DAAD/EPOS Scholarship for Master’s Degree for Young Professionals from Developing Countries 2026 | Fully Funded

Scholarships for International

The joint scholarship by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the EPOS program is a unique opportunity for young professionals from developing countries (DAC countries) to pursue graduate studies. DAAD has selected the Master’s Program in Environmental Governance (MEG) as one of the development-related postgraduate courses, enabling the program to offer a limited number of funded EPOS scholarships.

The selection process takes place in two stages:

Initial evaluation by the MEG Program Committee.
Final review by DAAD to determine the nominees.

The process is highly competitive and requires meeting the DAAD/EPOS scholarship requirements in addition to MEG’s admission criteria.

Scholarship Details

Program Duration: 24 months.
Funding Provided:
- Tuition fees.
- €992 per month for graduates.
- Contribution towards health, accident, and personal liability insurance.
- Travel allowance (unless covered by the home country or another funding source).
- In some cases, additional benefits may include:
  - Monthly rent subsidy.
  - Monthly allowance for accompanying family members.

Eligibility Criteria

The scholarship is intended for young professionals from developing countries who meet the following requirements:

Hold a university degree not older than 6 years (as of October 2025).
Have at least 2 years of professional experience after the bachelor’s degree (internships and voluntary work are not accepted).
Academic work (teaching or research) is not considered relevant experience except in exceptional cases.
Academic performance within the top third of the graduating class.
Must not have resided in Germany for more than 15 months prior to application.
If the applicant already holds a master’s degree, they must justify why they require funding for another master’s degree.

Required Documents

Applicants must upload documents in the following order:

DAAD application form (with date of issue).
Motivation letter (up to 2 pages, stating motivation and academic priorities).
- If applying to multiple DAAD-EPOS programs, a separate motivation letter must be submitted for each program.
Curriculum Vitae (EUROPASS format, reverse chronological order, without time gaps).
University transcripts (with certified translation if required).
- Bachelor’s transcript must include the final grade and the grading scale.
- Master’s degree transcripts are not considered for evaluation but may be included for information.
Bachelor’s degree certificate (with translation if required).
Certificates of at least 2 years of relevant professional experience (must clearly state employment period, with original stamp and signature).
Letter of recommendation from current employer.
Letter of recommendation from a university professor or academic supervisor.
Proof of English proficiency (minimum scores: TOEFL iBT 95, IELTS 7.0, Cambridge C1, or PTE 76).
- Exemptions apply for native speakers of English or graduates of English-speaking universities.
DAAD checklist signed by hand.
APS certificate (mandatory only for applicants from China, India, and Vietnam).

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How to Apply

Application Period:

July 1 to October 15, 2025 (for Winter Semester 2026/27).

Application Steps:

Preliminary Eligibility Assessment (OEA):
Applicants may complete the online questionnaire to confirm eligibility. A response will be provided within one week.
Upload Required Documents:
All documents must be submitted in a single PDF file via the online application form (available from July 1, 2025).
Important Notes:
- Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Recommendation letters must be sent directly by the referees to: [email protected]

After Applying

By end of January 2026: Applicants will be informed of the preliminary results.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.
Mid-February 2026: Final admission results for the scholarship will be announced.