Applications are now open for the DAAD-EPOS Scholarship for the MSc Environmental Governance programme at the University of Freiburg in Germany.
The scholarship is designed for qualified young professionals from developing countries who want to pursue postgraduate study related to environmental governance and sustainable development.
For the 2027/28 intake, eligible applicants can apply from 15 June until 15 October 2026.
ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP
The MSc Environmental Governance programme at the University of Freiburg has been selected by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as a development-related postgraduate course under the EPOS programme.
The programme is taught in English and runs for two years, covering four semesters and 120 ECTS credits.
The programme combines environmental issues with governance, policy and related social science perspectives.
WHO CAN APPLY?
The DAAD-EPOS scholarship is aimed at young professionals from DAC-listed developing countries.
Applicants must meet both the DAAD-EPOS requirements and the admission requirements for the MSc Environmental Governance programme.
Key requirements include:
• An academic degree that is not older than six years at the time of application.
• At least two years of relevant professional experience after completing a bachelor’s degree.
• Above-average academic performance, normally within the upper third.
• Applicants must not have lived in Germany for more than 15 months before applying.
• Applicants who already hold a master’s degree must provide a strong explanation for why another postgraduate degree is necessary.
The University of Freiburg specifically states that internships and voluntary work do not count toward the required two years of professional experience. Academic employment such as university teaching or research is generally not considered relevant professional experience for this scholarship.
WHAT DOES THE SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDE?
According to DAAD, EPOS scholarship benefits include:
• €992 monthly scholarship payment for graduates.
• Payments toward health, accident and personal liability insurance.
• Travel allowance, unless travel costs are covered by the applicant’s home country or another source.
Depending on individual circumstances, additional benefits such as a monthly rent subsidy or allowance for accompanying family members may also be available.
DAAD EPOS funding normally lasts between 12 and 42 months, depending on the study programme.
DAAD-EPOS recipients at the MSc Environmental Governance programme are also exempt from the €1,500-per-semester study fee charged to non-EU students.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The deadline for the DAAD-EPOS application for the 2027/28 intake is:
15 October 2026
The programme begins in October 2027.
The University of Freiburg warns that the scholarship application is highly competitive and applicants must satisfy both the scholarship requirements and the programme’s admission requirements.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants must complete the required application documents and submit them according to the University of Freiburg’s instructions.
The university currently instructs applicants to complete its Online Eligibility Assessment and submit the required documents as a single PDF to the programme’s official email address.
Applicants should carefully follow the current application instructions because incomplete applications cannot be considered.
OFFICIAL APPLICATION AND INFORMATION
University of Freiburg — DAAD-EPOS Scholarship:
https://www.meg.uni-freiburg.de/admissions/Scholarships/daad%20scholarship
DAAD EPOS information:
https://www.daad.de/en/information-services-for-higher-education-institutions/further-information-on-daad-programmes/epos/
WHY THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS IMPORTANT FOR AFRICAN STUDENTS
The DAAD-EPOS programme specifically targets qualified professionals from developing countries, making this a relevant opportunity for eligible African applicants.
For Nigerian professionals who already have the required academic background and at least two years of relevant professional experience, the University of Freiburg’s MSc Environmental Governance programme offers an opportunity to pursue an English-taught master’s degree in Germany with substantial DAAD financial support.
However, applicants should carefully check the professional-experience requirement before beginning the application.
The deadline is 15 October 2026, so eligible applicants should begin preparing their documents as soon as possible.
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