Important Dates

Application period: April 22, 2026 - October 1, 2026 or until the funding is exhausted

The Government of Saskatchewan’s innovation agency and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) have committed to supporting joint initiatives that encourage student and faculty exchanges, as well as research and academic collaboration between Saskatchewan and German universities and research institutions.

Priority Areas

The priority areas defined by Innovation Saskatchewan apply to both students and researchers/faculty and include:
  1. Health (e.g., One Health)
  2. Synchrotron sciences
  3. Digital technologies, industry, and space (e.g., quantum computing, artificial intelligence)
  4. Food security, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, and environment/climate change
  5. Energy (including nuclear, renewable, and alternative energy sources)

Stream One: Top up funding for DAAD German Academic Exchange Service programs

The University of Saskatchewan has partnered with Innovation Saskatchewan and the DAAD German Academic Exchange Service to offer top-up funding for researchers/faculty and students engaged in DAAD-supported research during the 2026–2027 academic year.

Stream One top-up funding is offered to students and researchers/faculty at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) who have been successful in obtaining financing through one of the eligible DAAD programs to cover/reimburse costs associated with DAAD program, but not covered by the award.

This funding supports USask students and researchers/faculty who aim to strengthen research collaborations with Germany. To qualify, research collaborations must fall within one of the five identified priority areas.

Students must:

  • Be currently enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan
  • Have research collaborations in one or more of the listed priority areas
  • Have received eligible DAAD funding (eligible programs listed below) 
  • Must submit receipts for eligible expenses

Researchers/Faculty must:

  • Be currently employed at the University of Saskatchewan
  • Have research collaborations in one or more of the listed priority areas
  • Have received eligible DAAD funding (eligible programs listed below) 
  • Must submit receipts for eligible expenses

Funding may be used to cover:

  • Travel-related expenses:
    • Return economy airfare (from Germany or Saskatchewan). Return airfare for flights that originate in destinations other than Germany or Saskatchewan are not eligible.
    • Reasonable accommodation costs (hotel, apartment rental or dormitory costs).
    • Ground transportation (i.e., taxi, Uber, car rental, etc.)
  • Research-related expenses:
    • Direct costs (i.e., costs specifically associated with a particular project and that can be directly attributed to the project with a high degree of accuracy).
    • Materials and supplies.
    • Project-specific space rental for off-campus third-party facilities.
    • Use of specialized equipment for which there is a commonly applied charge. The purchase of capital equipment is not an eligible cost.
  • Event-related expenses:
    • Venue rental costs.
    • Catering (i.e. food, beverages, servers, etc.) Cost of alcoholic beverages are not eligible
    • Printing of signage/programs or similar materials.

*Detailed receipts are required for the reimbursement to be considered. 

How to Apply

  • Deadline to apply: October 1, 2026
  • For more information (include DAAD-IS Top-Up Funding Program in the subject line):

The online application will request the following documents be uploaded:

  • Award letter from DAAD;
  • Copy of the application package submitted to DAAD;
  • Top-up funding budget
  • Budget justification; and
  • Receipts for all expenses being claimed

The DAAD scholarship and funding programs available to Canadians include the following:
 
Study Scholarships – Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines (annually)
Study Scholarships - Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
 
Research Grants in Germany for doctoral students and postdocs (semi-annually)
Research Grants in Germany - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
 
Research Grants – Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees / Cotutelle (annually)
Research Grants - Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees / Cotutelle - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
 
Research Stays for University Academics and Scientists (semi-annually)
Scholarship Database - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
 
RISE Germany – Research Internships in Science and Engineering (annually)
RISE Germany - Research Internships in Science and Engineering - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
 
RISE Professional – Research Internships in Science and Engineering (annually)
RISE Professional - Research Internships in Science and Engineering - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
 
In addition, DAAD offers various project funding programs for German-Canadian university cooperation, including the following:
 
Bilateral Mobility Program for Research Cooperation (annually)
Programme of Project-Related Personal Exchange (PPP) with various partner countries - DAAD
 
This program aims to intensify research cooperation within the scope of a concrete, joint
research project. German universities can apply to facilitate the mobility of graduates and PhD students, as well as postdocs and faculty. Projects may be funded for a maximum of two years, with up to €18,000 per annum.
Research stays are funded within the framework of well-defined research proposals necessitating international co-operation. Special emphasis lies on the support of young scholars, i.e. graduate students working on their thesis, PhD and postdoctoral students.- 6 -DAAD grants an allowance to the German participants for travel and residence costs. Primary financing for the co-operative research project, including personnel costs, must be provided by other sources on both sides.
 
