DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS)

Official overview

DAAD’s Development-Related Postgraduate Courses, commonly known as EPOS, support graduates from development and newly industrialised countries to pursue selected postgraduate courses in Germany. The official DAAD scholarship database page says the programme is for foreign graduates from development and newly industrialised countries with at least two years of professional experience, and that in exceptional cases a doctoral degree may also be possible. This is a major German scholarship route for applicants who want to study in Germany in a development-oriented programme. Because EPOS is course-based, the official scholarship page and the course-specific page are both important. For planning and comparison you may also use /tools/scholarship-finder , /tools/course-finder , and if you are converting grades for German applications, /tools/cgpa-calculator .

Funding and benefits

The official DAAD page states that EPOS provides monthly payments of 992 euros for graduates and 1,300 euros for doctoral candidates, rising to 1,400 euros from February 2026 for doctoral candidates. It also includes health, accident, and personal liability insurance, plus a travel allowance unless another source already covers those expenses. In some cases additional benefits may include a monthly rent subsidy and family allowance. Because the scholarship is administered through course selection and DAAD nomination, the exact support can depend on the selected course and any course-specific rules. Applicants should treat the DAAD database entry as the controlling funding summary and check the individual course page for any extra conditions.

Eligibility

Confirmed eligibility includes at least two years of relevant professional experience, an appropriate bachelor’s degree usually of four years, above-average academic results, and development-related motivation. The official page says applicants should normally not have academic degrees older than six years, and that people who have been resident in Germany for more than 15 months at the application deadline cannot be considered. Country eligibility is limited to the official list of eligible countries, so applicants must verify both nationality and current residence status. For German-language courses, applicants need at least B1 level at application and later must pass DSH 2 or TestDaF 4 before starting the course. For English-language courses, language proof must match the course requirements. These are confirmed rules; an applicant’s broader career story, while helpful, does not substitute for them.

Study levels and fields

EPOS covers Master’s level and, in exceptional cases, doctoral study. The programme spans many fields such as economics, engineering, natural sciences, planning, agriculture, environmental studies, public health, social sciences, and development management. The official EPOS deadlines PDF for intake 2027/2028 lists multiple courses and shows that application deadlines are course-specific. That means the field of study is not fixed at one discipline; applicants must choose from the approved postgraduate course list. The official database currently shows a range of development-oriented German university courses, and the applicant may apply for up to three courses if the course rules allow it.

Required documents and application process

The application process is direct to the chosen postgraduate course, not to DAAD as a first step. The official page says applicants must send their complete application directly to the respective course, and applications sent to DAAD will not be forwarded. Required documents include the DAAD checklist, application form, CV, motivation letter, employer recommendation, proof of employment, language certificates, degree certificates, and transcripts. Some courses require additional documents. If a candidate is shortlisted by a course, DAAD later contacts them to upload the full application to the DAAD portal. That means the process has two stages: course application first, DAAD portal second if selected. The official guidance is very clear that incomplete applications are not considered.

Timeline, conditions, and official resources

The EPOS deadlines are course-specific, so the exact deadline depends on the chosen programme. The official deadlines PDF for intake 2027/2028 lists the eligible courses, while the scholarship database page tells applicants to check the website of the chosen course. This means the deadline field in a catalog should be treated as unknown unless the applicant is looking at one specific course. Important conditions include development relevance, relevant work experience, residency restrictions, and language proof. Official resources include the DAAD EPOS database entry, the DAAD EPOS deadlines PDF, the checklist, and the individual course pages. Applicants should only trust DAAD and university pages, not third-party scholarship summaries.

