DAAD EPOS - Development-Related Postgraduate Courses
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
DAAD scholarships for professionals from developing countries (Ghana is on the DAAD/DAC list) with 2+ years' work experience to take selected development-related Master's (and a few PhD) courses in Germany. Apply to each course; 2027/28 deadlines mostly August-October 2026.
Verified today · verified by our team · Official page
Create a free student account to check your eligibility and get reminders.
Eligibility
- Who can apply
- Oda recipient, Developing countries
- Education required
- Bachelors completed
- Work experience
- 2+ years
- Fields
- Development studies, Agriculture, Environment, Engineering, Public health, Economics, Public policy, Education, Energy, Natural sciences
- Language
- Language requirements are set by each course (English-taught courses typically require IELTS/TOEFL; German-taught courses require German)
- Residency
- Nationality of a developing or emerging country on the DAAD EPOS list of eligible countries (OECD DAC list); Ghana is listed
- Also required
- Bachelor's degree (usually a four-year course) in an appropriate subject with above-average results (top performance third)
- At least two years' relevant professional experience after the first degree at the time of the application deadline
- Demonstrable development-related motivation and commitment to take on social responsibility at home after the scholarship
- Apply only for courses on the DAAD 'List of all Postgraduate courses with application deadlines 2027/2028'; applications go directly to the university course, not to the DAAD
- Ideally currently employed in a public authority, state institution or private company in a developing country
About this opportunity
Through its Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS), the DAAD funds graduates from developing countries to study practice-oriented Master's programmes (exceptionally PhDs) at German state universities in fields such as agriculture, water, engineering, public health, economics, planning, education and governance, so that trained experts return to drive development at home.
Applicants need a Bachelor's degree (usually four years) with above-average results, at least two years of relevant professional experience after the first degree, development-related motivation and the course's language skills; the last degree should normally be under six years old. Ghana is on the DAAD's EPOS country list (OECD DAC list). Funding: EUR 992 per month (Master's) or EUR 1,400 (PhD) plus insurance and travel for 12-42 months. Apply directly to the course; deadlines mostly Aug-Oct 2026.
- Level
- Master's, PhD
- Where
- Germany
- Duration
- 12 to 24 months (Master's, depending on the course); 36 to 42 months (PhD)
- Difficulty
- High · about 8 weeks to prepare
Funding
Fully funded
- stipend
- health insurance
- travel
- accommodation
- family allowance
Monthly payments of EUR 992 for graduates (Master's) or EUR 1,400 for doctoral candidates (from February 2026); payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance; travel allowance unless covered by another source; under certain circumstances a monthly rent subsidy and allowances for accompanying family members. Most EPOS courses at German public universities charge no tuition; check the course.
What you will need
- CV / résumé
- Motivation letter
- Reference letters
- Degree certificate
- Academic transcripts
- Language test (e.g. IELTS/TOEFL)
- Other documents
Exact documents are set by each EPOS course. Typically: DAAD application form, signed CV (Europass), signed letter of motivation referring to current occupation, academic and professional letters of recommendation, employer's confirmation of work experience (ideally with guarantee of re-employment), degree certificates and transcripts, proof of language ability; PhD applicants add a research proposal. Check the specific course page.
Track this application and eStudent360 turns the list into a checklist and, with Plus, a dated plan that works back from the deadline.