International Study and Training Partnerships (ISAP) (annually)
International Study and Training Partnerships (ISAP) - DAAD
 
Through ISAP, scholarships are given to German students who complete a portion of their
degree coursework abroad at a partner university with the added benefit of a tuition
waiver or significant tuition reduction. German universities are encouraged to develop
courses for foreign exchange students, credit transfer agreements, curriculum
collaboration strategies, and/or dual degree structures which will lead to an ongoing and
successful internationalization of both partner institutions.
Funding is available for travel subsidies, scholarships, insurance and tuition fees (up to 50% of regular fees) for German students; funds for language courses and tutorials for students from Canada or the US, and guest lectureships at partner institutions. Funding for new projects is generally granted for two academic years with an extension possible.
 
International Integrated programs with joint or double degrees (annually)
Integrated International Degree Programmes with Double Degrees - DAAD
 
The aim of the program is to develop and/or establish an integrated international double degree program with one or more foreign partner university/universities. The degree programs are intended to make a sustainable contribution to the establishment and expansion of international structures at German universities and to strengthen the exchange of teachers and learners.
The Integrated International Degree Programs with Double Degrees fund degree programs at universities and universities of applied sciences which, after studies completed partly at the German and partly at the foreign higher education institution, award both national degrees, either as a joint degree or as a double degree.
 
Internationalization of Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS – International) (annually)
Internationalisation of Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS.International) - DAAD
 
Universities of applied sciences are highly regarded in Germany and around the world, especially for their practical orientation. Many of these universities wish to enhance their international standing even further. To this end, the DAAD is helping students and researchers at German universities of applied sciences carry out study and research visits abroad. It is also supporting universities in their efforts to establish cooperation projects with international partners. The UAS International program enables universities of applied sciences to cultivate contact with foreign institutions and anchor international
partnerships within their own institutional infrastructure. The DAAD also provides consultation, continuing education and dialogue programmes to accompanying these measures.

Stream Two: Funding for joint initiatives with German Partners

Stream Two: funding may be applied toward joint initiatives with German partners, that do not require a successful DAAD program application. Eligible activities may include mutual delegation visits, alumni events, and other similar activities that will support increased engagement between the USask and German research community and must take place during the 2026–2027 academic year.

Researchers/Faculty must:

  • Be currently employed at the University of Saskatchewan
  • Must be eligible to apply for, hold and administer research funding
  • Have research collaborations in one or more of the listed priority areas
  • The related activities covered by top-up funding must be completed by January 20, 2027
  • Project leads are required to submit an outcome and financial report with supporting documentation (copies of receipts, invoices etc.) no later than February 1, 2027

Funding may be used to cover:

  • Travel-related expenses:
    • Return economy airfare (from Germany or Saskatchewan). Return airfare for flights that originate in destinations other than Germany or Saskatchewan are not eligible.
    • Reasonable accommodation costs (hotel, apartment rental or dormitory costs).
    • Ground transportation (i.e., taxi, Uber, car rental, etc.)
  • Research-related expenses:
    • Direct costs (i.e., costs specifically associated with a particular project and that can be directly attributed to the project with a high degree of accuracy).
    • Materials and supplies.
    • Project-specific space rental for off-campus third-party facilities.
    • Use of specialized equipment for which there is a commonly applied charge. The purchase of capital equipment is not an eligible cost.
  • Event-related expenses:
    • Venue rental costs.
    • Catering (i.e. food, beverages, servers, etc.) Cost of alcoholic beverages are not eligible
    • Printing of signage/programs or similar materials.

*Detailed receipts are required for the reimbursement to be considered. 

How to Apply

  • Deadline to apply: October 1, 2026, or until funding is exhausted.
  • For more information or if you would like to discuss your application please email international.office@usask.ca and include DAAD-IS Top-Up Funding Program in the subject line.

The online application will request the following documents be uploaded:

  • Funding budget; and
  • Budget justification

Applications will be reviewed and approved in approximately 2-4 weeks and results will be emailed to the lead applicant.