DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) Scholarships 2027/2028 in Germany for International Students

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) invites applications from qualified graduates from developing and newly industrialised countries for the Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) Scholarship Programme 2027/2028.

The programme provides fully funded scholarship opportunities for international students who wish to pursue postgraduate studies, particularly Master's degrees, at selected state or state-recognised universities in Germany.

The scholarship aims to train highly qualified professionals who can contribute to sustainable development in their home countries through advanced education, professional expertise and international cooperation.

1. Scholarship Overview

• Scholarship Name: DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS)
• Host Country: Germany
• Host Institution: Selected German Universities
• Funding Organisation: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
• Study Level: Postgraduate (Master's and, in exceptional cases, PhD)
• Academic Year: 2027/2028
• Eligible Applicants: Graduates from eligible developing and newly industrialised countries
• Study Duration: 12 to 42 months, depending on the selected programme
• Funding Type: Fully Funded Scholarship
• Application Deadline: Varies depending on the selected postgraduate programme.

2. About the DAAD EPOS Scholarship

Through its development-oriented postgraduate study programmes, DAAD supports the training of specialists from developing and newly industrialised countries.

The scholarship provides an opportunity for qualified graduates with relevant professional experience to pursue advanced postgraduate education at selected German universities.

The programme focuses on producing well-trained professionals who can contribute to the development of their countries, particularly in technological, economic and social sectors.

Successful applicants are expected to use the knowledge and skills acquired during their studies to support development initiatives and positive changes in their professional and personal environments.

3. Eligible Countries

The scholarship is open to graduates from eligible developing and newly industrialised countries.

Applicants must come from countries included in the official DAAD list of eligible countries.

Applicants from Tanzania should check the official eligible-country list before applying.

4. Available Study Programmes

The scholarship supports selected postgraduate courses offered by participating German universities.

Applicants can choose from the postgraduate programmes listed in the official DAAD EPOS brochure for the 2027/2028 academic year.

The scholarship covers eligible programmes across different academic disciplines.

Applicants should carefully review the available courses, admission requirements and application deadlines before selecting their preferred programmes.

Important: Only postgraduate courses included in the official DAAD EPOS programme list are eligible for this scholarship.

5. Scholarship Benefits

The DAAD EPOS Scholarship provides the following financial support:

1. Monthly stipend of EUR 992 for graduates.
2. Monthly stipend of EUR 1,400 for doctoral candidates.
3. Payments towards health insurance.
4. Accident insurance coverage.
5. Personal liability insurance coverage.
6. Travel allowance, unless these expenses are covered by the applicant's home country or another funding source.

Additional benefits may be provided under certain circumstances, including:

• Monthly rent subsidy.
• Monthly allowance for accompanying family members.

The scholarship benefits are intended to support successful candidates during their postgraduate studies in Germany.

6. Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the DAAD EPOS Scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Must be a graduate from an eligible developing or newly industrialised country.
2. Must hold a Bachelor's degree, normally obtained through a four-year university programme, in an appropriate academic discipline.
3. Must have completed their previous academic studies with above-average results, generally within the upper third of their graduating class.
4. Must have at least two years of relevant professional experience after obtaining their first university degree.
5. Their academic degrees should normally not be more than six years old.
6. Must demonstrate motivation to contribute to development-related activities in their home country.
7. Must demonstrate the ability and academic potential to successfully complete the selected postgraduate programme in Germany.

Applicants who have been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months at the application deadline cannot be considered.

7. Language Requirements

Language requirements depend on the language of instruction of the selected postgraduate programme.

For programmes taught in English:

Applicants must provide evidence of adequate English language proficiency according to the requirements of the respective university or postgraduate programme.

Accepted English language certificates may include:

• IELTS.
• TOEFL.

Please note that institutional TOEFL is not accepted under the general DAAD EPOS application requirements.

For programmes taught in German:

Applicants must demonstrate German language proficiency.

The general requirement includes:

• Minimum German language level of B1 at the time of application.
• A valid certificate proving German language proficiency.
• Successful completion of DSH 2 or TestDaF 4 before the beginning of the study programme.

For German-taught programmes, the scholarship includes a preparatory six-month German language course in Germany.

8. Required Application Documents

Applicants are required to prepare the following documents:

1. Completed and signed DAAD EPOS application checklist.
2. Completed DAAD EPOS application form.
3. Curriculum Vitae (CV) arranged in reverse chronological order, preferably using the Europass CV format.
4. Letter of Motivation explaining academic, professional and personal reasons for applying.
5. Letter of recommendation from the current employer, including official letterhead, signature and official stamp.
6. Employment certificates proving at least two years of relevant professional experience after obtaining the Bachelor's degree.
7. Recent proof of language proficiency, such as IELTS or TOEFL for English-taught programmes.
8. Copies of higher education degree certificates.
9. Certified translations of academic certificates if the original documents are not in English or German.
10. Complete academic transcripts.
11. Explanation of the grading system if it is not included in the academic transcript.

Applicants should also check whether their chosen postgraduate programme requires additional documents.

Important: All application documents must be submitted in English or German. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

9. Application Procedure

The DAAD EPOS scholarship application process involves the following steps:

Step 1: Select a Postgraduate Programme

Visit the official DAAD EPOS postgraduate courses list and identify the programmes that match your academic qualifications and professional experience.

Step 2: Prepare Your Application Documents

Prepare all the required application documents according to the instructions provided by your selected postgraduate programme.

Step 3: Submit Your Application Directly to the University

Applications must be submitted directly to the respective postgraduate course or university.

Applicants can apply for a maximum of three postgraduate courses.

If applying for more than one course, applicants must indicate their preferred programmes in order of priority in the DAAD application forms.

Step 4: Selection Process

A selection committee reviews the applications and recommends potential candidates for the DAAD scholarship.

Step 5: DAAD Application Portal

Candidates recommended for the scholarship will be contacted by DAAD and requested to upload their complete application documents to the DAAD Portal.

Step 6: Final Selection

The selection process will be finalised, and successful candidates will be informed accordingly.

10. Application Deadline

There is no single application deadline for all DAAD EPOS postgraduate courses.

Application deadlines depend on the selected university and postgraduate programme.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to check the application deadline for each course in the official DAAD EPOS brochure and on the respective university's website.

11. Important Application Information

• Applications must be submitted directly to the selected postgraduate course or university.
• Applications sent directly to DAAD will not be forwarded to the respective university.
• Applicants can apply for a maximum of three postgraduate courses.
• Applicants applying for multiple courses must explain their choices and priorities in their motivation letter.
• All documents must be submitted in English or German.
• Incomplete applications cannot be considered.
• Applicants should retain copies of all submitted documents because shortlisted candidates may be required to upload them to the DAAD Portal.

12. How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants should visit the official DAAD scholarship website to access the complete scholarship announcement, eligible postgraduate courses, application requirements and application instructions.

Official Scholarship Application and Information Link

Official DAAD EPOS Postgraduate Courses List 2027/2028:

https://www.daad.de/

Applicants should carefully read the official scholarship guidelines and the requirements of their chosen university before submitting an application.

Source: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)