Applications are open for the United Nations University–DAAD Scholarship 2027 in Germany. This opportunity supports qualified students and professionals from developing countries who want to pursue a master’s degree in environmental risks, human security and sustainable development.
The scholarship is connected to the MSc Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security. The United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and the University of Bonn jointly offer the programme.
Importantly, selected applicants can receive funding through the DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) programme. However, applicants must meet additional professional and academic requirements to qualify for EPOS funding.
The programme lasts two years and begins in October 2027. Meanwhile, the application deadline for the 2027 intake is 31 October 2026.
United Nations University–DAAD Scholarship 2027 Overview
Here are the main details:
Scholarship: DAAD EPOS Scholarship
Programme: MSc Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security
Institutions: United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security and University of Bonn
Country: Germany 🇩🇪
Location: Bonn
Study Level: Master’s
Duration: 2 years
Language: English
Programme Start: October 2027
Funding: DAAD EPOS funding for selected applicants
Target Group: Qualified candidates from eligible developing countries
Professional Experience: At least two years of relevant post-Bachelor professional experience for EPOS candidates
Application Deadline: 31 October 2026
About the United Nations University–DAAD Scholarship 2027
The MSc Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security is an interdisciplinary graduate programme.
In particular, it examines how environmental hazards interact with communities, economies and societies. Students also learn how governments and organisations can respond to environmental risks.
As a result, the programme brings together environmental science, geography, development studies and research methods.
Furthermore, students study concepts such as vulnerability, resilience, adaptation and human security. These concepts are increasingly important as countries respond to climate change and other environmental challenges.
The programme also pays significant attention to developing countries and the Global South.
Therefore, it may be especially attractive to African professionals interested in environmental management, climate adaptation, sustainable development or disaster risk reduction.
What Will You Study?
Students explore environmental risks from both physical and social perspectives.
For example, major areas include:
- Climate change adaptation
- Disaster risk reduction
- Disaster management
- Sustainable development
- Human security
- Vulnerability assessment
- Development geography
- Human-nature relationships
- Earth system science
- GIS and remote sensing
- Quantitative research methods
- Qualitative research methods
- Risk management
- Governance
- Social-ecological systems
- Humanitarian response
In addition, students learn how to analyse complex environmental challenges using different research approaches.
The programme contains 12 modules. Most importantly, students also complete practical and research components.
For instance, an internship lasting at least eight weeks forms part of the degree. Students eventually complete a master’s thesis as well.
Why Study at UNU-EHS and the University of Bonn?
One major advantage is the programme’s connection to international development and environmental research.
Students can gain exposure to researchers and organisations working on climate change, sustainable development and human security.
Moreover, Bonn hosts several international organisations and research institutions. Consequently, students study within an environment strongly connected to international development.
The programme can therefore be particularly useful for professionals interested in careers involving:
- Environmental policy
- Climate change
- Disaster management
- Sustainable development
- Humanitarian assistance
- Food security
- Spatial planning
- International development
- Research
At the same time, applicants should make sure the programme fits their previous academic training.
DAAD EPOS Scholarship Funding
The programme participates in the DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses programme, commonly called DAAD EPOS.
Through EPOS, selected students from eligible developing countries can receive substantial financial support for postgraduate study in Germany.
Funding generally includes:
- Monthly scholarship payments
- Health, accident and personal liability insurance support
- Travel allowance where applicable
- Possible rent subsidy under applicable conditions
- Possible support for accompanying family members under applicable conditions
Therefore, the scholarship can cover many of the major costs associated with studying in Germany.
However, admission to the master’s programme does not automatically guarantee a DAAD EPOS Scholarship.
Instead, eligible scholarship applicants go through a separate competitive selection process.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants need an appropriate bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification.
Generally, the programme targets applicants with backgrounds in geography or closely related disciplines.
However, the admissions team does not consider only the name of your degree.
Instead, your previous university coursework is particularly important.
Applicants should have substantial academic preparation across areas such as:
- Human Geography and Social Sciences
- Society and development
- Scientific methodology
- Empirical research methods
- Physical Geography
- Geosciences
- Environmental Sciences
- Earth System Science
Therefore, review your transcript carefully before applying.
Important Information for Engineering Graduates
Engineering graduates should pay particular attention to the programme requirements.
The programme states that it is not specifically targeted at graduates from engineering-related disciplines.
