University of Freiburg DAAD/EPOS Scholarship 2026/2027 in Germany | Fully Funded

The University of Freiburg DAAD/EPOS Scholarship 2026/2027 is open to young professionals from developing countries who want to pursue the MSc Environmental Governance programme in Germany. The application window runs from 15 June to 15 October 2026, for study beginning in October 2027. This is one of the most document-intensive scholarship applications on ScholarWaka — twelve separate documents are required, and your application is reviewed by two bodies in sequence: the MEG programme committee first, then DAAD itself.

The scholarship is built on the current DAAD-EPOS standard package, which typically includes a monthly stipend of around €992 for master’s students, full tuition waiver, return flights, health and accident insurance, and a preparatory German language course. Confirm the exact figures for the 2026/2027 cycle on the official DAAD scholarship database, as DAAD reviews stipend amounts periodically. You must have at least two years of relevant professional experience after your bachelor’s degree — internships, volunteer work, and academic teaching positions do not count.

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Summary of the University of Freiburg DAAD/EPOS Scholarship

About the University of Freiburg DAAD/EPOS Scholarship

The DAAD-EPOS scholarship is Germany’s funding line for young professionals from developing and newly industrialised countries who want to pursue development-focused postgraduate study. EPOS stands for Educating Professionals for Sustainable Development, and the programme is run by DAAD on behalf of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

At the University of Freiburg, DAAD has selected the MSc Environmental Governance (MEG) programme as one of its eligible development-related postgraduate courses. This means a limited number of EPOS scholarships are available specifically for MEG applicants. The selection happens in two stages: the MEG programme committee reviews and shortlists candidates first, and DAAD then reviews that selection independently before making final funding decisions. This means meeting MEG’s academic admission criteria and meeting DAAD’s EPOS scholarship criteria are two separate hurdles, and you must clear both.

This scholarship application must be submitted one full year ahead of your intended start date. For study beginning in October 2027, your application is due by 15 October 2026. If you do not meet the EPOS scholarship requirements, you may still apply as a regular MEG applicant, with that application due only six months ahead of admission, by 15 May 2026.

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What the Scholarship Covers

The current standard DAAD-EPOS benefits package includes:

• Full tuition fee waiver for the duration of your MEG programme
• A monthly stipend, set at approximately €992 for master’s students at the time of writing
• A flat-rate travel allowance covering return flights between your home country and Germany
• Health, accident, and personal liability insurance for the duration of your studies
• A preparatory German language course before your studies begin, where DAAD determines this is necessary

A rent subsidy and a family allowance for accompanying dependants may apply in specific circumstances. DAAD reviews stipend amounts periodically — confirm the exact current rate and full benefits package for the 2026/2027 EPOS cycle on the official DAAD scholarship database before finalising your financial planning.

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University of Freiburg DAAD/EPOS Scholarship in Germany Eligibility Requirements

You must meet all of the following to apply:

• You must be a young professional from a developing country on the DAC (Development Assistance Committee) list
• You must hold an academic degree that is not older than six years at the time of application (October 2026)
• You must have a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience after your bachelor’s degree, at the time of application. Internships and voluntary work are not accepted. Employment in academia — teaching or research at a university or research institute — is not considered relevant work experience except in very exceptional cases
• You must hold an academic degree in the upper third of your cohort (above average)
• You must not have resided in Germany for more than 15 months before applying

If you already hold a master’s degree, you must make a well-argued case in your application explaining why you should be funded for another postgraduate degree.

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Key disqualifier: if your only relevant experience is an internship, voluntary work, or academic teaching and research, you do not meet the professional experience requirement and your application will not be considered regardless of your academic record.

Required Documents for the University of Freiburg DAAD/EPOS Scholarship 2026/2027 in Germany

All documents must be compressed or merged into a single PDF and sent to [email protected]. Incomplete applications cannot be considered.

