DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027/28: Fully Funded Master’s in Germany for Nigerians and Ghanaians

Last verified: 9 October 2026 · Intake: 2027/28 (study starts in 2027)

If you are a graduate in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia or The Gambia with at least two years of work experience, the DAAD EPOS scholarship is one of the best ways to do a fully funded master’s in Germany. DAAD is the German Academic Exchange Service, the German government’s own scholarship body. EPOS pays you a monthly allowance, your insurance and your travel, for courses picked specially for people from developing countries.

The deadlines for study starting in 2027 are running now. Several courses close on 15 October 2026, and others close later. This guide explains, in plain English, who qualifies, how much you get in naira and cedis, the 25 courses on the official list, and exactly how to apply.

Audit Card

DAAD EPOS Scholarships 2027/28

Provider	DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), with German universities
Destination	Germany
Level	Master’s (12–24 months on the current list); PhD in some cases
Funding	€992 a month for master’s (about ₦1.48 million / GH₵13,100), insurance, travel allowance; rent and family support in some cases
Eligible	Graduates from DAAD’s list of developing countries with at least 2 years’ work experience
Status	Open: deadlines differ by course
Deadlines	Many courses: 15 Oct 2026 · Some later (e.g. Hohenheim AgEcon: 15 Dec)

Official DAAD EPOS page✓ OFFICIAL SOURCE · daad.de · VERIFIED 9 OCT 2026

Scam alertYou apply directly to the German university course, for free. DAAD does not forward applications sent to it, and no agent can “secure” an EPOS place. Ignore anyone who asks you to pay for a DAAD slot or a “processing fee”.

What DAAD EPOS is

EPOS stands for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses. On its official EPOS page, DAAD says the goal is to train specialists from developing and newly industrialised countries, people who will go back and help their countries grow with less poverty and better education and health.

Here is the simple version of how it works:

• DAAD chooses a set of master’s courses at German universities that are useful for development work.
• You pick up to three of those courses and apply directly to the university, asking to be considered for a DAAD scholarship.
• The university’s committee shortlists the best candidates and recommends them to DAAD.
• DAAD makes the final decision and pays the scholarship.

Most courses on the 2027/28 list are taught in English, so you do not need to speak German for them. The funding lasts 12 to 42 months, depending on the course.

How much you get, in naira and cedis

These are the amounts on the DAAD EPOS page. We converted them at the rates of 8 and 9 October 2026 (about ₦1,490 and GH₵13.20 to one euro). Exchange rates change daily, so use these as a guide.

Under certain conditions DAAD can also pay a monthly rent subsidy and a monthly allowance if your family comes with you. If you choose a course taught in German, the scholarship includes a six-month German course in Germany before your studies.

Costs the scholarship may not cover

EPOS is generous, but it is not a blank cheque. Plan for these:

• Your application costs at home: IELTS or TOEFL, certified copies, translations if your documents are not in English or German, and internet and data.
• Tuition in Baden-Württemberg: universities in this German state charge most non-EU students €1,500 per semester (about ₦2.24 million or GH₵19,800) for many courses. Freiburg, Heidelberg, Hohenheim and Stuttgart are in this state. Ask the course office whether your EPOS place is exempt or covered before you accept.
• Semester contribution: German universities charge a small fee each semester for student services, often including a local transport ticket. Check the amount with your university.
• Settling in: first month’s rent, deposit and basic items before your first payment arrives.

Who can apply

DAAD and the course websites set these conditions. You must:

• Be from a country on DAAD’s EPOS list of eligible countries (developing and newly industrialised countries, based on the OECD’s development aid list). Check the list on the official page before you apply.
• Hold a bachelor’s degree (usually four years) in a subject related to the course, with results in the top third (“above average”)
• Have at least two years of professional experience after your bachelor’s degree, at the time you apply
• Hold a degree that is normally not more than six years old
• Show that your motivation is development-related, and that you plan to drive change in your work and community after the course
• Not have lived in Germany for more than 15 months at the application deadline

Two points that trip people up. First, several courses (for example Freiburg’s Environmental Governance and Hohenheim’s Agricultural Economics) say that internships, volunteer work and most academic jobs such as teaching or research at a university do not count as the required work experience. Second, your employment letter must show exact dates, be on letterhead, and be signed, dated and stamped. Payslips and contracts alone are not accepted at Freiburg.

Does NYSC or National Service count? DAAD does not name it. Treat it as you would any job: if it was full-time, related to your field and recorded on an official letter with dates, list it honestly, and ask the course office if you are unsure.

The 25 EPOS courses for 2027/28

These are the courses on DAAD’s official 2027/2028 EPOS list (updated June 2026). For every course, DAAD says to check the deadline on the course website.

Deadlines we confirmed

Each course sets its own DAAD deadline, usually about a year before the course starts. These are the ones we checked on the course websites on 9 October 2026:

For every other course, open the course website from the DAAD list and look for the “DAAD” or “EPOS” application section. Do not rely on the general university deadline: the DAAD scholarship deadline is often months earlier.

English (and German) requirements

For courses taught in English, you need an IELTS or TOEFL result at the level each course asks for. DAAD does not accept the institutional TOEFL. Some examples from the course pages:

• Hohenheim AgEcon: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall or TOEFL iBT 90. A university language certificate is not accepted.
• Freiburg MEG: IELTS band 7, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 or PTE Academic 76. Applicants who studied fully in English in an English-speaking country can be exempt.
• Heidelberg International Health: English at CEFR level B2, or proof that your degree was taught and assessed in English.

