EPOS stands for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses. It’s a DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) programme that funds professionals from developing countries to take selected master’s and PhD courses in Germany, in fields such as public health, engineering, agriculture, economics and environmental management.
Unlike many scholarships, you don’t apply to DAAD directly. You apply to the course, and the course selects its scholarship holders.
What the scholarship pays
- €934 a month for master’s students, or €1,300 a month for PhD students.
- Health, accident and personal liability insurance.
- A travel allowance.
- In some cases, a rent subsidy and a family allowance.
Courses last between 12 and 42 months, and many are taught in English.
Who can apply
You must be a national of a country on the OECD’s list of aid recipients. That list includes Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, along with most African countries. You also need:
- a bachelor’s degree, usually no more than 6 years old when you apply, and
- at least 2 years of relevant work experience after that degree.
Each course adds its own requirements, such as a minimum grade or an English test score.
How to apply
- Look at the EPOS course list in the DAAD scholarship database and pick up to 3 courses.
- Rank them in order of preference.
- Apply through each course’s own process, by its own deadline.
When to apply
DAAD’s list of deadlines for courses starting in 2027/28 says “see website of the course” for every course, because each course sets its own. In the last round, most deadlines fell between June and December of the year before the course started. Check your courses now, because some may close before the end of 2026.
Tips
- Your motivation letter should link your work experience to the course and say how you’ll use the degree back home.
- Get a letter from your employer that confirms your work experience, with dates.
- Apply to courses that genuinely match your field: EPOS courses look for relevant experience, not just good grades.
Find more funded courses in our 2027 scholarship calendar.