How to judge whether this scholarship fits you

Begin by comparing every published condition with your own record, not with a friend's experience or an old social media post. For DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS), pay particular attention to the stated nationality or residence group of Developing and newly industrialised countries in the official DAAD EPOS country list, the Masters, Doctoral study level, and the approved study destination of Germany. Check whether the rules refer to citizenship, current residence, permanent residence, or the country where your previous degree was completed, because these are not always interchangeable. You should also confirm minimum grades, graduation dates, age limits, work experience, language tests, admission requirements, and any return-home condition. If one condition is unclear, use the official contact channel before investing time or money in documents.

Building a competitive application

Eligibility only determines whether an application can be considered. Selection is usually comparative, so a strong submission should show why your preparation, proposed study, and future plans fit the purpose of DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS). Read the provider's objectives and identify the outcomes it values, such as academic excellence, leadership, public service, research impact, professional development, or contribution to a community. Then choose evidence from your education, employment, volunteering, projects, or personal responsibilities that demonstrates those qualities. Use specific examples with a clear situation, action, and result. Avoid copying generic statements about passion or financial need. Reviewers should be able to see what you have already done, what the proposed programme will help you learn, and how you intend to use that learning after graduation.

Writing the personal statement or study plan

A persuasive statement connects your past experience to a realistic next step. Explain why your chosen field, currently recorded as Development-related postgraduate fields, matters to the problem you want to address. Show that you understand the course, institution, or research environment rather than praising it in general terms. If the scholarship asks several essay questions, answer each question directly and avoid repeating the same story. Keep claims factual and support them with evidence. A useful editing method is to ask whether every paragraph adds new information about your preparation, judgement, character, or proposed impact. Leave time for revision, and ask a trusted reader to check clarity without replacing your voice.

References and supporting evidence

Choose referees who know your recent academic or professional work and can discuss it with examples. A senior title is less valuable than direct knowledge of your abilities. Contact referees early, share the official criteria, explain your study plan, and give them the exact submission deadline. Confirm whether the referee must upload a letter, complete an online form, or send the reference from an institutional email address. Your curriculum vitae, essays, transcript, and references should tell a consistent story. Dates, job titles, grades, awards, and project descriptions must agree across documents. If a document is unavailable, translated, provisional, or issued under a different name, follow the provider's instructions instead of uploading an unexplained substitute.

Planning the funding and practical costs

The funding category recorded for this opportunity is Fully funded, but applicants should still create a complete budget. Check whether the award covers full tuition or a fixed contribution, and whether payments are made to the institution or to the scholar. Look for information about accommodation, living allowance, flights, visa charges, health insurance, research costs, dependants, and arrival expenses. Currency changes and local housing costs can affect the real value of an award. Do not assume that every cost described as eligible will be paid automatically. Where a programme offers partial support, identify a realistic source for the remaining amount before accepting an offer.

Application timeline and final checks

Work backwards from the official deadline for your application route. Reserve the final days for technical problems rather than first drafts. A practical sequence is to confirm eligibility, shortlist courses, request transcripts, contact referees, draft essays, obtain language results, and complete the online form. Some scholarships require university admission before the funding application, while others use a combined process or require nomination by a university, ministry, employer, or national agency. Submit through the correct route for your country and programme. Before pressing submit, preview every page, open uploaded files, check that names and dates are accurate, and save a copy of the completed application and confirmation message.

After submission and possible interviews

Keep monitoring the email address and application portal you used. Scholarship providers may request corrections, additional evidence, an interview, or a response within a short period. Prepare for an interview by reviewing your application, the scholarship's mission, your proposed course, and the practical impact you described. Be ready to explain decisions, limitations, and alternative plans honestly. If you receive an offer, read all conditions before accepting, including academic performance requirements, reporting duties, travel dates, visa responsibilities, and obligations after study. If you are unsuccessful, retain your materials and seek specific feedback where available. A careful application can often be adapted for another suitable opportunity without being copied unchanged.

Related scholarships and planning resources

Use the Scholarship Finder to compare your profile with the current catalog. You can also explore programmes with the Course Finder , review your academic standing with the CGPA Calculator , and read current application advice in the NGScholars article library .

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