Job Description

Opportunity Description

Looking to study in Germany with a fully funded scholarship built for working professionals? The Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) scholarship, funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and administered by the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst / German Academic Exchange Service), supports graduates from developing and newly industrialized countries who want to complete a Master’s degree (and, in exceptional cases, a PhD) at selected German universities. The program funds a monthly living stipend, insurance cover, and a travel allowance for the 2027/2028 application cycle. Since it began in 1987, DAAD reports it has awarded more than 7,000 EPOS scholarships, with about 50 percent currently going to women.

Key Details

Eligible Degree Programs

Master’s Degrees
The specific postgraduate courses funded under EPOS change each cycle; specifically, DAAD selects them across many disciplines. Moreover, the official overview confirms that DAAD welcomes graduates from developing and newly industrialized countries across all disciplines. Furthermore, applicants must therefore hold at least two years of professional experience; consequently, they qualify for a postgraduate or master’s course at a state- or state-recognized German university, and additionally gain access to funding each cycle, thus completing the eligibility picture.

PhD Degrees
Doctoral funding is available only in exceptional cases, tied to specific postgraduate courses that offer a doctoral track.

Program Benefits

• Monthly stipend: €992 for graduates (master’s level), or €1,300 for doctoral candidates (rising to €1,400 beginning February 2026)
• Payments towards health, accident, and personal liability insurance cover
• Travel allowance, unless these expenses are covered by the home country or another source of funding
• Under certain circumstances, additional support may include a monthly rent subsidy and a monthly allowance for accompanying family members
• Funding duration of 12 to 42 months, depending on the chosen study program
• A six-month preparatory German language course in Germany for scholars starting German-taught courses

Eligibility Criteria

• Hold citizenship in a country on DAAD’s official DAC list and confirm eligibility before applying
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree (normally four years) in a related subject and achieve far above average results
• Gain at least two years of related professional experience after completing the bachelor’s degree, and document this experience before submitting the application
• Earn academic degrees no more than six years before the application date and retain proof of graduation dates
• Keep residency in Germany under 15 months before the application deadline; applicants who exceed this limit forfeit eligibility
• Demonstrate development-related motivation, outline a plan to support their home country, and explain how the scholarship advances that plan
• Serve a public authority or a state/private company in a developing country, drive development-related planning or projects, and show how this role builds relevant expertise

Language Requirements

• German-taught courses: Passing DSH-2 or TestDaF Level 4 in all sections before the study course starts, with a minimum German level of B1 proven at application; a preparatory intensive German course is included
• English-taught courses: Proof of adequate English skills (IELTS or TOEFL institutional TOEFL is not accepted), per the specific course’s requirements. Exact score thresholds are not published centrally and vary by course.

How to Apply?

• Applications are not submitted to DAAD centrally. Applications must be sent directly to the chosen postgraduate course/university, following that course’s own procedure and deadline
• You may apply to up to three courses, listed in order of priority in one motivation letter
• Required documents typically include the EPOS checklist, the DAAD application form, a Europass CV, a motivation letter, the employer’s letter of recommendation, proof of at least two years’ work experience, language certificates, and degree/transcript copies
• If a university’s selection committee recommends you, DAAD will contact you to upload your complete application to the DAAD Portal for final selection
• For more information, visit their official website

Apply Now

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