DAAD/EPOS Scholarships for Young Professionals from Developing Countries 2027

Aim and Benefits of DAAD/EPOS Scholarships for Young Professionals from Developing CountrieS Master's Scholarship

• Depending on academic level, monthly payments of 992 euros for graduates or 1,300 euros (1,400 euros beginning with February 2026) for doctoral candidates

• Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover

• Travel allowance, unless these expenses are covered by the home country or another source of funding

Under certain circumstances, scholarship holders may receive the following additional benefits:

• Monthly rent subsidy

• Monthly allowance for accompanying members of family

DAAD/EPOS Scholarships for Young Professionals from Developing CountrieS Master's Scholarship Courses

• Young professionals from developing countries (DAC countries) who meet all of the following requirements:

  • have an academic degree, that is not older than six years at the time of application (October 2026)

  • have a minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience (post Bachelor, at the time of application); internships and volontary work are not accepted

  Note that employment in academia, like teaching and research at a university or research institute, is not considered relevant work experience for this scholarship type; only in very exceptional cases can it be accepted.

  • have an academic degree above average (upper third)

  • having resided in Germany for no more than 15 months before applying

  Candidates who already hold a master's degree must make a well-argued case as to why they should be funded for another postgraduate degree.

• full CV without any unexplained gaps (explain all gaps longer than 3 months)

•  in reverse chronological order

• incl. the date of issue

5. Transcript of Records (original and certified translation if necessary).

• The transcript needs to be uploaded in it´s original version and if necessary in it´s  English or German certified translation.

• Your Bachelor´s transcript must contain a final weighted average/CGPA and a grading scale. The grade must be NUMERIC (not alphabetical or qualitative).  If your transcript lacks the above, please attach an annex with the missing information (e.g. link to your university´s official grading scale). Without this information we cannot assess and consider your application.

• For the assessment of your application we can only consider your bachelor grade, even if your last degree is a Master´s degree. Therefore, make sure to upload the transcript of your bachelors degree.

• It you  have a Bachelor and a Master degree please also upload the transcript of your Master degree for our information, but keep in mind that we cannot consider the grade of your Master degree.

6. University degree certificate

• The degree certificate needs to be uploaded in it´s original version and if necessary in it´s  English or German certified translation.

 7. Certificate for professional experience relevant to MEG 

•  Work certificate(s) for at least two years of relevant professional experience at the time of application (October 2026).  The letter must state the exact dates of employment in retrospective.  An employment contract or payl slip cannot be accepted as it only shows that you were employed, but not for how long. Internships or voluntary work cannot be accepted.

• the letter must be written on headed paper, including an original (not scanned) or code certified digital signature, the date and a stamp.

8. Two recommendation letters

• one from your current employer (DAAD requirement)

• one from an academic teacher or supervisor (MEG requirement)

• ask both referees to write a reference letter based on the Guideline for Referees.

• the letters must be written on headed paper, including an original (not scanned) or code certified digital signature, the date of signature and a stamp. If a stamp cannot be provided, the referee should shortly explain why.

• Do not send the reference letters yourself. These must be sent from the referees directly to us. Letters that you send us yourself cannot be recognized. Each referee should send the letter to info-meg@unr.uni-freiburg.de before Oct 15, 2026. You must fill in the names and contact dates of your chosen referees in the MEG application form, page 2.

9. English Language Certificate (originals or certified copies).

Language certificates have to be submitted until October 15. Exceptions are allowed only if applicants can upload the registration proof for a test date on or before October 15 and provide the test result until October 31. No exceptions to this rule.

• We accept either

  • TOEFL iBT before 2026 incl. home edition (95 points),

  • TOEFL iBT since 2026 incl. home edition (5 points)

             TOEFL certificates cannot be older than 2 years. We are registered for TOEFL online verification.Our TOEFL code number is 8692, dept. code 99.

  • IELTS computer or online  (Band 7), for IELTS verification there is no code number and applicants who have not already received a pdf version of their certificate should upload a screenshot of their result, which we will then verify. No limit of validity.

  • Cambridge (level C1). No limit of validity.

  • PTE (Pearson Academic, score 76). No limit of validity

EXEMPTIONS:

• Native English speakers are exempted from a language proof. They shall upload a copy of their passport.

• Applicants who followed their entire university studies in English in an English speaking country (US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) or in a country where English is the official language are exempted from the English Certificate.

Results of English tests can be submitted by email to info-meg@unr.uni-freiburg.de after October 15, but not later than 31 October.

10. Signed DAAD checklist      VERY IMPORTANT!

• The checklist has to be printed out and signed with a pen and then be scanned again (a digital signature cannot be accepted).

• The documents listed are mandatory. Please read very carefully and make sure that you submit the documents exactly the way it is required. Only tick a document off if you included it.  If a stamp or a signature when required on a document is missing, DAAD will reject the application.

11. APS Certificate

• Compulsory only for applicants from China, India and Vietnam.

12. Submit:

• Please merge all the above listed documents  in one single PDF file and upload them in the MEG online application form (see above point 2). Please put the documents in the following  order:

  • MEG application form

  • DAAD application form

  • Motivation letter

  • CV

  • Academic Transcript

  • Degree Certificate

  • Proof of 2 years work experience

  • English language certificate (if applicable)

  • APS (if applicable)

  • DAAD Checklist