Applications are now open for the DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027 at Charité Berlin, offering qualified applicants from eligible low- and middle-income countries an opportunity to pursue the Master of Science in International Health in Germany.
The scholarship is offered through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Development-Related Postgraduate Courses programme, commonly known as DAAD EPOS.
For the 2027 intake, applications opened on 1 August 2026 and will close on 15 October 2026. Successful scholarship recipients will begin their studies in 2027.
The opportunity is particularly relevant to health professionals and graduates with substantial professional experience who want to strengthen their expertise in international and global health. Competition is significant: Charité reports receiving more than 800 applications annually, while the MSc International Health can host only up to three DAAD EPOS scholars each year.
DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027 at a Glance
Host Institution: Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Programme: Master of Science in International Health (MScIH)
Country: Germany
Degree Level: Master’s
Study Mode: Full-time
Scholarship: DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS)
Target Group: Qualified applicants from eligible low- and middle-income countries
Programme Language: English
Scholarship Study Track: 12 months
Applications Open: 1 August 2026
Application Deadline: 15 October 2026
Programme Intake: September 2027
Scholarships Available: Up to three EPOS scholarships per year
About the DAAD EPOS Scholarship
The Development-Related Postgraduate Courses programme is one of DAAD’s major scholarship initiatives for professionals from developing countries.
Through EPOS, selected graduates receive support to undertake development-related postgraduate education at participating German universities.
The programme is particularly targeted at professionals whose advanced education can contribute to sustainable development in their home countries and professional sectors.
Therefore, DAAD EPOS selection is not based solely on academic grades. Relevant professional experience and the connection between the applicant’s career, proposed studies and future development goals are also important.
At Charité Berlin, the eligible programme is the Master of Science in International Health.
About the MSc International Health at Charité Berlin
The MSc International Health is a postgraduate programme offered through Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
It covers several areas relevant to international health, including:
- Public health
- Epidemiology
- Tropical medicine
- Health economics
- Medical anthropology
- Healthcare management
- Disease prevention and treatment
- Health promotion
- Health systems
- Global health security
The programme is particularly relevant to professionals working in health care, public health, development organisations, humanitarian organisations, health policy, research institutions and related sectors.
Is the DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027 Fully Funded?
The DAAD EPOS programme provides comprehensive scholarship support to selected participants from developing countries.
At Charité Berlin, scholarship recipients follow a special 12-month fast-track study route for the MSc International Health.
Scholarship holders also begin with a German-language course before starting the main MSc programme.
However, applicants should distinguish between receiving an EPOS scholarship and simply gaining admission to the MSc International Health programme.
Charité can host only up to three DAAD EPOS scholars per academic year. Applicants admitted outside these funded places should not assume that they will automatically receive alternative financial support.
How the 12-Month MSc International Health Programme Works
DAAD EPOS scholars follow a structured study route.
First, scholars begin with a German-language course in July.
They then start the MSc International Health Core Course in September, which runs from September to December.
From January to April, students complete advanced modules worth 20 ECTS. These are primarily completed in Berlin, although some credits may be completed through partner institutions.
The final stage involves international mobility.
From approximately May to August, DAAD EPOS scholars spend the final four months of the scholarship in Cuernavaca, Mexico, where they work on their Master’s thesis at the National Institute of Public Health.
Applicants should therefore understand that the programme involves international academic mobility rather than taking place entirely in Germany.
Who Can Apply for the DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027?
Applicants must satisfy specific academic and professional eligibility requirements.
Candidates must come from an eligible low- or middle-income country covered by the DAAD EPOS programme.
They must also hold an academic qualification equivalent to approximately 240 ECTS or four years of university study.
Academic performance should be strong. Charité specifies that candidates should generally have achieved results within the upper third of their graduating class.
Professional experience is particularly important.
Applicants need at least two years of relevant professional experience after completing their bachelor’s degree by the time they apply.
Additionally, the applicant’s most recent academic degree should generally have been completed less than six years before the application date.
DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027 Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should generally:
- Come from an eligible low- or middle-income country
- Hold an appropriate university degree
- Have completed approximately four years or 240 ECTS of university study
- Have strong academic results
- Normally rank within the upper third of their graduating class
- Have at least two years of relevant professional experience after their bachelor’s degree
- Have obtained their most recent academic degree less than six years before applying
- Meet the English-language requirements
- Demonstrate a strong relationship between their professional experience and international health
- Submit a complete application before the deadline
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee selection because only a very small number of scholarships are available.
Can African Students Apply?
Yes.
Applicants from eligible African countries can apply for the DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027.
The programme specifically targets qualified professionals from developing countries, including many African countries.
Applicants from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and other eligible African countries can therefore apply if they meet the academic, professional and language requirements.
However, applicants should verify that their country is included in the applicable DAAD list of eligible countries.
Can Cameroonians Apply?
Yes.
Eligible applicants from Cameroon can apply for DAAD EPOS funding.
However, Cameroonian applicants should pay particular attention to the English-language requirements.
Charité provides a specific medium of instruction alternative for applicants from certain countries. Cameroon is not included in the published list for this particular exception.
Therefore, Cameroonian candidates should prepare an accepted IELTS or TOEFL result rather than assuming that a general medium of instruction letter will be sufficient.
Professional Experience Requirement
The work-experience requirement is one of the most important eligibility conditions.
Applicants need at least two years of relevant professional experience obtained after completing their bachelor’s degree.
Therefore, professional experience acquired before completing the bachelor’s degree should not automatically be counted toward the stated requirement.
Applicants must also document their employment.
Employment certificates should be issued on official letterhead and appropriately signed and stamped. Together, these documents should demonstrate at least two years of qualifying professional experience.
Candidates should begin contacting current and previous employers early enough to obtain the necessary documents.
English Language Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate sufficient English proficiency.
Accepted examples include:
IELTS: Minimum Band 6
TOEFL iBT: Minimum score of 80
TOEFL paper-based: Minimum score of 550
Charité provides a specific alternative for applicants from:
- Botswana
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Nigeria
- South Africa
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Eligible applicants from these countries may provide certification from the Dean of Studies of their previous university confirming that their entire degree was taught in English instead of submitting IELTS or TOEFL.
Applicants from countries not included in this list should follow the standard IELTS or TOEFL requirements.
Documents Required for the DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027
Applicants should prepare their documents carefully because incomplete applications may not be considered.
Required documents include:
- DAAD Application Checklist – printed, personally signed, dated and scanned.
- DAAD Application Form – printed, personally signed, dated and scanned.
- Europass Curriculum Vitae – prepared in the required format, printed, signed and dated.
- Letter of Motivation – maximum two pages.
- Employer Recommendation Letter – on official letterhead with the required signature, stamp and date.
- Employment Certificates – demonstrating at least two years of relevant post-bachelor professional experience.
- Proof of English Proficiency – normally IELTS or TOEFL unless the applicant qualifies for the stated exception.
- Degree Certificates and Academic Transcripts – including the relevant grading scale.
- Passport Copy – showing the applicant’s photograph and personal information.
Applicants whose academic documents are not in English or German should also prepare the required certified translations.
The Motivation Letter
The motivation letter must not exceed two pages.
Applicants should explain:
- Why they want to study international health
- How the programme connects with their previous education
- How it relates to their professional experience
- The health or development challenges they want to address
- How they intend to use their knowledge after completing the programme
DAAD permits applicants to apply to a maximum of three eligible EPOS programmes.
Applicants selecting multiple EPOS programmes should follow DAAD’s requirements for explaining their programme choices and ranking in the motivation letter.
Therefore, candidates should avoid using a generic motivation letter that does not clearly connect their professional background with their chosen programme.
Employer Recommendation Letter
An employer recommendation is required.
The recommendation should come from the applicant’s current or previous employer and should be prepared on official organisational or company letterhead.
It should include the required signature, stamp and current date.
A strong employer recommendation should provide meaningful information about the applicant’s professional experience, abilities and suitability for advanced study.
Academic Documents
Applicants must provide the required university degree certificates and academic transcripts.
Transcripts should include the institution’s grading scale.
Where academic documents were originally issued in a language other than English or German, certified translations should also be prepared.
