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01 Sep 2026
German university campus, a destination for DAAD EPOS scholarship holders

The German Scholarship That Rewards Work Experience

Categories Germany, Scholarships, Study Abroad

Most fully funded master’s programmes screen on grades first. The DAAD EPOS scholarship screens on grades and on work. Germany’s Development-Related Postgraduate Courses programme will not consider you without at least two years of professional experience after your first degree, which changes who realistically competes for it.

The scheme funds graduates from developing and newly industrialised countries to take a postgraduate or master’s degree at a state or state-recognised German university. In exceptional cases it funds a doctorate. It is administered by the DAAD, Germany’s academic exchange service.

Postgraduate students in a lecture hall on a DAAD EPOS scholarship course
EPOS funds postgraduate study across a wide range of disciplines.

Who the DAAD EPOS scholarship is built for

The DAAD describes a typical holder plainly. That person works for a public authority, or for a state or private company in a developing country. They plan or execute projects with a development-policy bearing, whether technological, economic or social.

Think of a Vietnamese public-health officer who has spent three years running district immunisation logistics. That profile fits the programme far better than a stronger academic record with no working history behind it. The scheme is explicitly training specialists to return home, not recruiting talent to stay.

Eligibility rests on four things. You hold a bachelor’s degree, normally from a four-year course, in a relevant subject. Your results sit in the upper third. You have at least two years of relevant professional experience after that degree, counted at the time of application. Your degrees are normally no more than six years old.

What the EPOS scholarship actually pays

Funding runs for 12 to 42 months, depending on the study programme. The monthly payment is 934 euros for graduates and 1,300 euros for doctoral candidates.

The stipend is not the whole package. The award also covers payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance, a travel allowance unless your home country or another funder already covers it, a monthly rent subsidy, and a monthly allowance for accompanying family members. That last item matters for mid-career applicants, who are more likely to move with a partner or children.

The EPOS eligibility bar that trips most applicants

Language requirements catch people out more often than grades. For courses taught in German, you must pass DSH 2 or TestDaF 4 before the course begins. The scholarship includes a six-month preparatory German course in Germany, but you still need a current certificate showing at least B1 German at the time of application.

The DAAD is direct about why. You cannot reach DSH or TestDaF level from nothing, even with the six-month intensive course, and passing the test is a formal condition of enrolling at the university. For English-taught courses you supply IELTS or TOEFL results. The institutional TOEFL is not accepted.

Applicants from the People’s Republic of China must also submit an APS certificate. Applications must be complete and written in English or German. Incomplete files are not considered, and there is no correction round.

How the EPOS application route works, and why deadlines differ

This is the part most guides get wrong. You do not apply to the DAAD. You apply directly to the postgraduate course you want, using that course’s own procedure and its own deadline. Applications sent to the DAAD are not forwarded.

Each course sets its own application deadline. There is no single closing date for the programme, which means two courses in the same intake year can close months apart. Check the deadline on the page of every course you are targeting, and check it again close to submission.

You may apply for up to three courses. If you do, list them in priority order in the DAAD application forms and keep that order consistent across every form. Submit one motivation letter that explains why you chose those specific courses and that ranking. The DAAD warns that ignoring this can void an application, or even an award already made.

The selection sequence runs in four steps. You send complete applications to the courses. A selection committee proposes candidates for a scholarship. Proposed candidates are contacted by the DAAD and upload their full file to the DAAD Portal. The process is then finalised and candidates are informed. Keep a PDF copy of every document, because you will need to upload them again at step three.

Getting your file ready before your course closes

Work backwards from the course deadline rather than forward from today. Employment certificates and certified translations are the slowest items, and neither is under your control.

The required documents run in a set order: the signed checklist, the DAAD application for a research or study scholarship, a Europass CV in reverse chronological order with no unexplained gaps, one letter of motivation, employment certificates proving two years of relevant post-degree experience, recent language certificates, copies of higher education certificates with certified translations where needed, and a full transcript with an explanation of the grading system.

If EPOS does not fit your profile, the DAAD runs a separate general route for master’s applicants without the professional-experience requirement, which we covered in our guide to the DAAD Study Scholarship for master’s students. Applicants comparing European options should also look at Erasmus Mundus deadlines. And if you are not sure which study or work route fits your profile, our visa eligibility checker is a sensible first stop.

Questions EPOS applicants ask most

Is there one deadline for the whole programme?

No. Each postgraduate course sets its own application deadline. Check the deadline published by the specific course you are applying to.

How much professional experience do I need?

At least two years of relevant experience gained after your first degree, counted at the time of application.

Can I apply for more than one course?

Yes, up to three. List them in priority order in the DAAD forms and submit one motivation letter explaining the ranking.

Do I need German to apply?

Only for German-taught courses, which require at least B1 at application and DSH 2 or TestDaF 4 before the course starts. English-taught courses require IELTS or TOEFL instead.

Does the scholarship cover family members?

There is a monthly allowance for accompanying members of family, alongside a rent subsidy and insurance contributions.

Where do I send my application?

Directly to the postgraduate course. Applications sent to the DAAD are not forwarded to the university.