Can your Nigerian or Ghanaian degree count as proof of English? Some courses accept an official letter from your university saying English was the language of instruction. Others insist on a test. Check each course page, and if it is not clear, email the course office before the deadline.

For the course taught in German, you need at least B1 German when you apply and must pass DSH 2 or TestDaF 4 before the course starts.

Documents you need

DAAD’s standard EPOS list asks for these documents, in this order. Some courses ask for more, so read your course page too.

1. The completed and signed checklist
2. The DAAD application form for a study scholarship
3. A CV in reverse order (latest first) with no unexplained gaps, ideally in the Europass format
4. One letter of motivation covering your academic, professional and personal reasons. If you apply to more than one course (maximum three), explain your choices and order, and use the same letter for all
5. A letter of recommendation from your current employer, on letterhead, signed, stamped and recently dated
6. Employment certificates proving at least two years of relevant work after your bachelor’s, ideally with a promise to re-employ you when you return
7. Your IELTS or TOEFL result (or German certificate for German-taught courses)
8. Copies of your degree certificates, with certified translations if they are not in English or German
9. Your full transcript, with an explanation of the grading system

Your motivation letter carries a lot of weight. Our guide on how to write a motivation letter for a master’s scholarship walks you through it with a full sample.

How to apply, step by step

1. Open DAAD’s list of EPOS courses and choose up to three that match your degree and job.
2. Visit each course website and find its DAAD scholarship deadline, application method (often an online portal) and extra requirements.
3. Check the DAAD list of eligible countries on the official EPOS page.
4. Collect your documents early: employer letter, employment certificates, transcript, degree certificate and English test.
5. Write one strong motivation letter and list your three courses in order of priority. Do not change that order later.
6. Apply directly to each course by its deadline. Applications sent to DAAD are not forwarded.
7. If the course shortlists you, DAAD will contact you and ask you to upload your full application to the DAAD Portal as PDFs. Keep digital copies ready.

How selection works

The course’s selection committee reads all applications and recommends the best candidates to DAAD. DAAD then contacts those candidates, asks for the documents on the DAAD Portal, and makes the final choice. Courses look closely at your degree results, your work experience, how clearly your motivation connects to development in your country, and whether you are likely to succeed in a demanding German master’s.

Mistakes that get applications rejected

• Applying after the DAAD deadline because you looked at the general university deadline
• Counting internships, volunteering or university teaching as your two years of experience when the course says they do not count
• An employer letter without exact dates, letterhead, signature, date or stamp
• A degree older than six years, without checking the rule first
• Sending the application to DAAD instead of the course
• A motivation letter that talks about “wanting to see Europe” instead of the development problem you will solve at home
• Incomplete applications. DAAD says they are not considered

Related guide: Scholarship calendar 2026–2027: every major scholarship deadline in one place, in Lagos and Accra time.

Also read: Stipendium Hungaricum 2027/28: Hungary’s fully funded government scholarship, and when the next call opens.

Frequently asked questions

Is the DAAD EPOS scholarship fully funded?

It pays a monthly allowance (€992 for master’s students), contributions to health, accident and liability insurance, and a travel allowance. Some courses in Baden-Württemberg may charge tuition of €1,500 per semester to non-EU students, so confirm with your course whether you are exempt.

Can Nigerians and Ghanaians apply for DAAD EPOS?

EPOS is for graduates from developing and newly industrialised countries on DAAD’s eligible list, which is based on the OECD development aid list. Check the official list on the DAAD EPOS page before you apply.

Do I need IELTS for DAAD EPOS?

For English-taught courses, yes in most cases. You need IELTS or TOEFL at the level your course sets. Some courses accept proof that your degree was taught in English. The institutional TOEFL is not accepted.

Does NYSC count as work experience for DAAD?

DAAD does not mention NYSC. If it was full-time, related to your field and confirmed on an official dated letter, list it honestly and confirm with the course office. Internships and volunteering do not count at several courses.

What is the DAAD EPOS deadline for 2027?

It depends on the course. Freiburg, Oldenburg and Heidelberg set 15 October 2026. Hohenheim’s AgEcon window is 15 November to 15 December. Check each course website.

How many courses can I apply to?

Up to three. You list them in order of priority on the DAAD form and cannot change the order later.

Can I bring my family?

DAAD may pay a monthly family allowance under certain conditions. Ask the course and DAAD about your situation before you travel.

Sources and verification

I checked every fact in this post on 9 October 2026 against the DAAD EPOS scholarship page, DAAD’s 2027/2028 EPOS course list, the DAAD scholarships overview, and the DAAD pages of Freiburg MEG, Oldenburg SuRE, Heidelberg International Health and Hohenheim AgEcon. The Baden-Württemberg fee is from Heidelberg University. Exchange rates: about ₦1,490 and GH₵13.20 per euro (8–9 October 2026). If DAAD changes anything, I will update this post and the date at the top. Read how we check scholarships in our Editorial and Corrections Policy.

See all our Europe scholarships or every verified scholarship on the site.

Yes, It is me. I’m the De Auditor

James Christian Unya

James, known as the De Auditor, is the founder and editor of Scholarship Auditor and the Founder and Group CEO of De Auditor Group Ltd, based in Benin City, Nigeria. He checks every scholarship against the provider’s official website before it is published, and corrects posts when providers change their rules. Contact: info@scholarshipauditor.com