Applicants requiring translations should begin the process early rather than waiting until the application deadline.
How to Apply for the DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
Confirm that your nationality is eligible for DAAD EPOS funding.
You should also confirm that you possess the required academic qualification and at least two years of relevant professional experience after your bachelor’s degree.
Step 2: Complete the Application
Complete the dedicated DAAD EPOS application for the MSc International Health at Charité.
The 2027 application period runs from 1 August to 15 October 2026.
Step 3: Prepare the DAAD Documents
Complete the required DAAD checklist and application form.
Pay close attention to instructions requiring documents to be printed, personally signed, dated and scanned.
Step 4: Prepare Your Europass CV
Applicants are required to use the Europass CV format.
Include your academic history, employment experience and other information relevant to international health.
Step 5: Write Your Motivation Letter
Prepare a focused motivation letter of no more than two pages.
Connect your academic background, professional experience, development goals and reasons for choosing the MSc International Health.
Step 6: Obtain Employer Documents
Request your employer recommendation and employment certificates early.
Ensure that the documents demonstrate the required post-Bachelor professional experience and contain the necessary letterhead, signatures and stamps.
Step 7: Prepare English-Language Evidence
Applicants who do not qualify for the specific country-based exception should prepare an accepted IELTS or TOEFL result.
Step 8: Prepare Academic Documents
Prepare your university degree certificates and transcripts.
Ensure that the grading scale is included and obtain certified translations where required.
Step 9: Submit Your Application
Complete the required application process and submit all documents according to Charité’s current instructions.
Before submitting, review the official checklist carefully to make sure nothing is missing.
DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027 Deadline
The application deadline for the DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027 at Charité Berlin is 15 October 2026.
Applications opened on 1 August 2026.
Successful candidates will enter the programme in 2027, with the main MSc International Health programme beginning in September following the preparatory German-language course.
Because the application requires employment documentation, recommendations, academic records, a motivation letter and English-language evidence, applicants should avoid waiting until the final week.
Important Dates
Applications Open: 1 August 2026
Scholarship Deadline: 15 October 2026
Preparatory German Course: Before the main MSc programme in 2027
MSc International Health Begins: September 2027
Core Course: September to December
Advanced Modules: January to April
Master’s Thesis: Approximately May to August
Scholarship Completion: End of August following the 12-month study track
How Competitive Is the DAAD EPOS Scholarship?
Competition is extremely high.
Charité reports receiving more than 800 applications annually, while the programme can host only up to three DAAD EPOS scholars each year.
Therefore, meeting the minimum eligibility requirements is not enough to guarantee selection.
Competitive applicants should demonstrate strong academic performance, relevant professional experience, convincing development goals and careful attention to the application instructions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One major mistake is applying without the required two years of relevant post-Bachelor professional experience.
Applicants should also avoid:
- Using professional experience that does not satisfy the stated requirements
- Submitting an ordinary CV instead of the requested Europass format
- Exceeding the two-page motivation-letter limit
- Missing required signatures, dates or stamps
- Providing incomplete employment documentation
- Assuming that an English medium of instruction letter is accepted for every nationality
- Submitting incomplete academic documents
- Waiting until the deadline to begin preparing the application
Use the official checklist before submitting the final application.
Final Thoughts
The DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027 at Charité Berlin provides an important funding opportunity for qualified professionals from eligible low- and middle-income countries interested in international health.
Applicants need strong academic results, an eligible university qualification and at least two years of relevant professional experience after completing their bachelor’s degree.
Applicants from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and other eligible African countries can apply, although the English-language requirements differ depending on nationality.
Competition is substantial because Charité receives hundreds of applications while offering only up to three EPOS scholarship places each year.
Candidates should therefore prepare their employment certificates, employer recommendation, Europass CV, motivation letter, academic records and English-language evidence carefully and submit the complete application before 15 October 2026.
Official Links
Charité – DAAD EPOS Scholarship for MSc International Health:
https://internationalhealth.charite.de/en/application_admission/application_daad_epos_scholarships
DAAD – Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS):
https://www.daad.de/en/information-services-for-higher-education-institutions/further-information-on-daad-programmes/epos/
