reach the notice board, thoroughly read the notice.

2.2 After almost 10-15 days of sending proposal/request to the GP, you should get a response. There are two type of response.YES, which ends your search and you can proceed with further steps.NO, which means you need to contact any other German professor through your/another IP.

2.3 Ask your IP to ask about the Project Proposal to the GP.

2.4 Start filling your application after registration on DAAD Portal.

2.5 If you have started earlier, by this time you would have an Indian Passport.

March 

3.1 In some cases the GP might send multiple proposals to select from, or just a single proposal. Choose a proposal and inform GP the same via email.
3.2 Strictly adhere to the deadline of notice and fill the form carefully, in case of any silly doubt contact DAAD Delhi office without hesitation.
3.3 Within a short period of time the GP (if experienced about the program) would send a signed letter of invitation, signed Project Proposal.
If the guide is not aware of the program proceedings email him the Program notification.
3.4 Make sure that before the deadlines you have your documents ready.
3.5 Upload the documents carefully as per the guidelines and submit your application online.
3.6 Submit your application in GATE (M.Tech.) Office of respective IITs along with required documents.

There is lot much which I can't write here, if you wish to explore further you can contact me on my email address or comment below.

How to find a German Guide

Now if you have scored a good SGPA in the first semester, its time to search for two correct persons to make your dream come true.
A German guide(with whom your field of Interest should match) and a Indian Mentor(should be from your Department). Its advisable to start before time may be around January. Its not an easy task, still to reduce the complexity I have divided the approach in three steps:

1. Find an Indian Mentor who already has an ESTABLISHED contacts with a German Professor.Your seniors could help you find such an IP (Indian Professor) of your department. Approach the IP and let him know that you wish to opt for the DAAD IIT MSP Scholarship. Ask him about his contact and check the area of work of the respective GP (German Professor). Two cases may arise
   (i) If you are comfortable with the area of Interest of the GP you are done.
   (ii) But if you are not comfortable with the GP's area of interest, again three cases
         (a) Search of some other IP.
         (b) Search of some other GP through the same IP.
         (c) Drop the plan of Dissertation in Germany.
2. Find an IP who wishes to create contacts with a GP on his own.This is requires a lot of time but could help you find a GP of your field.
3. Find an IP who wishes to help you get the scholarship but asks you to make Contacts.In general this is not allowed, but if you are eager, you can give it a try.This could require more than one or two months time but could help you find a GP of your field of interest.

Once you have found a GP, ask your IP to contact him and ask whether he/she is interested to guide the student under the DAAD IIT Master Sandwich program. it would be better if your IP sends your CV to the GP. He/She might

1. Agree
   In this you need to proceed further.
2. DisagreeYou will have to start from the scratch and search again, or Drop the plan.

Now when the GP has agreed (via the IP) two cases may arise for the project Proposal:
1. GP might ask you to send Project Proposal.
2. GP might send one or many Project Proposal and ask you to choose.

There is lot much which i can't write here, if you wish to explore further you can contact me on my email address or comment below.

DAAD IIT Master Sandwich Programme highlights

This is a scholarship program which gives the opportunity to Post Graduating IIT students to complete the M.Tech. Dissertation form any of the 9 Technical universities of Germany, it does not give you a degree but adds significance to your resume. The duration of Scholarship is 7 months. The detailed Notice can be found here.

This is not a job but a research oriented opportunity, best for those who see themselves doing research in India or Ph.D. from abroad.

The total cost which you will have to bear is flight tickets and the semester fees of the German University. You will also get a stipend of 750 Euros per month (& 250 Euro one time) which would be sufficient to support you financially in Germany.

If you really wish to do your M.Tech. Dissertation in a German Technical University, start up now and prepare for your semester exam from today, because if you want to go for sure you will have to get at least 9 SGPA in your first semester for an assured seat to Germany. The reason being, before forwarding the application from college to the Delhi DAAD Office, a ranking list is prepared. So if you have a good SGPA obviously you have a good chance.

Find out more tips to excel in your semester exams by following this link to my another blog.

If you wish to apply, find out here about the Application procedure. Here is an overview to find the suitable German Professor. There is a lot much which I can't write here, if you wish to explore further you can contact me on my email address or comment below.

Someone who has already availed the scholarship could contribute to this blog.