DAAD Scholarship 2027 for Pakistani Students

By ask2mudasar · Updated 16 October 2026 · How we verify

DAAD scholarship 2027: which programme fits you

DAAD (the German Academic Exchange Service) is not one scholarship but a family of programmes. Pakistani students mainly use three: EPOS for a master's after work experience, Research Grants for a PhD in Germany, and the HEC-DAAD PhD scholarships. Each has its own deadline, and most close a year before you would start.

Programme	Best for	Monthly amount	Key rule	Usual deadline
EPOS (development-related postgraduate courses)	Master's (sometimes PhD) in fields like engineering, economics, public health, environment	€934–992 (master's)	2 years' work experience after your bachelor's	Set by each course, mostly August – October
Research Grants – Doctoral Programmes in Germany	Full PhD or a structured doctoral programme	€1,300–1,400	Master's not older than 6 years	Set each year; applications open in June
HEC-DAAD PhD scholarships	Pakistani MS/MPhil holders, full PhD or research stays	DAAD rates	Criteria vary by track	31 August in 2026

There is no DAAD scholarship for a bachelor's degree. Germany's public universities charge little or no tuition, so DAAD funding mainly pays your living costs.

DAAD scholarship amount and benefits

A DAAD scholarship pays a monthly allowance plus insurance, travel and, for PhD holders, research costs.

Benefit	Master's (EPOS)	PhD (Research Grants)
Monthly allowance	€934–992	€1,300–1,400
Health, accident and liability insurance	Yes	Yes
Travel allowance	Yes, unless another funder pays	Yes
Research allowance	—	€460 a year
Rent subsidy	In some cases	In some cases
Family allowance	For accompanying family	For accompanying family
German language course	6 months in Germany for German-taught courses	Optional 2, 4 or 6 months before departure
Duration	12–42 months, by course	Up to 4 years (awarded one year at a time)

DAAD has raised its rates recently, so sources show both the older and the newer figures. Your award letter states the exact amount.

Eligibility for Pakistani students

EPOS (master's)

• A four-year bachelor's (BS) in a related subject, with results in the upper third of your class.
• At least two years of relevant work experience after your bachelor's, by the time you apply. Internships and volunteering do not count, and university teaching or research jobs usually do not either.
• Degree normally not older than six years when you apply.
• English-taught courses: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 (some courses ask for more). German-taught courses: at least B1 German when applying.
• Not more than 15 months' residence in Germany before applying.
• A clear plan to use the degree for development work in Pakistan.

Research Grants (PhD in Germany)

• A completed master's or MS/MPhil by the start of funding, with above-average results.
• Master's generally not older than six years at the deadline; if you have already started a PhD, it began no more than three years ago.
• A supervisor in Germany who confirms supervision (individual PhD), or contact with a structured doctoral programme.
• Not more than 15 months' residence in Germany at the deadline.
• No age limit is stated.

HEC-DAAD

For Pakistani MS/MPhil holders. Criteria vary by track (full PhD, short research stay, or co-supervised doctorate), so read HEC's call each year.

Required documents

DAAD wants documents in English or German, uploaded as PDFs. These are the ones for a PhD Research Grant; EPOS courses ask for a similar set plus proof of work experience.

• DAAD online application form (from the DAAD portal)
• CV in table format, maximum 3 pages
• Motivation letter, 1–2 pages
• Research proposal with previous research, maximum 10 pages, discussed with your supervisor (PhD)
• Research schedule and a supervisor's letter confirming supervision (individual PhD)
• List of publications, if any
• Degree certificates and transcripts (the final degree can follow later if not yet issued)
• One recommendation letter from a university teacher, on the form generated by the DAAD portal
• Language certificate: IELTS/TOEFL or German
• EPOS only: employment certificates proving at least two years' relevant work

Scans are accepted at application; DAAD may ask for certified copies later.

