• Is it possible to attach one‘s mark sheets and degree certificate for Bachelor’s degree in place of one‘s transcript?
  

  Yes, it is possible in case you have not received yet your transcript, nevertheless you must present a confirmation from your home university that you are a regular student.

• Which academic records are required if I am a PhD candidate applying for the exchange program?
  

  Besides your Bachelor’s certificate, also the degree certificate and mark sheets of your Masters.

• Do I need to contact a faculty member from the German University during the process of the application?

  If you are a PhD this is mandatory, if you are applying as a Master student, this is not necessary, but of course, it is an advantage if a faculty member of the academic area you are applying to is endorsing your application. Please note that by “faculty” it is meant a professor or researcher that is a faculty member.

• I am a Bachelor student from India; may I apply to NAMASTE+?

  No, in case of students from India the scholarships are available only for Master and PhD students

• I am a Bachelor student at the University of Göttingen; may I apply to NAMASTE+?

  Yes

• I just finished my Master degree; can I apply for a scholarship as a PhD student?

  You must be enrolled at a PhD program at your home university in order to apply for a PhD scholarship

• I would like to complete my Master/PhD studies with a NAMASTE+ scholarship, is it possible?

  No, NAMASTE+ scholarships are only for stays up to 6 months

• I have previously received a scholarship to India or to Göttingen; may I still apply for NAMASTE+?

  Yes, as long as it is not a Namaste+ scholarship. Namaste+ grantees can only apply once for Namaste+.

• The diploma category in ‘the files to upload’ section is a mandatory category. I have done my bachelors in an honours course, which is a degree and not a diploma. In this case, am I supposed to upload my bachelor’s degree certificate?

  Yes, please upload the degree certificate. Diploma should be also read as degree certificate.

• Where do I find a specific slot in the application form where I can upload documents concerning the research goals, methodology, schedule and a few more details regarding the research project?

  At the end of the section “Files to upload”, you will see there is a slot saying Add other relevant documents (if applicable)” and a below a  “Add other relevant documents with a “plus(+)” sign – here you may upload as many documents as you wish, by clicking on the plus sign every time you wish to upload another document.

• As a PhD candidate, am I supposed to upload my research proposal or any related documents in the application form?

  If yes, where can I upload them? At the end of the section “Files to upload”, you will see there is a slot saying Add other relevant documents (if applicable)” and a below a  “Add other relevant documents with a “plus(+)” sign – here you may upload as many documents as you wish, by clicking on the plus sign every time you wish to upload another document.

• What kind of document/file should be attached in the columns “Academic Records” and “Diploma”? What is the difference between both categories?

  Diploma means your degree certificates. Academic records refers to your transcripts, and / or mark sheets.

• As a PhD candidate, do I need to upload only the M.Phil. Certificate or the M.A. and B.A. as well?

  Besides your Bachelor’s certificate, also the degree certificate and mark sheets of your Masters.

• I am not familiar with the faculty at the University of Göttingen, so what do I fill in out the mandatory column of faculty at the University of Göttingen?

  One of your tasks as an applicant is to thoroughly research if the University of Göttingen is suitable for your degree / research. Therefore we encourage you to look at the website of the university and become familiar with the faculty and departments of your academic area:https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/1.html

• During form filling, there is a section where we need to mention the Faculty at the University of Göttingen and another field that asks for a subject of study or research at the University of Göttingen. Do I as a master’s student need to fill that out and if so, how will I contact the faculty?

  One of your tasks as an applicant is to thoroughly research if the University of Göttingen is suitable for your degree / research. Therefore we encourage you to look at the website of the university and become familiar with the faculty and departments of your academic area: https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/1.html

• Is there any specific format of invitation letter from the host supervisor at the University of Göttingen to be attached in application or a plain letter of invitation is sufficient?

  There is no form, a plain letter of invitation and support is sufficient.

• Is the current call for applications the only call for NAMASTE+?

  For students and researchers there will be one calls per year. Usually the call is published in October, but please check our website for updates.

• Is the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen the only German university to which I can apply?

  Yes, for Indian students coming to Germany, within NAMASTE+ you may only apply to the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Courses and programs

• Which courses are being provided by the university under this initiative?

  If you are looking for English courses please take a look at these two sites:

  • https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/english+/+international+degree+programmes/46551.html
  • https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/+list+of+courses+taught+in+english/635225.html

• What is the fee structure of programs in English?

  There are no special fees for English course. At the University of Göttingen international students pay only a semester fee, which is around 310€ per semester. This semester fee gives you access to all public transportation in the city of Göttingen and the state of Lower Saxony as well as discount at the university´s cafeterias. https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/40054.html

• Is one allowed to pick courses/papers from different programs or does one have to strictly pick one program and then enrol in the courses offered in it that semester?

  It is better to enrol in one specific program, sometimes you may take courses from other related programs, but this you have to clarify once in Göttingen or at enrolment time.

