Time is running out for Pakistani professionals. The application deadline for the DAAD EPOS Scholarship closes on October 15, 2026. Consequently, applicants have only nine days left to submit their documents. Successful candidates will pursue an MSc in Environmental Governance at the University of Freiburg in Germany. The academic program officially starts in October 2027.
Financial Benefits & Coverage
The DAAD EPOS Scholarship offers exceptional financial support for international students. Specifically, the program provides a monthly stipend of €992 during the funding period. Furthermore, scholars receive an absolute exemption from the €1,500 per semester study fee normally charged to non-EU students.
The scholarship also includes payments toward health, accident, and personal liability insurance. Additionally, DAAD provides a travel allowance, provided no other organization or home country already covers these travel costs. Under certain circumstances, scholarship holders can even claim additional support. This includes a monthly rent subsidy and a specific allowance for accompanying family members.
DAAD EPOS Scholarship Program Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Scholarship | DAAD EPOS Scholarship |
| University | University of Freiburg |
| Country | Germany |
| Degree | MSc Environmental Governance |
| Level | Master’s |
| Pakistani Applicants | Eligible |
| Program Duration | 2 years / 4 semesters |
| Program Start | October 2027 |
| Credits | 120 ECTS |
| Language | English |
Who Can Apply for DAAD EPOS Scholarship?
DAAD strictly targets young professionals from eligible developing and newly industrialized countries. Fortunately, Pakistan falls under the approved DAAD EPOS framework. Therefore, Pakistani citizens meet the nationality requirements.
To qualify, applicants must hold a recognized academic degree. Importantly, this Bachelor’s degree must be no more than six years old at the time of application. Moreover, candidates need at least two years of relevant professional experience. They must gain this specific experience after completing their Bachelor’s degree. Internships and voluntary work do not count toward this requirement. Likewise, the University of Freiburg notes that employment in academic teaching or research normally does not count as relevant professional experience, except in very limited cases.
Academic & Language Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate an above-average academic record. Specifically, they should rank within the upper third of their graduating class to survive the selection process. Generally, the MSc Environmental Governance program requires a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with a grade equivalent to 2.5 or better under the German grading system.
Relevant academic backgrounds include Environmental Management, Environmental Sciences, Agriculture, Forestry, Geography, Political Science, Sociology, Law, Economics, Development Studies, Natural Resource Management, and other related disciplines.
Furthermore, candidates must prove their English proficiency. You can review the exact English language requirements below.
| Test / Qualification | Minimum Requirement |
| IELTS Academic | Band 7.0 |
| PTE Academic | 76 |
| Cambridge English | C1 level |
| TOEFL iBT | 95 for tests taken before 2026 |
| TOEFL from 2026 onward | Accepted under the revised TOEFL scoring scale used by the university |
How to Apply Before the Deadline
The application process requires careful attention to detail. Applicants must prepare a complete set of documents for both admission and scholarship consideration. Required materials include the DAAD and MEG application forms, a motivation letter, a CV, a Bachelor’s degree certificate, and an academic transcript. Additionally, candidates must include proof of relevant professional experience, an accepted English-language certificate, the signed DAAD checklist, and other supporting documents requested by the university.
Next, applicants must combine or compress all these documents into one single PDF file. Finally, they must email this complete application directly to the MSc Environmental Governance program at the University of Freiburg. The scholarship and university applications remain inextricably linked. The University of Freiburg evaluates the applications first and selects suitable candidates. Subsequently, it forwards its nominations to DAAD, which reviews the files and makes the final scholarship decision.
Letters of Recommendation
Candidates also need two separate letters of recommendation. One must come from the applicant’s current employer. The other must come from an academic teacher or supervisor.
Crucially, applicants must not submit these recommendation letters themselves. Instead, the referees must send these letters directly to the MSc Environmental Governance program before the October 15 application deadline. Incomplete applications will not enter the selection process.
