The TU Berlin DAAD EPOS Scholarship is a fully funded award for international postgraduate students from developing countries who want to study at Technische Universität Berlin. EPOS stands for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses, and the money comes from the DAAD. The point of the programme is to train professionals who will take what they learn back to their home countries and work on sustainable development there.
That last part decides almost everything about who should apply. This is not a scholarship for a fresh graduate who wants a master's degree in Germany. It is aimed at people who already have a first degree and at least two years of work behind them, and who can explain how a TU Berlin course connects to development work at home. You can read the full scholarship details on our listing as well.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Study level | Master's and PhD |
| Provider | DAAD and Technische Universität Berlin |
| Country | Germany |
| Deadline | Varies, confirm on the official site |
| Official site | tu.berlin |
Why EPOS at TU Berlin is built for working professionals
Most scholarships reward grades. EPOS rewards grades plus a career that already points somewhere. The eligibility rules ask for a relevant first degree, at least two years of professional experience after graduation, and strong motivation to contribute to your home country's development. A selection committee reads your application with that lens.
TU Berlin is a strong fit for this kind of programme because of its standing in engineering, planning and environmental sciences. The eligible fields listed for this scholarship are development-related postgraduate courses, engineering, planning, environmental sciences, and economics and management. If you work in, say, water, urban planning, energy or public infrastructure in Pakistan, this is the sort of scholarship you should look at closely.
If you graduated last year and have no job history, skip it for now. The two-year experience rule is a hard requirement, and a weak application here wastes a cycle you could spend building the experience that makes you competitive later.
What the DAAD money pays for during your studies
The coverage follows DAAD guidelines. Based on the scholarship information, it can include:
- A monthly stipend for postgraduate students
- Contributions to health insurance
- Appropriate travel allowances, unless your travel is covered by your home country or another source
- Research and study subsidies where applicable
- Rent subsidies or housing allowances under DAAD guidelines
- Language course vouchers or preparatory German courses if applicable
Notice how many of those items carry conditions: "where applicable", "if applicable", "unless covered". The exact stipend amount and which extras you receive are not fixed in the information we have, so check the current DAAD rates before you build a budget around them. Public universities in Germany are tuition-free or low-fee, which is why the stipend and living support matter more here than a tuition waiver would.
Eligibility: the five rules you have to meet
To be considered, you must:
- Hold a relevant first academic degree
- Have at least two years of professional experience after graduation
- Show strong motivation to contribute to your home country's development
- Meet the specific admission requirements of your chosen TU Berlin postgraduate programme
- Meet the official language proficiency requirements of that programme
There are two sets of requirements running side by side. One belongs to the TU Berlin course you are applying to. The other belongs to the DAAD scholarship. You need to satisfy both, and meeting one does not excuse you from the other.
On nationality: the programme is for students from developing countries. Pakistani applicants should confirm on the official portal that Pakistan is on the eligible country list for the current cycle before preparing anything.
Also check that your specific master's or doctoral programme qualifies for EPOS funding at TU Berlin. Not every course at the university is part of the EPOS line, and applying to the wrong one means you are not in the scholarship pool at all.
The paperwork, and where Pakistani applicants slip
The application file has six parts:
- The DAAD application form for research grants and study scholarships
- A CV in Europass format
- A letter of motivation with a clear professional reference
- Academic degrees and transcripts
- Proof of employment and professional experience
- Language proficiency certificates
Three of these trip people up more than the rest.
The Europass CV is a specific format. Do not send your usual two-page CV with a photo and a list of hobbies. Use the Europass layout as asked.
Proof of employment has to actually prove the two years. An offer letter alone does not show how long you worked. Experience letters from employers that state your role and dates are what a reviewer will look for. If you freelanced or worked for a family business, think early about how you will document it.
Degrees and transcripts from Pakistan often need attestation before foreign institutions accept them. Our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains the process, and the documents checklist for international scholarships is useful for planning the whole file. Confirm with TU Berlin exactly which certified copies it wants.
Writing a motivation letter that fits EPOS
The motivation letter carries a lot of weight because it is where the "development" part of the programme gets tested. Generic letters about wanting a European degree do badly in programmes like this. What reviewers want is a clear professional reference: what you have done in your job, what problem you saw that you could not solve with your current skills, how this particular TU Berlin course fills that gap, and what you plan to do when you return.
Be concrete. Name the type of projects you worked on and the role you played. Tie your career goals to development at home rather than to settling abroad, because the whole scholarship exists to send trained professionals back.
The two-stage route from TU Berlin to DAAD
The application runs in two stages, and the order matters:
- Check the course offerings and admission criteria at TU Berlin, and confirm your programme is part of EPOS.
- Prepare your documents, with particular care over proof of work experience.
- Submit the application directly to TU Berlin or through the designated portal.
- Wait for the selection committee to review applications. TU Berlin then nominates candidates to the DAAD.
- If you are nominated, complete the final DAAD scholarship application.
So the university is your first gate. You do not apply to the DAAD on your own and hope for the best. If TU Berlin does not nominate you, there is no second stage.
Deadlines change by programme, so plan backwards
There is no single published deadline for this scholarship. Both the opening date and the selection and nomination period vary, and you need to confirm them on the official site. Individual programme deadlines are posted on the TU Berlin portal, and each EPOS course may set its own date.
The safest approach is to pick your target course first, find its deadline, and then work backwards. Leave time for attestation, language tests and employer letters, which are the slow parts for most Pakistani applicants. Internal university deadlines can come earlier than you expect, so aim to submit a complete file well ahead of them rather than on the last day.
If you are offered the award, the visa stage follows. Reading up on common student visa rejection reasons before you get there will save stress later. For other options in the same country, see all Germany scholarships.
Mistakes that sink otherwise good applications
- Applying to a TU Berlin course that is not part of the EPOS funding line
- Counting experience from before graduation when the rule asks for experience after it
- Sending a regular CV instead of the Europass format
- Writing a motivation letter about personal ambition with no link to development at home
- Treating the DAAD criteria as optional once the course admission requirements are met
- Leaving document collection until the deadline is close
Frequently asked questions
Is the TU Berlin DAAD EPOS Scholarship fully funded?
Yes, it is listed as fully funded. Support follows DAAD guidelines and includes a monthly stipend, health insurance contributions and travel allowances, with rent, research and language support where applicable. Check current amounts on the official site.
Can I apply straight after my bachelor's degree?
No. You need at least two years of professional experience after graduation. Fresh graduates do not meet this rule.
Can Pakistani students apply?
The programme is for applicants from developing countries. Confirm on the official portal that Pakistan is eligible for the current cycle before you apply.
Does it cover PhD study as well as master's?
Both master's and PhD levels are listed as eligible, but only for programmes that qualify for EPOS funding at TU Berlin. Check your specific programme.
Do I apply to the DAAD or to TU Berlin?
You apply to TU Berlin first, directly or through the designated portal. The university reviews applications and nominates candidates, and nominated candidates then complete the final DAAD application.
Which fields are eligible?
Development-related postgraduate courses, engineering, planning, environmental sciences, and economics and management.
For current deadlines and programme lists, go to the official TU Berlin website, and keep the full scholarship page handy as you prepare.