DAAD EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses) 2027 (Fully Funded)

Yes. It is a fully funded scholarship, which covers a full tuition fee waiver, health insurance, a monthly stipend, a research allowance, family benefits, possible rent subsidy, and language course funding among the benefits. According to Sarita Banjade, a DAAD EPOS scholar at the University of Hohenheim, it “covers tuition fees, a monthly stipend, health insurance, and travel expenses from the home country to Germany.”

Usually yes. The scholarship page says applicants should be graduates from developing or emerging countries and have at least two years of relevant professional work experience. The recipient stories reinforce that this is a serious part of EPOS, not a small detail. For example, Omobolanle Adegbola explained that “work experience was one of the scholarship requirements,” while Sarita Banjade described EPOS as intended for professionals with relevant work experience and a strong development focus.

In general, you first choose an EPOS-listed development-related postgraduate course and then apply directly to the university, not through a central DAAD portal for the degree itself. The scholarship page lists documents such as the application form, CV, motivation letter, degree certificate and transcripts, proof of English proficiency, recommendation letters, and proof of relevant work experience, with APS also mentioned for certain countries where required. Recipient experience strongly suggests that careful document preparation matters a lot. As Omobolanle Adegbola put it, “Document preparation tops the list here!”

Many EPOS-supported programs in the Global Scholarships recipient stories were taught in English. For example, Evi Mariana, who studied at Leipzig University and Justus Liebig University Giessen through DAAD EPOS, said, “Both my Master’s and PhD programs are conducted in English.” At the same time, recipients also make it clear that learning German is still useful for daily life, integration, internships, administrative tasks, and getting more out of the experience in Germany. Abeeb Ajagbe also noted that his program was generally in English, although some courses could be in German if a student spoke German.

You should be ready to prove your English proficiency, because the scholarship page lists IELTS or TOEFL-style proof as part of the application requirements. However, recipient stories show that the exact situation can depend on the university and your prior educational background. Sarita Banjade reported taking IELTS and scoring 7.5, and Evi Mariana also took IELTS for her English-taught studies. On the other hand, Sampha Sesay said, “I was exempted from taking these tests” because he could prove that his earlier studies were conducted in English. Abeeb Ajagbe similarly said he technically did not need IELTS because his Nigerian university used English as the language of instruction, although he still took it as an extra credential.

The strongest pattern across the recipient stories is clear alignment: your academic background, your work experience, your motivation letter, and your future development goals should all fit the program and the EPOS mission. Evi Mariana said that her application stood out because of “a strong connection between my professional background and the programs I applied for.” Likewise, Sarita Banjade connected her professional work as an Agricultural Officer to the goals of the scholarship, and Omobolanle Adegbola emphasized revising her motivation letter carefully and following every instruction closely.

There is not one single deadline for every EPOS applicant. The deadline varies by institution, so applicants should check the exact course or university page as early as possible and not rely on a universal date. In practice, this means you should shortlist EPOS programs early, confirm their deadlines individually, and prepare documents well in advance.