What Is DAAD?
DAAD is Germany's national agency for international academic cooperation, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the European Union. It isn't one scholarship but an umbrella organisation running dozens of individual funding programmes, ranging from short research internships to fully funded PhDs, each targeted at different academic levels, fields, and applicant profiles.
What Is the EPOS Programme?
EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses) is one of DAAD's flagship offerings, funding Master's and, in some cases, doctoral study at German universities for professionals from developing and newly industrialised countries, in fields tied to development policy, including engineering, public health, agriculture, environmental management, and economics.
Who Is Eligible for EPOS?
According to DAAD's own official programme guidance:
- Hold a Bachelor's degree, normally a four year course, in a subject relevant to the chosen programme
- Have completed that degree with far above average results, in the upper third of your cohort, along with at least two years of related professional experience after your first degree
- Have degrees that are normally not more than six years old at the time of application
- Not have been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months at the application deadline
- Demonstrate a development-related motivation, with a clear connection between your professional goals and your chosen study programme, and an expectation that you'll return home to apply what you've learned
- Work for a public authority or a public or private company in a developing country, engaged in planning or executing projects with a bearing on technological, economic, or social development
For German-taught courses, applicants need at least a B1 German level at the time of application, since passing the required DSH-2 or TestDaF language exam, generally after DAAD's own six month intensive language course in Germany, isn't possible without that starting foundation. For English-taught courses, language requirements are set individually by each course.
What Does the EPOS Scholarship Cover?
Confirmed directly through DAAD's official scholarship database:
- A tuition fee subsidy, though most German public universities already charge no or minimal tuition regardless of scholarship status
- A monthly stipend, currently €992 for graduate (Master's level) scholars and €1,300 for doctoral candidates, rising to €1,400 for doctoral candidates from February 2026
- Health, accident, and personal liability insurance coverage
- A travel allowance, unless these costs are already covered by your home country or another funding source
- Additional benefits under certain circumstances, which vary by specific course
How Do I Apply for EPOS?
Unlike some scholarships, EPOS doesn't take direct applications through DAAD itself:
- Choose a course from DAAD's official list of eligible EPOS postgraduate programmes, since funding is only available for programmes specifically listed under EPOS
- Apply directly to the German university offering that programme, following that university's own application process and document requirements
- If the university nominates you for funding, DAAD receives that nomination list and processes the scholarship on that basis, rather than you applying to DAAD directly
- Check the specific deadline for your chosen programme, since EPOS deadlines vary by course and university rather than following one universal date, generally falling between October and December of the year before studies begin
What Are DAAD's Other Major Scholarship Programmes?
Beyond EPOS, DAAD's other widely used tracks include:
- Study Scholarships for Graduates (Studienstipendium), funding postgraduate study across a broad range of fields and countries, generally awarded for the standard duration of the chosen programme up to a maximum of 24 months, with continuation after the first year contingent on demonstrated academic progress
- Research Grants for Doctoral Candidates and Young Academics, supporting PhD level research stays in Germany
- RISE Germany, summer research internships in Germany for undergraduate STEM students from North America, the UK, and Ireland
Each of these programmes has its own specific eligibility criteria, funding amounts, and deadlines, distinct from EPOS, so applicants should review the specific programme page for their situation directly on DAAD's official scholarship database rather than assuming EPOS terms apply universally across all DAAD funding.
Can I Work While on a DAAD Scholarship?
DAAD scholars in Germany on a student visa are generally subject to the same work rules as other international students in Germany, up to 120 full days or 240 half days a year. DAAD expects scholarship holders to prioritise their studies, and employment shouldn't interfere with academic progress.
Do I Need to Speak German?
Not necessarily. A growing number of German Master's and doctoral programmes are taught entirely in English. For programmes taught in German, DAAD's EPOS scholarship specifically includes a preparatory language course in Germany before the main study programme begins, though this requires a baseline B1 German level at the time of application, since the course alone isn't designed to take a complete beginner to the required exam level.
FAQs About DAAD Scholarships
Is DAAD one single scholarship or many different programmes?
Many different programmes. DAAD is an umbrella organisation running dozens of individual scholarships across Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, and research levels, each with its own eligibility criteria and funding structure. EPOS is one specific track among many.
Do I apply to DAAD directly for EPOS?
No. You apply directly to the German university offering your chosen EPOS-listed programme. If that university nominates you, DAAD then processes funding based on the university's nomination.
How much work experience do I need for EPOS specifically?
At least two years of relevant professional experience after your first (Bachelor's) degree, working in a role connected to development policy in your home country.
Does the DAAD scholarship cover tuition?
Yes, though most German public universities already charge little to no tuition regardless of scholarship status, so this benefit primarily covers any remaining semester fees or costs at institutions that do charge them.
Has the DAAD doctoral stipend recently changed?
Yes. The doctoral stipend under EPOS increases from €1,300 to €1,400 per month starting February 2026.
Sources: Official DAAD scholarship database (www2.daad.de), including the EPOS programme page and the general Study Scholarships programme page.
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