Consequently, an engineering degree does not automatically make an applicant suitable simply because it includes environmental topics.
Instead, the admissions team will consider whether your academic preparation matches the programme’s interdisciplinary geography and environmental-risk focus.
What About International Relations Graduates?
International Relations graduates should also examine their academic background carefully.
Generally, applicants from international relations or similar disciplines need a strong connection to environmental risks.
For example, previous coursework or professional experience involving climate policy, environmental security or disaster management could help demonstrate academic relevance.
Nevertheless, applicants should compare their transcripts directly with the programme requirements before applying.
Can African Students Apply?
Yes. The United Nations University–DAAD Scholarship 2027 can be particularly relevant to qualified applicants from eligible African developing countries.
In fact, the programme encourages candidates from developing countries to apply.
However, nationality alone does not guarantee eligibility.
Applicants must still satisfy the programme’s academic requirements. Furthermore, candidates seeking DAAD EPOS funding must meet additional professional requirements.
For example, relevant professional backgrounds may include:
- Climate change
- Environmental management
- Disaster risk reduction
- Sustainable development
- Humanitarian response
- GIS
- Development work
- Environmental research
Therefore, applicants should demonstrate a clear connection between their previous education, professional experience and future development goals.
DAAD EPOS Work Experience Requirement
This is one of the most important requirements.
Applicants seeking the DAAD EPOS Scholarship need at least two years of relevant professional experience after completing their bachelor’s degree.
Moreover, this experience must be accumulated by the application deadline.
Relevant experience could come from:
- Government institutions
- NGOs
- Development organisations
- International organisations
- Research institutions
- Relevant private-sector organisations
However, simply mentioning the experience on your CV is not enough.
Applicants must provide documents confirming their employment.
Therefore, start collecting employment certificates early.
Employment Certificates
Your employment documents should clearly show how long you worked for each organisation.
For example:
01.08.2023 – 31.08.2025
Together, the documents should demonstrate at least two years of qualifying post-Bachelor professional experience.
Additionally, employment certificates should come from authorised representatives of the relevant organisations.
Where required, they should include official letterhead, dates, signatures and stamps.
As a result, applicants who need documents from previous employers should request them well before the deadline.
Additional DAAD EPOS Eligibility Requirements
Besides professional experience, EPOS candidates must satisfy other conditions.
Generally, applicants should:
- Come from an eligible developing country
- Have at least two years of relevant post-Bachelor professional experience
- Have obtained their most recent academic degree within the permitted period
- Demonstrate development-related motivation
- Intend to pursue a career connected to development after graduation
- Meet the academic requirements of the Master’s programme
In addition, the current programme information states that the most recent academic degree should generally have been completed no more than six years before the application deadline.
Applicants should therefore check this condition carefully.
English Language Requirement
The programme is taught in English.
Nevertheless, applicants should not automatically assume that an English-medium bachelor’s degree removes the language requirement.
Most applicants must provide accepted evidence of English proficiency.
Currently accepted options include tests such as:
IELTS: Minimum 6.5
TOEFL iBT: Minimum 79
Duolingo English Test: Minimum 120
PTE Academic: Minimum 67
Other accepted qualifications may also be available.
Therefore, applicants should check the current official language requirements before arranging a test.
Important Information for African Applicants
Applicants from countries such as Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and other African nations should pay particular attention to the English requirement.
Studying your previous degree in English does not necessarily provide an automatic exemption.
Instead, check whether your situation meets one of the programme’s specific exemption conditions.
If it does not, prepare an accepted English-language test early.
This is especially important because waiting until October could make it difficult to obtain results before the application deadline.
Documents Required
The United Nations University–DAAD Scholarship 2027 application requires several documents.
Applicants should generally prepare:
- Completed application information
- Motivation letter
- Europass CV
- Bachelor’s degree certificate
- Academic transcripts
- Master’s certificate, if applicable
- Proof of English proficiency
- Passport copy
- Relevant employment certificates
- Internship or training certificates where applicable
- Academic references where applicable
- Academic writing sample
Additionally, some applicants may need country-specific documentation.
For example, applicants from certain countries may need an APS certificate.
Therefore, always use the official checklist for your application.
Europass CV Requirement
Applicants should prepare a recent Europass CV.
The CV should normally be no longer than three pages.
Moreover, information should be presented clearly and in reverse chronological order.
