DAAD-EPOS Germany Scholarships 2026 (Fully Funded)

The DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) Scholarships are among the most prestigious opportunities offered to professionals from developing and newly industrialized countries. Funded by the German Federal Government, these scholarships enable academically qualified professionals with at least two years of work experience to pursue fully funded master's or PhD degrees at top German universities.

The DAAD EPOS Programme for the academic year 2026/27 is now open, offering generous financial support, access to world-class education, and a pathway to leadership in development sectors.

What is the DAAD EPOS Scholarship?

The EPOS programme (Entwicklungspolitisch Postgraduiertenstudiengänge) supports future leaders from developing countries in their pursuit of development-related postgraduate education in Germany. Scholars are trained to become drivers of change who can tackle social, environmental, and economic challenges in their home countries.

1. Monthly stipend:
2. €992 for master’s students
3. €1,300 for PhD candidates
4. Health, accident, and personal liability insurance
5. Travel allowance
6. Rent subsidy (if applicable)
7. Allowance for family members (if applicable)
8. Duration:
9. 12 to 24 months for master's programmes
10. Up to 42 months for PhD programmes

Fields of Study

EPOS scholarships are available across a wide range of disciplines:

1. Economic Sciences, Business Administration, Political Economics
2. Development Cooperation
3. Engineering and Related Sciences
4. Regional and Urban Planning
5. Agricultural and Forest Sciences
6. Natural and Environmental Sciences
7. Medicine and Public Health
8. Social Sciences, Education and Law
9. Media Studies

Open to applicants of all nationalities.

Eligible candidates must:

1. Be from a developing or newly industrialized country (see full list on DAAD site)
2. Hold a bachelor’s degree (typically a 4-year program) in a related field
3. Have at least two years of relevant professional experience
4. Demonstrate development-related motivation and commitment to social responsibility
5. Fulfill academic requirements (strong undergraduate performance and required language proficiency)

Application Deadlines 2026/2027

Here are some key programmes with their DAAD EPOS deadlines:

Economics & Development

HTW Berlin (MIDE) – Master in International and Development Economics:

1. Deadline: 31 August 2025

University of Göttingen – MSc Development Economics:

1. Deadline: 1 October – 15 November 2025

Engineering & Sustainability

TU Dresden – Hydro Science and Engineering:

1. Deadline: 15 October 2025

University of Oldenburg – Sustainable Renewable Energy Technologies (SuRE):

1. Deadline: 15 October 2025

University of Stuttgart – WASTE Program (Air Quality, Waste, and Wastewater Engineering):

1. Deadline: 1 August – 30 September 2025

Public Health

Charité – Berlin – MSc in International Health:

1. Deadline: 31 October 2025

University of Freiburg – Global Urban Health:

1. Deadline: 15 April – 15 October 2025

University of Bonn – MSc Global Health:

Deadline: 1 September – 15 November 2025

Environmental & Agricultural Sciences

TU Dresden – Tropical Forestry:

1. Deadline: 30 October 2025

University of Hohenheim – MSc Agricultural Economics:

1. Deadline: 15 December 2025

Social Sciences and Law

TU Berlin – MSc Urban Management:

1. Deadline: 31 August 2025

MIPLC – Munich Intellectual Property Law Center – LLM in IP and Competition Law:

1. Deadline: 15 October 2025

Note: Deadlines may vary between DAAD scholarship applicants and self-financing applicants.

For the full list of programs and deadlines, refer to the official DAAD EPOS Deadline PDF or check the individual university programme websites linked in the PDF list you provided.

How to Apply?

1. Identify eligible programs from the EPOS list
2. Apply directly to the German university with all required documents:
3. DAAD application form
4. Motivation letter
5. Academic transcripts
6. Proof of professional experience
7. Language proficiency certificate (IELTS/TOEFL for English or TestDaF for German)
8. No separate application to DAAD is required - the university will forward selected candidates to DAAD for final consideration.

Final Thoughts

The DAAD EPOS Programme 2026/27 is an unmatched opportunity for professionals from developing nations to gain world-class education in Germany, fully funded. With a broad spectrum of fields and over 40 top universities participating, the programme equips future leaders to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development in their home countries.

Start preparing your application early. Most deadlines begin in August 2025.

For complete details and programme list, visit the official DAAD EPOS page.