1. Introduction

Imagine starting your year learning german in berlin, spending your autumn in lecture halls at charité - universitätsmedizin berlin - one of europe's largest and most respected university hospitals - completing advanced modules in heidelberg or bergen, and finishing your master's thesis in cuernavaca, mexico, at the national institute of public health.

That's exactly what the daad epos scholarship for the msc international health (mscih) offers - and it costs you nothing.

The german academic exchange service (daad) is now accepting applications for the 2027 intake. the scholarship covers your tuition, a €992 monthly stipend (€11,904 per year), travel costs, health insurance, and more - but the clock is ticking: applications close on 15 october 2026.

Here's everything you need to know, and exactly how to apply.

2.Quick Facts

1. Scholarship: DAAD EPOS - MSc International Health (MScIH)
2. Funded by: DAAD (German Government)
3. Host institution: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
4. Study level: Master's degree (MSc)
5. Duration: 12 months (fast track)
6. Locations: Berlin & Heidelberg (Germany), Bergen (Norway), Cuernavaca (Mexico)
7. Monthly stipend: €992 (€11,904/year)
8. Tuition: Fully covered
9. Eligible applicants: Nationals of low- and middle-income countries
10. Application window: 1 August - 15 October 2026
11. Deadline: 15 October 2026a

About the scholarship

The daad epos programme (development-related postgraduate courses) exists for one reason: to train professionals from low- and middle-income countries who will return home and strengthen their countries' development - in this case, their health systems.

   If selected, here's how your year unfolds:

1. July (berlin): the scholarship begins with a german language course - no prior german needed.
2. September - december (berlin): you start the mscih core course at charité.
3. January - april (berlin / heidelberg / bergen): you complete 20 ects of advanced modules. up to 10 of these credits can be taken at partner universities in heidelberg (germany) or bergen (norway).
4. May - august (cuernavaca, mexico): you write your master's thesis at the national institute of public health (insp).
5. End of august: you graduate and return to your home country - where the real work begins.
6. This is a true three-continent master's: europe for coursework, north america for research, and your home country for impact.

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

1. Monthly stipend: €992 for graduates (€11,904 per year)
2. Full tuition for the MSc International Health
3. Health, accident, and personal liability insurance
4. Travel allowance (unless already covered by your home country or another funder)
5. Additionally, under certain circumstances, you may receive:
6. A monthly rent subsidy
7. A monthly allowance for accompanying family members

Note: The higher DAAD rates for doctoral candidates (€1,300/€1,400) do not apply here - this is a Master's scholarship.

Eligibility Requirements

You can apply if you meet all of the following:

1. You are from a low- or middle-income country
2. You hold a completed academic degree of 240 ECTS / 4 years with results in the upper third of your class
3. You have at least 2 years of relevant professional experience after your Bachelor's degree (at the time of application)
4. Your last academic degree is less than 6 years old (at the time of application)
5. You meet the academic requirements to study in Germany and can realistically complete the programme
6. You can demonstrate development-related motivation - a genuine commitment to driving change in your home country after the scholarship

Watch items 2-4 closely. These are hard filters: a 3-year/180-ECTS degree, average grades, or a degree older than six years will disqualify you before anyone reads your motivation letter.

Eligible Countries

The scholarship is open to applicants from low- and middle-income countries.

DAAD typically follows the OECD DAC list of eligible countries. Before investing time in your application, confirm your country appears on the official DAAD country list for EPOS scholarships.

Available Programs / Fields

This scholarship funds one specific programme:

MSc International Health (MScIH) - full-time, on-site, 12-month fast track

The programme covers global health, public health, health systems, epidemiology, and health policy - with a specific focus on low- and middle-income country contexts.

Who Should Apply?

This scholarship is built for mid-career health professionals who want to move into international health leadership, such as:

1. Doctors, nurses, and clinical practitioners
2. Ministry of Health staff and public health officers
3. NGO and international organisation health programme staff
4. Health policy, planning, and management professionals

You should only apply if you genuinely plan to return home and apply what you learn. DAAD EPOS is not a migration pathway - commitment to your home country is central to selection.