Your CV should show relevant:
- Education
- Employment
- Research
- Professional training
- Internships
- Technical skills
- Development experience
Most importantly, make sure the dates on your CV match the dates shown on your supporting documents.
Motivation Letter
Applicants also need a motivation letter.
Generally, the programme motivation letter should be around one to two pages.
A strong letter should explain why the programme fits your academic and professional development.
For example, you can discuss:
- Your previous education
- Relevant professional experience
- Environmental or development challenges you have encountered
- Why you selected this programme
- Your future professional goals
- How the programme will help you contribute to your country or region
However, avoid simply repeating your CV.
Instead, connect your experiences into a clear story showing why this particular programme is the logical next step.
Additional Documents for DAAD EPOS Applicants
Candidates seeking DAAD funding need additional documents.
These generally include:
- DAAD EPOS Checklist
- DAAD Scholarship Application Form
- Scholarship Motivation Letter
- Professional reference from the current employer
- Employment certificates demonstrating the required professional experience
Consequently, the scholarship application requires more preparation than the ordinary programme application.
Start gathering these documents early.
DAAD Scholarship Motivation Letter
The scholarship motivation letter has a different purpose from a general admission statement.
Therefore, applicants should address DAAD-specific questions.
Your letter should explain:
- Why you are applying for a DAAD scholarship
- Why you want to study in Germany
- How your academic interests relate to development
- How the programme supports your career objectives
- How you intend to contribute to development after graduation
Furthermore, your future goals should be realistic and connected to your previous experience.
Avoid making broad claims without explaining how you intend to achieve them.
Academic Writing Sample
Applicants must also submit an academic writing sample.
For the 2027 intake, the task asks applicants to connect their academic or professional experience with the areas they intend to pursue during the Master’s programme.
Therefore, the essay should demonstrate both academic thinking and personal research direction.
Applicants should explain:
- Relevant academic or professional experiences
- How those experiences could influence a future master’s thesis
- The research problem they may want to investigate
- Why their perspective could contribute to an existing research gap
In addition, applicants should support their discussion with appropriate academic literature.
The writing sample has a maximum length of 1,000 words, excluding references.
Important Rule About Artificial Intelligence
Applicants should take the writing-sample requirement seriously.
The programme requires the academic writing sample to represent the applicant’s own original work.
Moreover, applicants are required to confirm that the essay was written without AI assistance.
Therefore, do not generate the academic writing sample with ChatGPT or another AI system and submit it as your own.
Instead, personally develop the argument, conduct the research and write the final essay according to the programme’s rules.
This requirement protects academic integrity and allows the admissions committee to assess your actual writing and research ability.
How to Apply for the United Nations University–DAAD Scholarship 2027
Step 1: Check Your Academic Background
First, compare your previous university coursework with the programme requirements.
Do not rely only on your degree title.
Instead, examine whether your transcript contains enough relevant coursework in geography, environmental sciences, social sciences and research methods.
Step 2: Check Your DAAD EPOS Eligibility
Next, determine whether you qualify for scholarship consideration.
In particular, confirm your nationality, professional experience and graduation dates.
If you do not have two years of relevant post-Bachelor work experience, you should not present yourself as eligible for EPOS funding.
Step 3: Prepare Your English Certificate
After confirming your eligibility, check whether you need an English-language test.
If you do, arrange it early.
This gives you enough time to receive the required score before the deadline.
Step 4: Prepare Your Documents
Next, collect your academic and professional documents.
Pay particular attention to employment certificates because they are essential for proving your professional experience.
At the same time, prepare your CV and motivation letters.
Step 5: Write Your Academic Sample
Your academic writing sample should be completed separately.
Use the official question for the 2027 intake and follow the stated word limit.
Most importantly, comply with the programme’s academic-integrity rules.
Step 6: Combine the Main Documents
The main application documents should be arranged in the required order and combined into one PDF file.
The file must not exceed 8 MB.
Additionally, follow the official file-naming instructions.
The required format is:
[Last Name.First Name].pdf
For example:
Nfor.Primus.pdf
Step 7: Keep the Writing Sample Separate
Do not automatically merge the academic writing sample into the main application PDF.
Instead, submit it as the separate PDF requested by the programme.
Step 8: Submit Your Application
Once everything is complete, submit the application according to the official UNU-EHS instructions.
The application email is:
Before sending it, check every document again.
