DAAD EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses)

About the DAAD EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses)

The DAAD EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses) is offered by DAAD. Full scholarships for a Master's (or in some cases PhD) at a German university on a development-related programme, aimed at professionals from developing and emerging countries. Scholarships like this are competitive and rule-bound: meeting every published eligibility criterion is what gets your application read, and missing even one usually means an automatic rejection regardless of how strong the rest of your profile is.

Use the eligibility checker on this page for a quick, personalised read of whether you qualify before you invest hours in the application — then confirm the fine print on the official source, since awarding bodies revise criteria and amounts between cycles.

What the scholarship covers

This award typically covers: Monthly stipend (approx. €934/month for graduates); Health, accident and personal liability insurance; Travel allowance and study/research subsidy; Possible rent subsidy and family allowances. Read the value carefully — "full" funding can still leave gaps (visa fees, travel, or a partner/family), while a partial award may need topping up from savings or part-time work to satisfy a visa's proof-of-funds rule.

Who is eligible

The main requirements are strict gates rather than guidelines: EPOS requires a completed first academic degree, normally a Bachelor's; Most EPOS courses require at least 2 years of relevant professional experience after your first degree; You must meet the language requirement of the specific course (e.g. IELTS/TOEFL for English-taught). Check each against your own situation honestly before applying — the checker on this page does exactly this and flags where you may fall short.

Deadlines and how to apply well

Key dates: Varies by course — 2026-08-31. Always confirm the exact deadline on the official source, as cycles shift year to year and some awards close early once funds are committed.

Strong applications are specific and evidenced: tie your goals to what the scholarship is actually for, supply every requested document in the right format, and give referees plenty of notice. A late or incomplete submission is the most avoidable reason good candidates miss out.