How to apply for a DAAD scholarship from Pakistan

EPOS master's

1. Find EPOS courses in the DAAD scholarship database and the EPOS brochure.
2. Pick up to three courses and rank them by priority.
3. Apply directly to each course, not to DAAD; DAAD does not forward applications sent to it.
4. If a course recommends you, DAAD asks you to upload your documents to the DAAD portal.
5. Final selection is made by DAAD with the course; most courses start in October the following year.

EPOS deadlines are set by each course and mostly fall between August and October, about a year before the course starts. For example, Freiburg's MSc Environmental Governance closed on 15 October 2026 for October 2027.

PhD Research Grant

1. Find a supervisor in Germany or a structured doctoral programme, and agree your research plan with them.
2. Prepare documents from April; the portal opens in June.
3. Apply on the DAAD portal before the annual deadline (set each year; the portal closes at midnight German time).
4. Selection by a DAAD committee; funding starts the following academic year.

HEC-DAAD

Watch HEC's scholarships page from July. In 2026, applications closed on 31 August 2026 and were submitted through the DAAD portal.

Tips for a stronger DAAD application

DAAD funds people with a clear plan: what you will study, why in Germany, and what you will do with it in Pakistan.

• Start a year ahead. EPOS and Research Grant deadlines fall about 12 months before the course or PhD begins.
• EPOS: make the work experience count. Show how your two-plus years of work connect to the course and to a development problem in Pakistan.
• PhD: secure the supervisor first. A supervisor's letter and a research plan agreed with them carry the most weight.
• Write a specific motivation letter that names the course, its modules and your post-study plan; avoid generic statements about Germany.
• Book IELTS early so the result is ready before the course deadline.

Common mistakes

• Applying to EPOS with internships instead of real work experience.
• Sending EPOS applications to DAAD instead of the course.
• Missing the deadline by planning for the year of study, not the year before.
• A research proposal that the German supervisor has never seen.

Scam warning: DAAD does not sell scholarships or work through paid agents. Apply only on the course website or portal.daad.de. Check offers with our Scam check.

Frequently asked questions

What is the DAAD scholarship? Funding from the German Academic Exchange Service for international students and researchers. For Pakistanis, the main options are EPOS (master's after work experience), Research Grants (PhD) and HEC-DAAD.

How to apply for a DAAD scholarship from Pakistan? For EPOS, apply directly to up to three EPOS courses. For a PhD, apply on the DAAD portal with your supervisor's letter. For HEC-DAAD, follow HEC's annual call.

Is IELTS required for the DAAD scholarship? For English-taught courses, yes: usually IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80, and some courses ask for more. German-taught courses need German instead.

Can fresh graduates apply for DAAD? Not for EPOS, which needs two years of work experience after your bachelor's. Fresh master's graduates can apply for a PhD Research Grant.

Is there a DAAD scholarship for bachelor's? No. DAAD's main scholarships for Pakistanis are for master's and PhD.

How much is the DAAD stipend? About €934–992 a month for master's and €1,300–1,400 for PhD, plus insurance and travel.

Is there an age limit for DAAD? No age limit is stated. Instead, your last degree should normally be no more than six years old when you apply.

What CGPA is required for DAAD? There is no fixed CGPA. EPOS asks for results in the upper third of your class, and Research Grants ask for above-average results.

Sources

We checked these sources on 16 October 2026:

• DAAD – Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS): eligibility, work experience, language, €934 / €1,300, apply to up to three courses
• DAAD scholarship database – Research Grants, Doctoral Programmes in Germany: €1,300, six-year rule, documents, duration
• University of Freiburg – MEG DAAD/EPOS scholarship: 15 October 2026 deadline for October 2027
• Opportunity Desk – DAAD EPOS 2027-2028: €992 for graduates; €1,400 for doctoral candidates from February 2026
• ProPakistani – HEC announces DAAD scholarships 2026: HEC-DAAD tracks and 31 August 2026 deadline
• DAAD Pakistan (daad.pk) could not be read by our tools; check it directly.

Last checked against official sources on 16 October 2026. Always confirm dates and requirements on the official website before applying.