DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS)

In short

DAAD offers EPOS scholarships for selected development-related Master's and PhD courses in Germany. The scholarship is fully funded, and applicants from Somalia are eligible.

What it covers

It includes a monthly payment, travel allowance, and health, accident and personal liability insurance. In some cases, it also provides a rent subsidy and family allowance; the course lasts 12 to 42 months.

• Tuition feesNot stated
• Living allowanceIncluded
• TravelIncluded
• Health insuranceIncluded
• Visa costsNot stated
• AccommodationPartly
• FamilyPartly

Monthly payments of €992 for graduates or €1,400 for doctoral candidates (from February 2026), a travel allowance, health, accident and personal liability insurance and, in certain cases, a rent subsidy and family allowances, for 12 to 42 months depending on the course.

Only what the official source states. "Not stated" means we could not confirm it, not that it is excluded.

Who can apply

It is for graduates from countries on the DAAD eligible-country list, including Somalia, who apply to a selected course. Applicants need a relevant bachelor's degree and at least two years of related work experience.

• Somalia is on the DAAD eligible-country list.
• Apply to one of the selected development-related courses.
• Have a relevant bachelor's degree, usually from a four-year course.
• Have far above-average academic results, in the upper third.
• Your academic degree should normally be no more than six years old.
• Have at least two years of relevant work experience after your bachelor's degree.
• For English-taught courses, provide an IELTS or TOEFL result.

Academic requirement

A bachelor's degree (usually a four-year course) in a relevant subject with far above-average results (upper third), normally not more than six years old.

Work experience

At least two years of relevant professional experience after the bachelor's degree.

Selection

The university pre-selects; a DAAD committee awards the scholarships.

English requirement

IELTS or TOEFL required

For courses taught in English, you need an IELTS or TOEFL result. Institutional TOEFL is not accepted. Courses taught in German have separate German-language requirements.

For courses taught in English, DAAD asks for an IELTS or TOEFL result (institutional TOEFL is not accepted). Courses taught in German require German (B1 to start, DSH 2 or TestDaF 4 before the course begins).

Never assume IELTS is needed. Only the official page and the university you apply to decide.

Documents you will need

• Application form
• CV
• Motivation letter / personal statement
• Recommendation (reference) letters
• Proof of work experience
• Degree certificate
• Academic transcripts
• English test result (IELTS or TOEFL)

DAAD application form, CV, motivation letter, recommendation letter(s), your employer's confirmation of work experience, certificates and transcripts and a language certificate. You apply directly to the chosen course, not to DAAD.

How to apply

1. 1Check the DAAD course list and choose a selected course in Germany.
2. 2Check the chosen course's eligibility rules, application process and deadline.
3. 3Prepare the application form, CV, motivation letter and recommendation letters.
4. 4Gather proof of work experience, degree certificates, transcripts and language test result.
5. 5Apply directly to your chosen course, following its instructions.
6. 6If DAAD selects you for the next stage, upload your full application to the DAAD Portal.

Important notes

• Deadlines vary by course. The current cycle is for the 2027 intake, with most deadlines between August and December 2026.
• Apply directly to the chosen course, not to DAAD. Applications sent to DAAD will not be forwarded.
• Only applicants suggested by the course-selection committee move to the DAAD Portal stage.
• Funding lasts 12 to 42 months, depending on the course.

Official source

ZitTalent explains; the official website decides. Always check the official page before you apply, and apply only there.

The explanation was written by AI from the verified facts and the official page, then checked by fixed rules: any amount, date, score or document the source does not state is removed.