Incomplete or late applications may not be considered.
Application Deadline
The deadline for the United Nations University–DAAD Scholarship 2027 application is:
31 October 2026
The programme begins in:
October 2027
Although the deadline is several weeks away, applicants should begin now.
After all, obtaining employment certificates, references and English-language results can take time.
Scholarship Selection
Programme admission and DAAD scholarship selection are separate.
Therefore, receiving an offer for the Master’s programme does not automatically mean that you will receive EPOS funding.
Eligible scholarship candidates go through an additional competitive selection process.
Consequently, applicants should make both the academic application and the scholarship documents as strong as possible.
Who Should Apply?
This opportunity is particularly suitable for applicants with academic or professional experience in:
- Geography
- Environmental Science
- Climate Change
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Sustainable Development
- Environmental Management
- Humanitarian Response
- GIS and Remote Sensing
- Development Practice
- Human Security
- Risk Management
- Geosciences
Nevertheless, academic fit remains important.
For this reason, prospective applicants should compare their university transcripts with the official admission criteria before applying.
Career Opportunities
Graduates may pursue careers across several sectors.
For instance, potential areas include:
- International development
- Climate adaptation
- Environmental management
- Disaster risk reduction
- Humanitarian organisations
- Environmental policy
- Sustainable development
- Spatial planning
- Government
- Research
- International organisations
Moreover, the programme can provide useful interdisciplinary training for professionals who want to work on environmental and development challenges in the Global South.
For EPOS applicants, however, development practice should remain an important part of their professional objectives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the United Nations University–DAAD Scholarship 2027 fully funded?
Selected candidates can receive comprehensive funding through the DAAD EPOS programme.
However, admission to the MSc does not automatically guarantee scholarship funding. Instead, eligible candidates compete for the available EPOS scholarships.
Can African students apply?
Yes. Qualified applicants from eligible African developing countries can apply.
However, candidates must meet both the programme requirements and the additional DAAD EPOS conditions.
Is professional experience compulsory?
For DAAD EPOS funding, yes.
Applicants need at least two years of relevant professional experience after completing their bachelor’s degree.
Can fresh graduates apply for DAAD EPOS?
Applicants without the required two years of relevant post-Bachelor professional experience do not meet this EPOS requirement.
Therefore, fresh graduates should investigate the regular programme route and other funding opportunities.
Is IELTS required?
IELTS is one accepted option, but it is not the only accepted English test.
For example, the programme also accepts qualifying TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE Academic results.
What IELTS score is required?
The current minimum IELTS score is 6.5.
Is Duolingo accepted?
Yes. The current minimum Duolingo English Test score is 120.
Is the programme taught in English?
Yes. The programme is taught in English.
How long is the programme?
The programme lasts two years.
Can engineering graduates apply?
The programme is not primarily designed for engineering graduates.
Therefore, engineering applicants should carefully compare their academic coursework with the programme’s required background before applying.
Do I need a research proposal?
Applicants should follow the exact documentation requirements for the current intake. In particular, the programme requires an academic writing sample that demonstrates the applicant’s research interests and academic ability.
What is the deadline?
The application deadline is 31 October 2026.
Final Thoughts
The United Nations University–DAAD Scholarship 2027 is a major opportunity for professionals from developing countries who want advanced training in environmental risks, climate change, disaster management and human security.
Moreover, the programme combines the expertise of the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security with the University of Bonn.
For qualified DAAD EPOS applicants, the opportunity can also provide comprehensive financial support for graduate study in Germany.
However, this is not a simple scholarship application.
Applicants need the right academic background, while EPOS candidates also need at least two years of relevant professional experience after their bachelor’s degree. In addition, applicants may need an accepted English-language certificate, employment evidence, motivation letters and an original academic writing sample.
Therefore, eligible candidates should begin preparing well before the 31 October 2026 deadline.
Official Application Information
United Nations University – MSc Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security:
https://unu.edu/ehs/learning/msc-geography-environmental-risks-and-human-security
University of Bonn – MSc Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security:
https://www.geographie.uni-bonn.de/en/studying/geography-degree-programs/master/m-sc-georisks/msc-georisk
DAAD International Programme Information:
https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/studienangebote/international-programmes/en/detail/4342/
Application Email:
master-georisk@ehs.unu.edu
Deadline: 31 October 2026
Programme Start: October 2027
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