• The language of instruction all through my school days and/or during my Bachelor and Master and/or (current) PhD study program has always been/is English. In this case, will I need to take any test to validate the same?

  No, no need.

• If my language of instruction in Higher Secondary School, Bachelors and Masters is English, would that suffice the language requirement?

  Yes

• As I am doing my courses at my home university in English, do I have to provide any other certificate or proof for this?

  No

• I have studied in an English medium school where my first language has been English, and I have appeared for ICSE and ISC board examination for my 10th and 12th grade respectively. My B.A. is also in English (Honours) and since, all throughout my academic career from school to M.Phil. (pursuing), my language of instruction has been English, do I additionally need to provide a proof of English language proficiency like IELTS or TOEFL?

  No, no need

• My Bachelor and Master and/or current PhD study program is in English. Is there a need to upload a certificate of language proficiency in my application? What kind of proof do I need to provide there?

  Since you are a student from India, you do not need to provide any English language proficiency certificate.

• The call for application prescribes the proof of English language proficiency equivalent to level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR1) if the language of instruction is English. Is this a mandatory requirement or a preferred/recommended requirement?

  Recommended, but of course you need a good level of English.

• Do I need to submit the scores of English language proficiency tests like IELTS or TOEFL? If so, what kind of certificate is required for English proficiency/what is the basic bandwidth required for the approval of my application?

  Since you are a student from India, you do not need to provide any English language proficiency certificate. However, of course you need a good level of English.

• Is it compulsory to have German language proficiency to apply for the NAMASTE+ program?

  No, unless you are taking courses in German

• Is the German proficiency required at the time of applying or is it possible to attain it until the start of the program?

  You only need German proficiency if you are applying to German –taught courses, otherwise it is not necessary.

• Regarding the requested language skills, I am comfortable with the English language, but very less familiar with German. Am I eligible for the courses?

  Yes, we have a vast offer of English programs and courses:

  • https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/english+/+international+degree+programmes/46551.html
  • https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/+list+of+courses+taught+in+english/635225.html

• The eligibility criteria mentions the requirement for having a proof of English and German language proficiency. Would these documents be mandatory during the application?

  Since you are a student from India, you do not need to provide any English language proficiency certificate. However, of course you need a good level of English. You only need German proficiency if you are applying to German –taught courses, otherwise it is not necessary

• How many words should the one-page motivation letter consist of?

  400-500 words? One or two A4 pages is fine.

• My motivation letter is one and a half page and I don’t think I can compress it further to fit it into one page. What should I do?

  No problem, you can still upload the letter. We recommend one page, but it could be longer.

• Regarding the payment process and the total expenditure, does a student have to pay by him/herself for the rent and food expenditure, too?

  Yes, the grantee receives a monthly sum as detailed in the call for application and form this sum the grantee has to cover all their expenses.

• Does the recommendation letter have to be provided by the professor of the current institution or is it possible to seek the same from the professor of a previous university?

  The letter of recommendation has to be provided by a professor from the institution you are actually enrolled in. You may upload other reference letters as well, but the mandatory reference letter has to be from your current institution.

• The application asks for a recommendation letter, one from the host university and one from the University of Göttingen, Germany. Does the host university can be any other university from Germany or does it have to be the University of Göttingen?

  Since the NAMASTE+ grant is a grant given by the University of Göttingen, the reference letter must come from a professor or researcher from the University of Göttingen. You may upload other reference letters as well, but the mandatory host reference letter has to be from the University of Göttingen.

• Is it correct that two recommendation letters are required, one from our own supervisor and a second from the University of Göttingen?

  If you are applying as a PhD, yes you do need both. If you are a Master student, a letter of recommendation from your home university is sufficient.

• Do I need to secure the letter of recommendation from a third faculty other than from the supervisor from my home University?

  Yes, you may upload a letter of recommendation from another faculty member as long as they are at your current institution. It is important that a professor or researcher who knows your academic development and quality writes the letter.

• I am a M. Phil. in Education student, and would like to know if this opportunity is for an application for PhD at the University of Göttingen, or if it is part of an exchange program/internship etc.

  Namaste+ grants are not for full degree studies. The grants are only for one semester as part of an exchange program.

• How do I get my UGOE supervisor’s name?

  You need a supervisor at the University of Göttingen if you are a PhD candidate. As an applicant it, it is expected from you that before applying to Namaste+ you get acquainted with the offer of the University of Göttingen and establish contact with a professor or researchers. Therefore we encourage you to look at the website of the university and become familiar with the faculty and departments of your academic area: https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/1.html

• Due to the pandemic, my final semester exams happened a lot later than usual with the results having only come out recently and I have not yet received my graduation diploma for my undergraduate degree.

  In this case, is it possible to upload a copy of my marksheet for all three years of undergraduate studies? Yes, as well as a confirmation letter from your home institution confirming that you are an enrolled student.