Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS)
DAAD
✨ AI Summary
DAAD offers scholarships for graduates from developing countries to study postgraduate or Master's programmes at German universities, with funding for tuition and living costs over 12–42 months.
About this opportunity
The DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) programme supports graduates from development and newly industrialised countries to pursue postgraduate or Master's degrees at state-recognised German universities. The scholarship is intended for early-career professionals with at least two years' work experience who want to develop expertise relevant to sustainable development in their home countries. Scholarships fund 12 to 42 months of study depending on the programme chosen. What you get • Monthly stipend: €992 for graduates or €1,300–1,400 for doctoral candidates • Health, accident and personal liability insurance cover • Travel allowance (unless covered by home country or other funding source) • Optional: monthly rent subsidy • Optional: monthly family allowance for accompanying family members • 6-month preparatory German language course in Germany (for German-taught programmes) How to apply 1. Find your chosen postgraduate course on the DAAD list of eligible programmes for 2027/2028 2. Prepare all required documents in English or German 3. Submit your complete application directly to your chosen postgraduate course (not to DAAD) by the course's deadline 4. Can apply to up to 3 courses maximum; list them in order of priority in your EPOS application form 5. If selected, the course's selection committee will suggest you as a candidate to DAAD 6. DAAD will contact you to upload your complete application documents (as PDF files) to the DAAD Portal 7. DAAD finalises the selection process and notifies you of the outcome
Requirements
• Citizen or permanent resident of an eligible development or newly industrialised country (check DAAD's list) • Hold a Bachelor's degree (normally 4 years) in a relevant subject • Above-average undergraduate results (top third or upper third) • At least 2 years of professional work experience after Bachelor's degree before application • Academic degrees normally not more than 6 years old at time of application • Currently working for a public authority or state/private company in a developing country, engaged in development-related work • For German-taught courses: German language minimum B1 level at application, and ability to pass DSH 2 or TestDaF 4 before starting study • For English-taught courses: proof of adequate English language skills as specified by the programme • Have not been resident in Germany for more than 15 months at application deadline • Complete application form (EPOS form) and signed checklist • Curriculum vitae in reverse chronological order (Europass format recommended) • Letter of motivation detailing academic, professional and personal reasons; if applying to 3 courses, must explain choice and prioritisation • Letter of recommendation from current employer with official letterhead, signature and stamp • Certificate(s) of employment showing at least 2 years of relevant work experience; preferably including re-employment guarantee • Recent language skills proof: IELTS or TOEFL for English (institutional TOEFL not accepted); German language certificate for German-taught courses • Certified copies of higher education degree certificates (translated to German or English if not in those languages) • Copy of complete transcript of records with explanation of grading system if not included • Applicants from People's Republic of China must submit APS Certificate • Complete application must be submitted in English or German