Writing a Letter of Recommendation: German Academic Exchange Service / DAAD

Thank you for taking the time to write a letter of recommendation for a nationally competitive scholarship application. Yours is a valuable contribution to this formative process and we appreciate your advocacy on behalf of the applicant.

Please be aware, it is a matter of NCS policy that applicants must waive their right to see your letter of recommendation. We also cannot accept letters authored by applicants; the endorsement must be from the letter-signer.

At any time in the process, from brainstorming the first draft to finalizing your letter, we are delighted to help. Please contact ncs-ousf@duke.edu if you would like to discuss further or for questions or concerns.

Guidelines
Criteria	~ Academic qualifications Academic achievements Course of studies Knowledge of the language of instruction or working language If applicable, relevant internships, work experience ~ Quality of the study project Quality of the study project and of the preparation (preliminary information, choice of degree program, host university and establishment of contacts) Integration of the project into the course of study, if relevant ~ Potential of the applicant Motivation: academic and personal reasons for the stay in Germany, German language skills (if different from the working language) Prospects: Significance of the stay in Germany for further academic, professional and personal development Extracurricular commitment: extracurricular knowledge and skills, social commitment
Endorsement Required?	Yes. This is a multi-stage process.
Number of Recommendation Letters	1

Application Timeline
Stage	Description	Deadline
Endorsement Application Deadline	NCS will convene a faculty committee to decide which applicants will go forward to compete at the national level.	November 1
Endorsement Decisions Announced		Late November
National Deadline	Once endorsed, your applicant will enter your information into the application platform and you will receive a link to upload your letter to the national foundation website.	TBA

FAQs

Where do I submit my letter?

For the Endorsement Round: Submit your letter by email to ncs-ousf@duke.edu

For the National Round: You will receive a link by email from the national foundation (check your spam folder) and must submit the letter online by the national deadline. No exceptions are made for late materials. It should be a signed PDF on letterhead.

Who do I address the letter to?

Please address your letter to the “DAAD Selection Committee”.

What might the letter contain?

How does the applicant meet the DAAD criteria? What is outstanding about their scholarship and/or character?
Why is Germany the best place for them to study?
How does their study plan fit into their future ambitions?
What examples can you share that illustrate your strong endorsement for the candidate?
How does this applicant compare to other people you have taught/supervised?

How will I know whether my applicant has been endorsed?

Applicants are instructed to let you know as soon as they learn the decision of the campus endorsement committee. Endorsements are usually made by NCS during the end of the second week of class in the fall semester.