1. DAAD Application Form — download it here: DAAD Application Form. Make sure the date of issue is included, and that every detail matches your letter of motivation, CV, and any other applications to DAAD-EPOS programmes
2. MEG Application Form — due to a technical issue, the online application process has been closed and will not be reactivated. Fill in this form and send your documents as a single PDF to [email protected]
3. Letter of Motivation — follow the MEG_DAAD Guideline, maximum two pages, and include the date of issue. If you are applying to other DAAD-EPOS master’s programmes in addition to MEG, you must write a second motivation letter explaining your choice and order of priority, using exactly the same letter across all programmes you apply to. Without this second letter, DAAD will exclude you from the process entirely. You can apply for a maximum of three DAAD-EPOS master’s programmes, and you must indicate all your choices in the DAAD application form — failing to declare multiple applications results in exclusion
4. CV — Europass format is mandatory, in reverse chronological order, with no unexplained gaps longer than three months, and including the date of issue. All details must match your DAAD application form and letter of motivation exactly
5. Transcript of Records — original version, plus a certified English or German translation if necessary. Your bachelor’s transcript must show a final weighted average or CGPA on a numeric grading scale — alphabetical or qualitative grades are not accepted without an explanatory annex. Only your bachelor’s grade is assessed, even if your most recent degree is a master’s — upload your master’s transcript for information only if you have one
6. University Degree Certificate — original version, plus certified translation if necessary
7. Certificate of Professional Experience — covering at least two years of relevant experience at the time of application, stating exact employment dates retrospectively. Employment contracts and payslips are not accepted, since they don’t confirm duration. The letter must be on headed paper with an original or code-certified digital signature, date, and stamp
8. Two Recommendation Letters — one from your current employer (a DAAD requirement) and one from an academic teacher or supervisor (a MEG requirement). Both should follow the Guideline for Referees and must be on headed paper with an original or code-certified digital signature, date, and stamp. If a stamp cannot be provided, the referee must explain why. Referees must send their letters directly to [email protected] themselves — letters sent by the applicant are not recognised. Each referee must submit before 15 October 2026, and you must list their names and contact details in the MEG application form
9. English Language Certificate — accepted tests are TOEFL iBT before 2026 including home edition (95 points), TOEFL iBT from 2026 including home edition (5 points, code 8692, department code 99), IELTS computer or online (Band 7, no validity limit), Cambridge (level C1, no validity limit), or PTE Academic (score 76, no validity limit). TOEFL certificates cannot be older than two years. Native English speakers and applicants who completed their entire university education in English in an English-speaking country are exempt and should upload a passport copy instead. Language results can be submitted after 15 October but no later than 31 October, only if proof of a test booked on or before 15 October was already submitted
10. Signed DAAD Checklist — this is very important. Print it, sign it by hand, then scan it. A digital signature is not accepted. Only tick a document if you have actually included it — DAAD will reject applications missing a required signature or stamp
11. APS Certificate — compulsory only for applicants from China, India, and Vietnam
12. Final submission — merge all documents into one single PDF in this exact order: MEG application form, DAAD application form, motivation letter, CV, academic transcript, degree certificate, proof of two years’ work experience, English language certificate (if applicable), APS certificate (if applicable), DAAD checklist

One practical warning: the professional experience certificate is one of the most commonly rejected documents in this process. An employment contract or payslip is explicitly not accepted because it does not state the retrospective duration of your employment. You need a dedicated letter, on headed paper, with a stamp and signature, that explicitly confirms your exact start and end dates.

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How to Apply for the University of Freiburg DAAD/EPOS Scholarship – Step by Step

1. Complete the Online Eligibility Assessment (OEA) as your first step before preparing any documents.
2. Download and complete the DAAD Application Form
3. Fill in the MEG application form, since the online portal has been closed due to technical issues.
4. Write your letter of motivation following the MEG_DAAD Guideline — and a second letter if applying to multiple DAAD-EPOS programmes.
5. Prepare your CV in Europass format.
6. Gather your transcript, degree certificate, professional experience certificate, and English language certificate.
7. Arrange your two recommendation letters — remind both referees that they must send their letters directly to [email protected] before 15 October 2026.
8. Print, sign by hand, and scan the DAAD checklist.
9. If you are an applicant from China, India, or Vietnam, prepare your APS certificate.
10. Merge all documents into a single PDF in the specified order and submit to [email protected] before 15 October 2026.

If you have questions ahead of applying, join one of the online info sessions, held at 14:00 CET on 15 July, 19 August, or 16 September: Zoom link.

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Application Deadline

The DAAD-EPOS scholarship application for study beginning October 2027 is due by 15 October 2026. This is one full year ahead of your intended start date. If you do not meet the scholarship eligibility requirements, you can still apply as a regular MEG applicant, with that deadline falling six months ahead of admission, on 15 May 2026.

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You will be notified of the first selection results in February. If shortlisted, you will be invited to an interview, and final scholarship decisions are made only after the interview stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the University of Freiburg DAAD/EPOS Scholarship fully funded?
Yes. The current standard DAAD-EPOS package covers full tuition, a monthly stipend of approximately €992 for master’s students, a travel allowance, and health and accident insurance. Confirm the exact figures for the 2026/2027 cycle on the official DAAD scholarship database, as amounts are reviewed periodically.

Can Nigerian and African applicants apply for this scholarship?
Yes, provided Nigeria or your specific country appears on the current DAC list of developing countries published by DAAD. Check the official EPOS programme page for the current eligible country list, as this is reviewed and can change between cycles.

Do I need work experience to apply?
Yes. You need a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience after your bachelor’s degree, confirmed by a dedicated work experience letter stating exact employment dates. Internships, voluntary work, and most academic teaching or research positions do not count toward this requirement.

Can I apply if I already have a master’s degree?
Yes, but you must include a well-argued case in your application explaining why you should be funded for another postgraduate degree. This is reviewed carefully by the selection committee.

What happens if my application is incomplete?
Incomplete applications cannot be considered. Every document on the required list must be included, correctly formatted, and signed where specified. Missing a stamp or signature on a document that requires one results in DAAD rejecting the application.

When will I know if I have been selected?
You will be notified of initial results in February. Shortlisted candidates are invited to an interview, and the final scholarship decision is made only after that interview has taken place.

Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria were verified from the official University of Freiburg MEG programme page and the DAAD scholarship database as of June 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official source before submitting your application.

Official Application Portal