Applications are now for the 2026/27 fully funded DAAD Scholarship for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses in Germany

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Closing Date: Varying

Applications are now for the 2026/27 fully funded DAAD Scholarship for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses in Germany

Objective

With its development-oriented postgraduate study programmes, the DAAD promotes the training of specialists from development and newly industrialised countries. Well-trained local experts, who are networked with international partners, play an important part in the sustainable development of their countries. They are the best guarantee for a better future with less poverty, more education and health for all.

The DAAD Scholarship for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) offer foreign graduates from development and newly industrialised countries from all disciplines and with at least two years’ professional experience the chance to take a postgraduate or Master’s degree at a state or state-recognised German university, and in exceptional cases to take a doctoral degree, and to obtain a university qualification (Master’s/PhD) in Germany.

Who can apply?

Graduates with at least two years’ professional experience from the following countries: list of eligible countries

What can be funded?

Individual scholarships exclusively for Postgraduate courses in Germany that are listed on the

List of all Postgraduate courses with application deadlines 2026/27.

Duration of the funding

12 to 42 months (dependent on study programme)

Value

Depending on academic level, monthly payments of 992 euros for graduates or 1,300 euros for doctoral candidates
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, scholarship holders may receive the following additional benefits:

Monthly rent subsidy
Monthly allowance for accompanying members of family

Selection

Candidates fulfil the necessary academic requirements and can be expected to successfully complete a study programme in Germany (above-average result for first academic exam – top performance third, language skills)
Candidates have a Bachelor degree (usually a four-year course) in an appropriate subject
Candidates have at least two years’ professional experience
Candidates can prove their motivation is development-related and be expected to take on social responsibility and initiate and support processes of change in their personal and professional environment after their training/scholarship

Application deadline

Depending on chosen study programme; please check DAAD Scholarship for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses brochure or the website of your chosen study programme.

Application documents

Applications have only to be sent to the respective course directly! Please refer to their respective websites for the application procedure (e.g. online application), for the application deadline and the documents to be submitted.

You can apply for up to three courses. If applying to more than one course, please list courses in order of priority in the DAAD application forms and do not change the priorities in the according application form!

Application documents
Required documents (in the following order):

Completed and signed checklist
EPOS application form (please type your answers or make sure they are easy to read)
A curriculum vitae in reverse chronological order without any unexplained gaps (please use the europass template including exact information about your studies, and on practical experience
One Letter of Motivation with detailed reference to academic, professional and personal reasons for applying for the programme.
IMPORTANT: When applying for more than one postgraduate course (maximum 3 courses), please also give detailed reasons for your choice of courses and prioritisation in the letter of motivation. Please submit a uniform letter of motivation to all postgraduate degree programmes of your choice.
Letter of recommendation from your current employer; the letter must include official letterhead, signature and official stamp and must be of current date (not in a sealed envelope)
Certificate(s) of Employment from the employer(s) showing at least two years of relevant work experience after the Bachelor’s degree up to the time of application and if possible, a guarantee of re-employment from your current employer upon returning home. The certificate of employment from the current employer should, if possible, include a guarantee of re-employment after returning to the home country.
Recent proof of Language Skills:
o English – IELTS or TOEFL (Note: The institutional TOEFL is not accepted)
o German – required for courses taught in German
Copies of your higher education degree certificates. Please provide a certified translation if the original is not in German or English, and make sure these are clearly legible.
Copy of your full set of transcript of records. Please provide an explanation of the grading system if this is not part of the transcript.