Required Documents

Prepare these before the application window opens:

1. DAAD application checklist
2. DAAD application form
3. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
4. Letter of Motivation
5. Letter of recommendation from your current/previous employer
6. Certificate(s) of Employment
7. Proof of English language proficiency
8. Diplomas
9. Academic transcripts
10. Passport

Employer-related documents (items 5-6) are the ones that most often delay applications. Ask early.

How to Apply (Step by Step)

Step 1 - Apply online. Complete the DAAD EPOS online application form between 1 August and 15 October 2026 via the official programme page (link below).

Step 2 - Email your documents. Submit scanned copies of documents 1-9, exactly as specified in the DAAD checklist, to:

MScIH-enquiry@charite.de

Warning: You must do BOTH steps. Submitting only the online form or only the email is one of the most common reasons applications are discarded.

Application Deadline

Deadline: 15 October 2026 Application window: 1 August - 15 October 2026

Don't wait for the final week. Certified transcripts, employer letters, and English proof can take weeks to arrange.

Selection Process

The announcement does not publish the full selection procedure, but based on standard DAAD EPOS practice, you can generally expect:

Formal screening - nationality, degree, work experience, and degree age are checked first

Academic evaluation of your documents by the host institution

Shortlisting (possibly including an interview)

Final approval through DAAD

For confirmation of the exact current process, contact Charité directly at MScIH-enquiry@charite.de.

Application Tips

Make your motivation letter about your country, not yourself. Name one concrete health challenge in your country - maternal mortality, health financing, disease surveillance - and explain precisely how the MScIH skills will help you tackle it after you return. Selection panels read hundreds of "I have always dreamed of studying abroad" letters. Yours shouldn't be one of them.

Prove your experience is related. Two years of any work isn't enough - it must connect to international health. Draw the line explicitly: your role, the health problem you worked on, and why you need this MSc.

Show, don't claim, your upper-third grades. If your transcript makes this obvious, point to it. If ranking isn't stated on your documents, ask your university for an official ranking letter.

Treat the DAAD checklist as law. Document order, format, and completeness matter. Follow it exactly.

Start your English proof now. The announcement states IELTS is not required, but English proficiency is still a required document - verify which alternatives (e.g., English-medium education) the checklist accepts.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake

Why it kills your application

Applying with a 3-year/180-ECTS Bachelor's

240 ECTS / 4 years is required

Applying with less than 2 years' work experience

Hard requirement - no exceptions

Degree older than 6 years

Automatic disqualification

Grades below the upper third

Hard requirement

Generic motivation letter

Fails the "development-related motivation" test

Submitting only the online form or only the email

Both are mandatory

Ignoring the DAAD checklist format

Incomplete applications are discarded

Applying late

Missing documents can't be fixed after 15 October

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need IELTS? No - the announcement states IELTS is not required. However, proof of English proficiency is still a required document, so check the official DAAD checklist for accepted alternatives.

Do I need to speak German? No. A German language course is included at the start of the scholarship (July).

Is the degree really completed in 12 months? Yes. DAAD EPOS recipients for this programme must complete the 12-month fast track.

Where do I write my thesis? At the National Institute of Public Health in Cuernavaca, Mexico (May-August).

Can I study part of the programme outside Berlin? Yes - up to 10 of the 20 ECTS in Advanced Modules can be completed at partner universities in Heidelberg (Germany) or Bergen (Norway).

Can my family come with me? A monthly family allowance is possible "under certain circumstances." Contact DAAD for the exact conditions.

Do I have to return home afterwards? Yes. The scholarship ends at the end of August, and scholarship holders return to their home country - this is the core purpose of the EPOS programme.

Is there an application fee? No. Applying for DAAD scholarships is free. Never pay anyone who claims to "help" you win this scholarship.

Related official websites:

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin: charite.de

DAAD: Daad.de

Application enquiries: MScIH-enquiry@charite.de

Official Sources

This article is based on:

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin - official MSc International Health (MScIH) programme page

DAAD - EPOS / DAAD Scholarship Database

Official scholarship announcement published 10 September 2026

Last Updated / Verified

Last reviewed:Details were verified against the official announcement and Charité/DAAD pages at the time of writing. Scholarship terms change periodically - always confirm current details on the official pages before applying.

Disclaimer

EjoScholar is an independent information platform and is not affiliated with DAAD or Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. This article is for informational purposes only; programme details may change without notice. The only legitimate application channel is the official DAAD/Charité process described above - application is free of charge.