DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) Scholarship 2027/2028: Master's or Doctoral Study in Germany With a €992–€1,400 Monthly Stipend

DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) Scholarship 2027/2028: Master’s or Doctoral Study in Germany With a €992–€1,400 Monthly Stipend

The Development-Related Postgraduate Courses programme, usually called EPOS, is a DAAD scholarship route for experienced professionals from eligible developing and newly industrialised countries. It supports postgraduate study at selected German universities in subjects connected to economic, social, environmental, health, agricultural, planning, engineering, and public-sector development. The current official call is for the 2027/28 intake.

EPOS is not one university course with one central admissions form. DAAD publishes the approved course list, eligibility rules, scholarship benefits, and general application procedure. Each participating course then sets its own application window and tells applicants how to submit. That distinction matters for the deadline: the official DAAD deadline list marks the course entries as “see website of the course,” so there is no single programme-wide closing date.

At the time of this update, the next verified deadline on a participating course’s official page is 2026-10-01 for the SEPT MBA at Leipzig University. That course’s EPOS application window runs from 2026-08-01 to 2026-10-01. Other 2027/28 courses use different dates; for example, the MSc Environmental Governance programme at the University of Freiburg identifies 2026-10-15 as its EPOS deadline. Treat the date in this page’s metadata as a live pointer to the next verified course deadline, not as a universal EPOS deadline. If you choose another course, its own official page controls.

Key details

What the scholarship covers

DAAD lists a monthly payment of €992 for graduates. For doctoral candidates, the listed payment is €1,300, with the rate shown as €1,400 beginning in February 2026. The doctoral option is exceptional within EPOS; most of the listed opportunities are postgraduate or Master’s courses. The exact funding period is tied to the study programme and ranges from 12 to 42 months.

The scholarship also includes payments toward health, accident, and personal liability insurance. DAAD provides a travel allowance unless the travel costs are covered by the scholar’s home country or another funding source. Under specified circumstances, a scholar may receive a monthly rent subsidy and a monthly allowance for accompanying family members. These extra payments are not automatic: applicants should check the DAAD rules and their personal circumstances rather than assume that every allowance will be granted.

EPOS funding should not be read as a blanket promise that every university charge disappears. DAAD describes the scholarship benefits above, while the individual course decides its admissions requirements and any tuition or programme fees. Check the selected course’s own fee page. The Freiburg Environmental Governance course, for example, states that DAAD-EPOS scholarship recipients are exempt from its study fees; that course-specific rule should not be generalized to every course in the list.

Who can apply

The programme is intended for graduates from the countries named in DAAD’s current EPOS eligible-country list. “Developing country” is not a label to guess from a general internet list; check the country document linked from the official scholarship entry and confirm that the country from which you are applying is included.

DAAD’s typical scholarship-holder profile is specific:

• You hold a Bachelor’s degree, normally from a four-year course, in an appropriate subject.
• Your first academic degree has an above-average result, described by DAAD as being in the upper third.
• You have at least two years of related professional experience after the Bachelor’s degree at the time of application.
• Your academic degree is normally no more than six years old.
• You have not been resident in Germany for more than 15 months at the application deadline.
• Your proposed study and career plan has a clear development connection, and you can show the motivation to take social responsibility and support change in your professional or personal environment after the scholarship.

Professional experience is more than a box to tick. EPOS is aimed at people already working on public, economic, technological, social, environmental, or related development questions. A public official planning services, an agricultural specialist, a health worker, an engineer working on water or energy systems, or a professional in development cooperation may be a stronger fit than a recent graduate with no relevant employment history.

Language requirements depend on the chosen course. For courses taught in English, DAAD says to provide the level of English required by that course, commonly through IELTS or TOEFL; institutional TOEFL is not accepted under the general instructions. For German-taught courses, applicants need the required German evidence, and the scholarship can include a preparatory six-month German course. DAAD states that applicants for German-taught study need at least B1 German at application because the later DSH 2 or TestDaF 4 requirement cannot be reached from no prior German knowledge during the preparatory period alone.

Courses and subjects

The 2027/28 DAAD deadline list includes courses in economic sciences and business administration, development cooperation, engineering, regional and urban planning, agriculture and forestry, natural and environmental sciences, medicine and public health, and social sciences, education, and law. Examples on the current list include MSc Development Economics at Göttingen, the SEPT MBA at Leipzig, Development Management at Ruhr University Bochum, Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security at Bonn and the United Nations University, Hydro Science and Engineering at TU Dresden, Urban Management at TU Berlin, Tropical Forestry at TU Dresden, Agricultural Economics at Hohenheim, Environmental Governance at Freiburg, and several public-health courses.

The list is a starting point, not a substitute for reading the course page. The language, degree, duration, admission rules, document format, selection method, and deadline can vary. Some listed courses may also have a specific intake pattern or a limited number of EPOS awards. Compare the course’s curriculum with the work you already do and the development problem you intend to address after graduation.

Deadline and timeline for 2027/28

The official DAAD database now links to its “List of all Postgraduate courses with application deadlines 2027/28.” In that list, the deadline column directs applicants to the website of the selected course. This is why a claim such as “the EPOS deadline is 15 October” would be unsafe: that may be correct for one course and wrong for another.

For a concrete live example, Leipzig University’s official SEPT page says that EPOS applicants for the winter term 2027/28 apply from 2026-08-01 to 2026-10-01. The University of Freiburg’s official EPOS page gives 2026-10-15 for the MSc Environmental Governance application for study beginning in the winter semester 2027/28. These dates show the pattern: the 2027/28 call is active, but each course has its own clock.

