Compare / DAAD EPOS vs Swedish Institute
DAAD EPOS vs Swedish Institute
Germany's development-course scholarships versus Sweden's global-professionals programme — the two strongest continental European routes compared.
| DAAD EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses) | Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) | Swedish Institute |
| Funding | Fully funded | Fully funded |
| Study destinations | Germany | Sweden |
| Degree levels | master, PhD | master |
| Who can apply | Applicants from developing countries; 2+ years work experience | See official criteria |
| Current cycle | 2027/28: see notes | 2027/28: see notes |
| Cycle notes | No single deadline: 30+ English-taught courses close individually between June and October 2026 (densest late July–September); apply directly to the university — see the official deadlines PDF | Expected mid-February 2027 (historically a ~2-week window); eligible programme list published mid-November |
Data verified 15 Jul 2026 against official sources. Nothing here is a paid placement.
Our read
Both target working professionals from developing countries, but the mechanics invert: DAAD EPOS ties you to a fixed list of development-related courses and you apply to universities directly (deadlines scattered June–October); the Swedish Institute lets you pick from hundreds of Swedish master's programmes but compresses its own application into a two-week February window after the January university deadline.
Choose EPOS if your field is on its list — the fit is deeper and German courses are included. Choose SI for flexibility of programme choice and Sweden's English-taught breadth. The timelines make combining them feasible: EPOS closes before SI opens.
DAAD EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses)
Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals
Global Study Prep is independent and not affiliated with either programme. Rules change every cycle — confirm on the official pages before applying.