DAAD EPOS Scholarship for the MSc Development Economics at the University of Göttingen (2027 Intake)

The DAAD EPOS scholarship funds experienced graduates from developing countries to study on selected postgraduate courses in Germany, and one of those courses is the MSc Development Economics at the University of Göttingen. Nigerian graduates with a good bachelor’s degree in economics or a related subject and at least two years of full-time work experience after graduation can apply. The scholarship pays 992 euros a month, plus payments towards insurance and a travel allowance. One application to Göttingen covers both the course place and the funding. The deadline for non-EEA applicants is 15 November 2026, for a winter semester 2027 start.

This course also appears in our wider guide to fully funded scholarships for Africans, but EPOS has stricter rules than most awards on that list, so read the eligibility section carefully before you start.

Quick Facts

Item	Detail
Scholarship	DAAD EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses)
Course	MSc Development Economics
Institution	University of Göttingen, Germany
Level	Master’s degree
Application window	1 October to 15 November 2026 for non-EEA applicants
Deadline	15 November 2026
Course start	Winter semester 2027
Funding	992 euros per month for master’s students, plus insurance payments and a travel allowance
Who can apply	Graduates from eligible developing countries, including Nigeria, with at least two years of relevant work experience after the bachelor’s degree
Where to apply	Directly to the University of Göttingen, not to DAAD

Eligibility

EPOS is built for working professionals, not for students going straight from a bachelor’s degree into a master’s. You need to satisfy two sets of rules at the same time: the admission rules of the MSc Development Economics and the DAAD EPOS rules.

For the course itself, Göttingen requires:

• A bachelor’s degree of at least six semesters, with at least 180 ECTS credits, in Economics or a closely related subject. The portal converts credits from outside the ECTS system automatically; enter your original credits exactly as they appear on your transcript.
• At least 60 ECTS credits in Economics, Agricultural Economics or Econometrics. Courses in Business Administration, such as Accounting or Management, do not count as economics courses.
• At least 12 additional ECTS credits in Mathematics, Statistics or Econometrics.
• Proof of English proficiency (see the documents section for the accepted options).

For the DAAD EPOS scholarship, you must also have:

• A completed bachelor’s degree. EPOS applicants cannot apply with credits still outstanding: the full 180 ECTS and the work experience below are required by the time of application.
• At least two years of full-time work experience after your bachelor’s degree, in work relevant to the course, proven with certificates of employment.
• A degree that is normally not more than six years old. The Göttingen guide adds that a bachelor’s degree from an institution in the Global North does not qualify for EPOS.
• Above average results. DAAD describes the typical scholarship holder as having completed the first degree with results in the upper third, and Göttingen’s selection also scores your final bachelor’s grade.

DAAD also states that applicants who have been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months at the application deadline cannot be considered. Selection works on a points system covering your bachelor’s grade, your knowledge of economic theory, your CV and your interest in the development field. Shortlisted candidates are invited to an interview, held online for international applicants.

What the Scholarship Covers

DAAD sets the value of every EPOS scholarship centrally. According to DAAD, an EPOS scholarship for a master’s course provides:

• A monthly payment of 992 euros for graduates.
• Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover.
• A travel allowance, unless your home country or another source of funding already covers your travel.
• In certain circumstances, a monthly rent subsidy and a monthly allowance for accompanying family members.

DAAD gives the funding duration as 12 to 42 months, depending on the study programme. The amounts are set by DAAD under the EPOS programme rules, so check the current DAAD scholarship database entry for EPOS before you rely on any figure.

How to Apply

You apply once, directly to the University of Göttingen. That single application covers both admission to the MSc Development Economics and the EPOS scholarship. Do not send your application to DAAD: DAAD states plainly that applications sent to DAAD will not be forwarded to the university.

1. Confirm that you meet both the course requirements and the EPOS requirements above, especially the 180 ECTS rule, the economics and mathematics credit minimums, and the two years of work experience.
2. Start gathering your documents early. Employer certificates, a signed recommendation letter and any translations or notarised copies take time to arrange, and the deadline does not move.
3. During the application window (1 October to 15 November 2026), create an account on the University of Göttingen online application portal with your email address, enter the verification code sent to you, and complete your profile with your personal data and the details of your bachelor’s degree. Enter your credits exactly as shown on your transcript and let the portal convert them.
4. Start the application for the programme titled “Development Economics with DAAD EPOS Scholarship” and work through its three steps: acquired skills, further declarations, and document upload. In the acquired skills step you evidence your economics and quantitative credits and select how you will prove your English proficiency.
5. Upload the full document set listed in the next section, including the DAAD EPOS checklist and the DAAD application form.
6. Check everything for completeness before you submit. Incomplete applications, and applications sent after the deadline, are not considered. A successful submission is confirmed when the button changes to “Application Submitted” and a confirmation email reaches you. The portal does not allow changes after submission, so review each upload first.
7. Wait for the outcome. Shortlisted candidates are invited to an online selection interview, and Göttingen expects to inform applicants of the result by email around the beginning of March.

One useful option: if you would still take the course without the scholarship, the guide says you must file a second, separate application for the regular programme without EPOS. The EPOS application on its own is considered only for a place with the scholarship.