Use the following sequence:

1. Check the DAAD EPOS entry and download the current 2027/28 course list.
2. Confirm your country, degree, work experience, degree age, residence history, and language evidence against the general rules.
3. Read the admission and scholarship page for each course you are considering.
4. Record the exact deadline and submission method for each course. Do not use the date on this page as a replacement for that check.
5. Submit a complete application directly to the course or university by its stated deadline.
6. Keep a complete copy of every file. If the course committee recommends you for DAAD funding, DAAD will contact you to upload the complete application to the DAAD Portal.

How to apply

You may apply to up to three EPOS courses. If you apply to more than one, DAAD says to list them in priority order in the EPOS application form and keep that order consistent in the course applications. Applying to three courses does not create one shared submission: you still have to follow each course’s instructions and deadline.

The first submission goes to the selected postgraduate course, not to DAAD. DAAD explicitly warns that applications sent to DAAD will not be forwarded to the university. The course’s selection committee reviews the application and suggests candidates for a DAAD scholarship. Suggested candidates are then contacted by DAAD for the portal upload, after which the selection is finalised.

The general document set named by DAAD includes:

• the completed and signed checklist;
• the typed or clearly readable EPOS application form;
• a reverse-chronological CV without unexplained gaps, using the Europass template and giving exact study and work information;
• one detailed motivation letter connecting academic, professional, and personal reasons for the chosen programme;
• a current recommendation letter from the present employer on official letterhead, with signature, stamp, and current date;
• employment certificates proving at least two years of relevant post-Bachelor’s experience and, if possible, a guarantee of re-employment after returning home;
• recent language evidence required by the selected course;
• degree certificates and the complete transcript of records, with certified translations when the originals are not in German or English; and
• an APS Certificate for applicants from the People’s Republic of China.

Some courses ask for additional materials. They may require a specific CV, a separate admissions form, a research or study plan, proof of ranking, or a different way for referees to submit letters. Complete applications must be in English or German, and DAAD says incomplete applications cannot be considered.

Building a credible application

Start with the problem you already understand through work. Explain the population, institution, service, or system affected; what you have done so far; what remains unresolved; and why the selected course’s modules, methods, or fieldwork are necessary. Then describe how you will use the qualification in your professional setting. “I want an international degree” is much weaker than a specific plan tied to the work you will return to.

Use evidence from employment rather than broad adjectives. A good employer certificate can show the dates of employment, responsibilities, projects, and the relevance of the work. Your motivation letter should make the connection between those duties and the course visible within the first page. If applying to several courses, DAAD still expects one motivation letter that explains the choices and the priority order, while the course-specific materials must satisfy each university’s own rules.

Request transcripts, translations, employer letters, and recommendations early. Recommendation letters have their own formal requirements, including current date, official letterhead, signature, and stamp. Language-test appointments and score reporting can also take time. Keep the final PDFs organized in a folder that can be uploaded quickly if you are nominated for the DAAD Portal stage.

Common mistakes

Treating EPOS as one deadline. The programme page is shared, but the deadline belongs to the selected course. Check the official course site every time.

Sending the first application to DAAD. The first application goes directly to the course. DAAD receives the complete documents through its portal only after a course recommends you.

Assuming every benefit is automatic. Insurance and the travel allowance are listed core benefits; rent and family allowances depend on the applicable conditions. Confirm fees and allowances for the specific course.

Underestimating the work-experience rule. Internships or unrelated short-term work may not establish the required two years of relevant post-Bachelor’s experience. Employer certificates should make the connection clear.

Submitting a generic study plan. The development purpose, prior work, and selected modules should fit together. A letter that could be sent to any university gives the selection committee little evidence of fit.

Leaving documents incomplete or in the wrong language. DAAD requires complete applications in English or German and asks for clear copies, grading-system explanations, and certified translations where necessary.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2027/28 EPOS cycle open? Yes. DAAD has published the 2027/28 course list, and participating course pages have opened their own application windows. The closing date depends on the course.

What is the deadline shown on this page? 2026-10-01 is the next verified course deadline used for this aggregate listing, for the SEPT MBA at Leipzig University. It is not a universal EPOS deadline. A different course may close earlier or later.

Can a new graduate apply? Usually not. The general EPOS profile requires at least two years of related professional experience after the first degree.

Can someone with a Master’s degree apply? The general programme is for postgraduate study and applicants must satisfy the course’s rules. A second postgraduate degree needs a strong, well-supported justification, and the selected course may impose additional restrictions.

Are doctoral places available? In exceptional cases. Most listed opportunities are postgraduate or Master’s courses, so inspect the current 2027/28 list and the individual course description carefully.

Do all courses use English? No. The current list includes English- and German-taught courses. Language evidence and any preparatory language requirement depend on the selected programme.

Next steps

Begin with DAAD’s official EPOS database entry and its 2027/28 course list. Check the eligible-country document, shortlist courses that match your professional work, and open the official page for each one. Write down the course name, degree, language, deadline, application portal, required tests, and any tuition or additional documents in one checklist.

If the Leipzig SEPT MBA is your target, its official 2027/28 EPOS window ends on 2026-10-01. If the Freiburg MSc Environmental Governance is your target, its official page gives 2026-10-15. Those examples demonstrate why the course page, rather than a generic scholarship summary, must be the final authority. Prepare the complete file early, submit directly to the course, and retain every PDF for the possible DAAD Portal stage.