Freiburg DAAD-MEG Scholarship 2027/28: €992 Monthly
Applications are open for the Freiburg DAAD-MEG Scholarship 2027/28 until 15 October 2026. This Germany-based award supports the University of Freiburg’s MSc Environmental Governance with a €992 monthly graduate stipend and exemption from the non-EU study fee. Admission and scholarship selection are competitive. This guide focuses on the Freiburg course; our DAAD EPOS overview explains the wider programme.
Funding and costs
DAAD’s current EPOS listing provides €992 per month for graduates, contributions towards health, accident and personal liability insurance, and a travel allowance unless another source covers it. Rent and accompanying-family support are conditional, not automatic. Freiburg exempts DAAD-EPOS recipients from the €1,500-per-semester non-EU study fee.
Keep a separate budget for expenses before the first payment and for any costs outside your award. Ask for written clarification if your offer does not specify a benefit. This page does not promise reimbursement of every expense or a guaranteed award.
Eligibility: check both scholarship and admission rules
The EPOS criteria require an eligible developing-country background, a relevant bachelor’s degree, upper-third academic performance and at least two years of related work after the first degree. Academic qualifications normally must be within six years; residence in Germany beyond 15 months at the deadline excludes applicants.
MEG admission accepts relevant backgrounds such as environmental, agricultural, forest and social sciences, law, economics and development studies. The bachelor’s grade must convert to German 2.5 or better. Meeting the admission threshold does not replace the stricter scholarship selection criteria.
Work experience matters: Freiburg excludes internships and voluntary work from its two-year requirement. Academic employment is generally excluded, with very limited exceptions. An existing master’s requires a convincing reason for further postgraduate funding. Check the linked official country list and contact MEG if your country’s applicability is unclear.
English-language proof
MEG requires C1 English. Its admission page lists IELTS Academic 7, PTE Academic 76, Cambridge C1, TOEFL iBT 95 for tests before 2026 or 5 for tests from 2026. TOEFL results must be within two years. Native speakers and certain applicants whose entire university education was in English qualify for exemptions; follow the exact official conditions.
Required documents
- MEG and DAAD application forms; dated motivation letter and Europass CV.
- Degree certificate and transcripts, with certified translations where needed.
- Employment certificates, English evidence and signed DAAD checklist.
- APS for applicants from China, India or Vietnam.
- Two references: current employer and academic teacher/supervisor, sent directly by referees.
Use the official checklist for ordering, signatures and grading details. Your transcript should make the grading scale easy to identify. Compare names and dates across every document, and keep an untouched copy of the completed application.
How to apply
- Read the scholarship rules and assess your professional and academic fit.
- Complete the downloadable 2027/28 MEG form and the required DAAD documents.
- Merge the application documents into one PDF and email it to info-meg@unr.uni-freiburg.de. Referees email their letters independently.
- Retain your submission copy and check that both referees have submitted.
Use the updated email route. The programme says its former online application process will not reopen. Its dated update and form instructions take precedence over the older portal-upload wording still appearing further down the page.
Deadline and intake
The official open-call announcement confirms 15 October 2026 for the October 2027 intake. This scholarship date differs from the general May deadline displayed in the website’s sidebar. No exact cutoff time or time zone is specified in the reviewed scholarship instructions; submit early rather than assuming midnight.
The English-result exception requires registration proof for a test on or before 15 October; the result must arrive by 31 October. Follow the full official exception carefully.
Selection process
MEG first selects candidates, then DAAD reviews the nominations and makes the scholarship decision. Freiburg says first results are communicated in February, with an interview for shortlisted applicants before selection is finalised. Strong academic performance, relevant professional experience and development-related motivation matter; meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee an award.
Prepare a focused motivation letter
The MEG motivation-letter guideline limits the letter to two pages and supplies an ordered set of questions. Address your understanding of environmental governance, education and work, the programme’s relevance, professional goals and contribution to sustainable development. It also requires a signed authorship declaration.
Before writing, make a private evidence list: a problem you worked on, your specific responsibility, what you learned and a skill you now need. Use those examples to explain your course choice. Avoid unsupported impact figures and broad promises. Read the declaration carefully and write your own application.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a general DAAD application?
No. This is Freiburg’s course-specific EPOS route. Submit to MEG using its current instructions.
Is tuition covered?
DAAD-EPOS recipients receive exemption from Freiburg’s non-EU study fee.
Does an English-taught bachelor’s automatically qualify for an exemption?
No. The country and education conditions on the admission page also apply.
Is the scholarship guaranteed if I meet the requirements?
No. The university states that only a limited number of awards are available and selection is competitive.
Official links
- Freiburg DAAD-MEG instructions and document checklist
- MEG admission and English requirements
- DAAD EPOS benefits and general rules
- Official application-open announcement
Apply Now — Follow the Official MEG Instructions
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ScholarshipHubNow Editorial Team · Information verified against official Freiburg and DAAD sources on 4 October 2026. Check the official instructions again before submission.
