Currently Open
€992/ €1,400
Master's & PhD
August – November 2026
Table of Contents
DAAD EPOS Scholarship is not a single scholarship. It is an umbrella program covering dozens of Master’s and PhD courses across Germany, each with its own application process and deadline.
Deadlines for the 2027/28 intake fall between August and November 2026, so you must apply directly to your chosen course on time.
What is the DAAD EPOS Scholarship?
EPOS stands for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses. Administered by DAAD and funded by Germany’s BMZ, it offers fully funded Master’s and PhD scholarships in development-focused fields like economics, engineering, agriculture, public health, and environmental sciences.
No Central Application to DAAD
There is no single application portal or universal deadline. You must apply directly to the specific German university offering your chosen course. The university evaluates your application and nominates selected candidates to DAAD for funding. Applications sent directly to DAAD will be rejected.
Individual Course Deadlines
Application deadlines are set individually by each partner university. For the 2027/28 intake, most deadlines fall between August and November. Always verify the exact deadline on the official DAAD EPOS course list for your specific degree.
If you want to explore other general funding programs in Germany outside the EPOS track, read our complete DAAD Scholarship 2026 guide.
DAAD EPOS Eligibility Criteria & Requirements
- A completed bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field
- At least two years of professional experience, gained after completing that degree. This is checked closely, and experience gained during your studies doesn’t count
- Citizenship of one of DAAD’s eligible developing or emerging countries
- English proficiency, commonly IELTS 6.0 or equivalent, though some courses may have their own specific requirement
- A genuine, well-argued connection between your professional background, your chosen course, and your development goals back home
Who Is Not Eligible?
Applicants from countries not on the DAAD DAC list.
Anyone with less than 2 years of work experience after graduation.
Candidates whose degree is older than 6 years.
Anyone who has lived in Germany for more than 15 months.
Applicants who fail to meet the university’s language requirements.
DAAD EPOS Work Experience Calculator
Use this calculator to determine your exact post-graduation professional work experience in years, months, and days. Since the DAAD EPOS scholarship strictly requires a minimum of two years of relevant work experience gained after completing your bachelor’s degree, this tool helps you quickly verify if you meet the eligibility criteria before applying.
DAAD EPOS Course List and Application Deadlines 2027/28
There is no single central deadline for the DAAD EPOS scholarship because every participating university manages its own admissions process. Deadlines generally fall between October and December of the year before your target intake.
- Leipzig University (SEPT MBA): October 1, 2026
- TU Dresden (Textile Machinery & Material Technology): October 10, 2026
- TU Dresden (Hydro Science and Engineering): October 15, 2026
- University of Oldenburg (Sustainable Renewable Energy Technologies): October 15, 2026
- HFT Stuttgart (Photogrammetry and Geoinformatics): October 15, 2026
- Bauhaus University Weimar (Natural Hazards & Risks in Structural Engineering): October 15, 2026
- University of Freiburg (Environmental Governance): October 15, 2026
- TU Dresden (Tropical Forestry): October 30, 2026
- University of Göttingen (Development Economics): November 15, 2026
- TU Darmstadt (Tropical Hydrogeology and Environmental Engineering): November 30, 2026
- University of Bonn / UNU (Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security): December 15, 2026
- University of Hohenheim (Agricultural Economics): December 15, 2026
Always check the official website of your target program before applying, as individual course deadlines and intake cycles can change slightly each year.
DAAD EPOS Scholarship Benefits and Monthly Stipend
Master’s Degree: €992 per month
Doctoral / PhD Candidates: €1,400 per month (increased from €1,300)
Insurance Coverage: Full health, accident, and personal liability insurance
Travel Allowance: Round-trip travel grant (unless funded by another source).
Applying specifically for a doctoral program? Check the step-by-step requirements in our dedicated DAAD PhD scholarship application guide.
How to Apply for DAAD EPOS Scholarship & Timeline
- Find your course on DAAD’s official EPOS list; search by field, degree level, and country to narrow down which specific programs you’re eligible for.
- Check that specific course’s individual deadline and requirements. Don’t assume a generic checklist applies; each course sets its own.
- Apply directly to the university offering the course, not to DAAD.
- Prepare your full document set (see below), with special attention to proving your two years of professional experience clearly.
