The Higher Education Exchange Service (Austauschdienst der Hochschulen) was first established in 1925 in response to an initiative in academic circles. It was dissolved in 1945 and newly established in 1950 as a registered association under private law. The DAAD’s full members are – on application – the institutions represented in the German Rectors’ Conference (Hochschulrektorenkonferenz – HRK) and their student bodies. At the end of 2003, DAAD membership was made up of a total of 231 institutions and 126 student bodies from all the various types of higher education institutions. However, membership is not a necessary requirement for participation in DAAD programmes, but it does open up significant opportunities for institutions to contribute to influencing and steering the management and constitution of the DAAD (election of decision-making bodies, statute resolutions), as well as the basic principles and policies underlying the structure of programmes. At the same time, membership is an expression of the DAAD’s character as a self-governing organisation of the academic community. This philosophy is reflected in the association’s internal constitution, and especially the academic composition of its decision-making bodies.

This self-administrative nature of the DAAD includes the fact that funding award decisions are made by independent academic Selection Committees.primary selection criterion is the applicant’s academic qualification and the quality of the project. The 600 and more university teachers working on the Selection Committees in an honorary capacity are appointed by the DAAD Executive Committee, without influence from state or government bodies. They serve on these committees for a four-year term of office and may be reappointed once only.