How I Secured a Fully Funded Master's at Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany Through the DAAD EPOS Scholarship

Hello, I’m Neha Bhandary, and I’m from Nepal. Growing up in Nepal, I saw firsthand how floods and landslides occur almost every year and how they can destroy lives, homes, and infrastructure. From an early age, this made me curious about why these disasters happen so frequently and, more importantly, what can be done to reduce their impact. This was one of the reasons I decided to pursue my Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in Nepal.

During my Bachelor’s, I was already more interested in the water-related side of civil engineering. I chose to do my final-year project in the hydropower field, which later led me to start my professional career as a Hydropower Engineer. After working in the field for more than two years, I realized that there was still so much I wanted to learn. That was when I decided that pursuing a Master’s degree in Water Resources and Environmental Management would be the right next step for me.

DAAD EPOS Scholarship Details

My sister was also a DAAD scholar, so she was actually the person who first encouraged me to apply. After that, I started researching the scholarship properly: what the requirements were, which documents I already had, and what I still needed to prepare.

For my application, the required documents included:

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or German?

Recommendation letter from my employer

• DAAD application form
• CV
• Letter of Motivation
• Bachelor’s diploma and transcript, including the grading scale
• Proof of professional experience
• School-leaving certificate

I put a lot of effort into the entire process, from collecting and preparing the documents to writing my motivation letter. While preparing my application, I realized how important the motivation letter was. It was not only about showing what I had already achieved, but also explaining why I wanted to pursue this degree and what I hoped to do with the knowledge afterward.

I applied only to Leibniz Universität Hannover for the Master’s programme in Water Resources and Environmental Management (WATENV). I received the DAAD EPOS scholarship for my studies from 2023 to 2025. My monthly scholarship stipend was €954. From this amount, I managed my living expenses in Germany, including rent and other regular expenses.

Educational Background

As I mentioned earlier, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in Nepal. The programme is normally four years long, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, my studies took around five years to complete. During my DAAD selection process, I had to explain this situation during my interview.

My academic score was not extraordinary; I would describe it as average. Before receiving the scholarship, I used to think that scholarships like DAAD were only for students with exceptional grades or extraordinary achievements. My own experience changed that perception.

Of course, academic performance matters, and you still need to meet the scholarship requirements. But I learned that your motivation, professional experience, goals, and the overall story of your application also matter. One of the requirements for my programme was at least two years of relevant professional experience, which I had gained through my work as a Hydropower Engineer.

So, especially for someone who looks at their grades and immediately thinks, “Maybe I am not good enough for this scholarship,” I would say: don't reject yourself before even applying. If you meet the requirements and genuinely know why you want to pursue the programme, give yourself the chance to apply.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Leibniz Universität Hannover?

How Did You Find Information About DAAD EPOS Scholarship and Leibniz Universität Hannover?

My sister had received a DAAD scholarship herself, so she was the person who first introduced me to the opportunity and motivated me to apply. After learning about it from her, I started doing my own research about DAAD, the eligible Master’s programmes, the requirements, and the application process.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

Yes. Since my Master’s programme was taught in English, I needed to provide proof of my English proficiency. I took the IELTS exam.

At the time I applied, I needed an overall score of at least 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each section. I prepared for IELTS by myself for around a month. I practiced for about an hour every day, focusing on the different sections of the exam, and then took the test. I was quite happy with the result.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the DAAD EPOS Scholarship?

For me, preparing for the DAAD scholarship was not something I did in one day. First, I carefully went through the requirements and made a list of all the documents I needed. Some documents, such as proof of professional experience and a recommendation letter, required help from my employer, so I made sure to prepare those in advance.I also spent quite a lot of time on my motivation letter. I tried not to write only about what I had already done, but to connect my previous studies and professional experience with what I wanted to learn during my Master’s and what I wanted to do in the future.

The entire application and selection process was quite long, so another important part of preparing was simply being patient and continuing with the process.

How is Your Experience at Leibniz Universität Hannover?

Honestly, before I left Nepal, I was very scared. I kept wondering whether I would be able to make friends, adjust to a completely different country, or feel comfortable in such a new environment.

Now, looking back after all these years, I feel that coming to Germany was one of the best decisions I made. Sometimes you really do need to come out of your comfort zone to experience a different side of life.

I made many international friends during my Master’s. We came from different countries and backgrounds, so whenever we got together, we would talk about our cultures, the differences in how we grew up, our food and traditions, and at the same time study together and prepare for exams. That international environment became one of my favourite parts of the experience.

My Master’s programme was completely taught in English. Therefore, I did not need German for my lectures, assignments, or exams.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing German?

Academically, I did not face difficulties because my entire Master’s programme was taught in English.

Outside the university, however, it is a different story. You are living in Germany, so knowing at least some basic German makes everyday life much easier. There are situations where people may not be comfortable speaking English, and things like appointments, official letters, shopping, or simply communicating in everyday situations become easier when you understand the language.

I had studied German up to A1 before coming to Germany, but looking back, I would recommend learning at least some basic German before arriving. Even reaching A2 can make the beginning of your life here much easier.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I cannot know exactly what made the selection committee choose my application, but I personally feel that my motivation to learn and continue developing in my field played an important role. My Bachelor’s degree, my professional experience in hydropower, and the Master’s programme I wanted to pursue were all connected. I think I was able to show why I wanted to continue studying in this field rather than simply saying that I wanted to study abroad.

The DAAD process is also quite long. From applying to finally knowing whether you have received the scholarship, the process can take several months. You need patience, but you also need enough motivation to keep going through every stage of the process.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

Regarding the application itself, I don't think I would change much. I did what I could with the information and resources I had at the time.

One thing I would definitely do differently, though, is learn more German before coming to Germany. I had studied until A1 before I arrived, but if I had known how useful German would be in everyday life, I would have tried to reach at least A2 or even B1 beforehand.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Keep faith in yourself and don't reject yourself before the scholarship committee even gets the chance to look at your application.

Focus on your goal and work towards it little by little. You don't have to prepare everything in one day. Read the requirements carefully, start collecting your documents early, give yourself enough time for your motivation letter, and make sure your application actually tells your story.

And don't think that you need to be extraordinary in every aspect of your profile to have a chance. I certainly didn't feel that way about myself when I applied. What you can do is show clearly why you want this opportunity, what you have done to prepare yourself for it, and what you hope to do with it afterward.

Most importantly, apply. The worst thing you can do is decide that you are not good enough and never give yourself the chance.