DAAD EPOS - Development-Related Postgraduate Courses

EPOS offers individual scholarships to participants from developing countries to study development-related postgraduate courses at selected German universities. The DAAD says it has awarded more than 7,000 scholarships since 1987.

The DAAD pays EUR 992 a month to graduates and EUR 1,400 a month to doctoral candidates. It also contributes to health, accident and personal liability insurance and pays a travel allowance, with a rent subsidy and a family allowance in certain circumstances. The DAAD page does not mention tuition fees, so check with your course whether any apply. Courses last 12 to 42 months depending on the course.

You need a bachelor's degree, usually four years, in an appropriate subject with results in the upper third, and at least two years of professional experience. Your degree should normally be no more than six years old, and you must not have lived in Germany for more than 15 months at the deadline. Vietnam is on the DAAD's list of eligible countries.

The DAAD expects applicants to take on social responsibility and support processes of change. Courses cover economics, development cooperation, engineering, regional and urban planning, agriculture and forestry, environmental sciences, public health and social sciences.

Applications are sent only to the course, and the DAAD does not forward them. The DAAD deadline list for the 2027/2028 intake gives no dates and tells you to see each course website. German-taught courses need German at B1 when you apply and DSH 2 or TestDaF 4 before the start.

Documents

• Application documents set by the chosen course, including the EPOS application form, a Europass CV and a motivation letterRequired
• Recommendation letter from your current employerRequired
• Employment certificatesRequired
• Degree certificates and transcriptsRequired
• Proof of two years of professional experienceRequired
• Language proofRequired
• Guarantee of re-employment from your employerOptional