Documents to Prepare

Göttingen lists the following documents for non-EEA applicants applying with the DAAD EPOS scholarship:

• Degree certificate and transcript of records. The transcript must be in English, or come with an official English translation, and should include your grading scheme (lowest passing grade and maximum grade) if that is not already shown. Your certificate and transcript must carry either an electronic verification key or code, or be notarised copies with the official stamp and signature of your registrar’s office. A plain copy without notarisation is not sufficient.
• Official course descriptions or a syllabus for the courses you completed, so the university can judge the relevance of your previous studies, plus your bachelor’s thesis if it is relevant.
• A CV in English, in reverse chronological order and without unexplained gaps, covering your academic, professional and other relevant experience. DAAD requires the Europass template and a date of issue on the CV.
• A motivation letter of two pages, with a date of issue, explaining your academic, professional and personal reasons for choosing this course in Germany and how your motivation connects to the goals of the EPOS programme. If you are applying to more than one EPOS course (DAAD allows up to three), the same letter must go to each course and must explain your choice of courses and your order of priority.
• Proof of English proficiency, uploaded before the application period ends, because it cannot be submitted later. Accepted options include IELTS Academic at 7 or above, TOEFL iBT at 95 or above, at least 180 points on the Cambridge English Scale, at least 76 points on the Pearson Academic Global Scale of English, or proof that your degree was taught entirely in English, such as a statement on your transcript or diploma supplement or a letter from your university. Test results may not be more than three years old at the time of application.
• A one page summary of additional achievements, such as voluntary work, community engagement or research assistance, with supporting certificates combined into a single PDF file.
• The completed DAAD EPOS checklist, printed, signed with an original signature and scanned.
• The DAAD EPOS application form, completed with the same information you submit to any other EPOS course.
• Certificates of employment from your employer or employers, proving at least two years of relevant work experience after your bachelor’s degree up to the time of application. If possible, the certificate from your current employer should include a guarantee of re-employment when you return home.
• A letter of recommendation from your current employer, on official letterhead, with a signature, an official stamp and a current date of issue.

Common Mistakes

• Applying as a fresh graduate. EPOS requires two full years of relevant work experience after the bachelor’s degree at the time of application. Without it, the application cannot succeed, however strong your grades are.
• Counting the wrong courses. Business Administration subjects such as Accounting and Management do not count towards the 60 ECTS economics requirement.
• Sending the application to DAAD. EPOS applications go to the university course directly. Anything sent to DAAD is not forwarded.
• Missing DAAD formatting rules. A CV that is not in the Europass template, a motivation letter without a date of issue, or a checklist uploaded without an original signature can make an otherwise strong application invalid.
• Leaving the English certificate too late. Your language proof must be uploaded by the end of the application period. Göttingen states clearly that it cannot be handed in afterwards.
• Submitting an incomplete set. A plain photocopy of a transcript without a verification code or notarisation, or a missing employer certificate, leads to rejection.

Key Takeaways

• The deadline for Nigerian and other non-EEA applicants is 15 November 2026, for a winter semester 2027 start.
• EPOS is for experienced professionals: a completed bachelor’s degree plus two years of relevant full-time work experience are compulsory.
• DAAD funds the scholarship at 992 euros a month for master’s students, with insurance payments and a travel allowance.
• One application to the University of Göttingen covers both the course and the scholarship, and the expected outcome date is around the beginning of March.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Nigerians apply for the DAAD EPOS scholarship at Göttingen? Yes. Nigeria is a non-EEA country, and the University of Göttingen application guide has a dedicated route (Section C) for non-EEA applicants who want the MSc Development Economics with the DAAD EPOS scholarship. DAAD EPOS is open to graduates from its list of eligible developing and newly industrialised countries who meet the experience and academic rules.

Can I apply straight after my bachelor’s degree or NYSC? No. EPOS requires at least two years of full-time work experience after your bachelor’s degree, proven with certificates of employment, by the time you apply. The guide does not treat any single programme as an automatic substitute; what counts is documented, relevant employment after graduation. Fresh graduates should build the experience first and apply in a later cycle.

How much does the DAAD EPOS scholarship pay? DAAD lists a monthly payment of 992 euros for graduates on master’s courses. The scholarship also includes payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance and a travel allowance. A monthly rent subsidy and an allowance for accompanying family members may be added in certain circumstances.

Do I apply to DAAD or to the university? To the university. You submit one application to the University of Göttingen for the programme titled “Development Economics with DAAD EPOS Scholarship”, and it covers both admission and funding. DAAD does not accept or forward applications for EPOS courses.

What English proof does Göttingen accept? The accepted options include IELTS Academic at 7 or above, TOEFL iBT at 95 or above, at least 180 points on the Cambridge English Scale, or proof that your previous degree was taught entirely in English, confirmed on your transcript or diploma supplement or in a letter from your university. The certificate must be uploaded before the application period closes, and test results must be no more than three years old.

What happens if I am not awarded the scholarship? Your EPOS application is considered only for a place with the scholarship. If you would also accept a place without funding, the application guide says you must submit a second, separate application for the regular programme without EPOS, following the non-scholarship route.

Last updated: 7 November 2026

Ready to apply? Read the official University of Göttingen application guide and start your application on the university portal here: https://www.uni-goettingen.de//document/download/286b93d1993ca230ab1a72d483aa26ec.pdf/Application%20Guide_2026_v2.pdf