- Submit before your specific course’s deadline. Some courses process applications on a rolling basis, so earlier is generally safer than later.
- If nominated by the university, DAAD confirms and finalizes your funding; you generally don’t need to submit anything further to DAAD directly at this stage.
One option worth knowing: if you’re not offered the EPOS scholarship itself, some courses still let you enroll as a self-financing student. This isn’t the scholarship, but it’s a real alternative if you’re not selected and still want to pursue that specific program.
Required Documents for DAAD EPOS Scholarship Application
- CV in reverse chronological order, using the Europass template, with no unexplained gaps
- Letter of motivation connecting your professional background to your chosen course and development goals
- Proof of at least two years of relevant professional experience
- University degree certificates and transcripts, certified and translated if not in English or German
- Proof of English proficiency (commonly IELTS 6.0 or equivalent; confirm with your specific course)
- Passport copy
To structure a strong statement of purpose that connects your work experience to your target degree, follow our detailed DAAD motivation letter guide.
DAAD EPOS Selection Criteria & Application Mistakes to Avoid
Applying directly to DAAD instead of the university: DAAD automatically rejects direct applications; you must apply through the host university.
Counting work experience gained before graduation: Only professional experience completed after receiving your bachelor’s degree counts toward the two-year rule.
Trusting a single “EPOS deadline” online: Every course sets its own distinct application deadline on its official website.
Waiting until the last minute to apply: Many programs review applications on a rolling basis, giving an advantage to early applicants.
Submitting a generic motivation letter: Your letter must clearly connect your past work experience, chosen course, and future development goals in your home country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is epos in DAAD scholarship?
EPOS stands for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses, a fully funded scholarship program managed by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). It offers master’s scholarships and PhD funding for professionals from developing countries across specialized postgraduate courses, such as tropical forestry, engineering, and public health.
These postgraduate scholarship programs are hosted at top German institutions, including TU Berlin, Heidelberg University, and the University of Freiburg.
- Coverage: Provides a monthly stipend (€992 for Master’s, €1,400 for PhD), complete insurance, and travel allowances.
- Key Requirement: At least 2 years of relevant work experience gained after completing your bachelor’s degree.
- Applying: Do not send your scholarship application directly to DAAD. Submit your university DAAD application straight to your host institution for the 2026 and 2027 scholarship intake cycles.
Is the DAAD scholarship open now for Pakistani students?
Yes, specific Germany scholarships under the DAAD Germany umbrella—such as the EPOS scholarship program—are currently open for Pakistani international students. While general bachelor’s funding is unavailable, Pakistani applicants can apply for master’s scholarships and DAAD PhD scholarship 2026 tracks.
- Current Status: Selected fully funded scholarships for postgraduate study in Germany are accepting applications now for the 2026/2027 intake. Deadlines vary depending on each specific university scholarship, with many course-specific deadlines closing around October 15, 2026.
- Financial Benefits: Selected candidates at a German institution are exempt from standard tuition fees and receive full living stipends, health coverage, and travel allowances.
- Where to Apply: Review program-specific instructions and submit your application through the official DAAD Pakistan portal or the respective target university admissions portal.
Do I apply to EPOS through DAAD?
No, you do not apply directly to DAAD. You must submit your application directly to the specific German university offering your chosen course, such as TU Berlin, Heidelberg University, or the University of Freiburg. Any application sent directly to DAAD will be automatically rejected.
Course Choices: Prospective scholars can apply for up to three different postgraduate courses.
Prioritization: If applying to multiple courses, you must list them in order of priority on your DAAD scholarship application form and keep this same order consistent across all university applications.
Selection Process: The university reviews your profile and nominates selected candidates to DAAD for funding. Compared to other bright scholarship options globally, EPOS application deadlines are managed independently by each university rather than through one central portal.
How much work experience do I need?
At least two years, gained after completing your bachelor’s degree, not during your studies.
How competitive is EPOS?
It’s selective, though DAAD has awarded more than 7,000 EPOS scholarships since 1987, with completion rates over 90% among recipients.
Official Links
- DAAD EPOS overview: daad.de/epos
- Full list of postgraduate courses with 2027/28 deadlines: available as an official PDF on daad.de; search “EPOS deadlines”
Scholarship Researcher and Writer