The award was preceded by a competitive process under the Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP) funding line. With this program, the DAAD supports International oriented graduate schools at German universities and non-university research institutes with structured doctoral programs.

The funding commitment applies to the BerGSAS programs Ancient Languages and Text, Ancient Philosophy and History of Ancient Science, and Languages and Cultures of the Silk Road and includes four DAAD-funded doctoral fellowships per program (two doctoral fellowships in each of two consecutive years). The first fellowships will be announced in the fall of 2022. The start date of the scholarships will be October 1, 2023.