Sources

01 Sep 2026
Duration of Status elimination

What the Duration of Status Elimination Means for Your I-94

Categories Study Abroad, Visa Updates

Duration of Status elimination for F, J, and I nonimmigrants takes effect on 15 September 2026. The change ends decades of open-ended “Duration of Status” admission for foreign students, exchange visitors, and foreign media representatives. The Department of Homeland Security published the final rule on 17 July 2026. It creates a fixed admission period with a specific expiration date on each affected traveler’s Form I-94. That replaces the flexible D/S framework, which let students remain as long as they kept full-time enrollment.

What Duration of Status elimination changes for students

Under the new rule, most F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors will receive a specific Admit Until Date rather than an open-ended D/S notation. Admission periods are capped at up to four years for F-1 and J-1 holders, and up to 240 days for I nonimmigrants. That cap includes people already inside the United States under the old D/S framework when the rule takes effect. The change also limits how freely both graduate and undergraduate students can switch programs. It blocks foreign students who already completed a US degree from starting a second degree at the same academic level.

Duration of Status elimination

Who has to file for an extension, and when

Anyone who needs to stay in the country past their new Admit Until Date must file an extension-of-stay application with USCIS. They must also submit biometrics and demonstrate continued eligibility, well before the current authorization expires. Immigration attorneys are advising schools and exchange programs to start tracking individual expiration dates immediately. A missed extension filing under the new fixed-period system carries a harder deadline than the old D/S framework did. That older framework rarely forced a hard stop as long as a student stayed enrolled.

Why this rule is still not fully locked in

DHS has classified the rule as a “major rule” subject to congressional review under the Congressional Review Act. Congress retains a window to alter or block it, even after the 15 September effective date. DHS has said it will publish an additional Federal Register notice if that review process changes the effective date or terminates the rule outright. Universities and exchange-visitor sponsors are proceeding on the assumption the rule takes effect as scheduled. They are still watching for any congressional action that could shift the timeline again.

How many people the change actually touches

More than a million F-1 students and several hundred thousand J-1 exchange visitors were present in the United States as of the most recent government counts. Schools cite those figures in their own advising guidance. Not everyone will feel the change immediately. Students with admission periods that already carry years of runway will not need to file an extension right away. Every affected traveler now has a specific date to track, though, where before none existed.

Universities with large international enrollments say the administrative burden falls heaviest on them. That group includes many research institutions with multi-year PhD programs. Doctoral students often take five years or more to finish. That timeline runs well beyond the new four-year cap. Many of those students will need at least one extension filing before they graduate.

Designated school officials, the staff responsible for maintaining each student’s immigration record, now face a heavier compliance workload too. They must track individual Admit Until Dates across their entire enrolled population rather than a single shared D/S status. Several university systems have said they are hiring additional compliance staff specifically to manage the transition.

What happens next

International student offices across the country are updating their advising materials ahead of the 15 September effective date. They expect a wave of extension-of-stay filings in the following months, as fixed admission periods start expiring for students already well into multi-year programs. The rule adds to a string of changes affecting F and J visa holders this year. It follows a separate reduction to the F-1 grace period announced in August. Immigration attorneys expect further procedural guidance from USCIS as the first fixed-period expirations approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Duration of Status elimination take effect?

The rule takes effect 15 September 2026, though it remains subject to congressional review under the Congressional Review Act.

Who is affected by the change?

F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and I nonimmigrant foreign media representatives, including people already admitted under the old Duration of Status framework.

What replaces Duration of Status?

A fixed admission period with a specific Admit Until Date on the traveler’s Form I-94, capped at up to four years for F-1 and J-1 holders and up to 240 days for I nonimmigrants.

What happens if someone needs to stay longer than their new admission period?

They must file an extension-of-stay application with USCIS, submit biometrics, and demonstrate continued eligibility before their current authorization expires.

Can this rule still change before or after it takes effect?

Yes. DHS classified it as a major rule subject to congressional review, and the agency has said it will publish a further notice if that review changes the effective date or ends the rule.

Related Coverage

Sources

27 Aug 2026
Chevening scholarship 2027 application London Westminster

The Chevening Window Opens in August — Be Ready, Not Rushed

Categories Scholarships, Study Abroad, Uk

Chevening is not won in October. It is won now. The Chevening Scholarship 2027 application opens in early August and closes on 6 October 2026, and the strongest candidates are already drafting essays and lining up referees. This fully funded route to a one-year UK master’s rewards preparation, not last-minute panic.

By the Tamara News editorial desk. Last updated 24 July 2026.

On this page

What Chevening actually funds

Chevening is the UK government’s flagship scholarship, and it is generous. It covers full tuition for an eligible one-year master’s, a monthly living stipend, economy flights to and from the United Kingdom, and a set of arrival and departure allowances. In return it looks for future leaders. The programme values what it calls “leadership and networking” potential, so your professional trajectory matters as much as your grades. You also commit to returning home for at least two years after the course, a condition that shapes how you should frame your career plan.

The timeline that decides your odds

Mark three dates. Applications open in early August 2026. The portal closes on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. And if you are shortlisted, you must hold at least one unconditional UK university offer by 8 July 2027. Ada, a Nigerian doctor planning a master’s in public health, treats August as writing month and September as review month, leaving October free for a calm final check. That rhythm beats the scramble most applicants fall into. The deadline does not move. Neither should your prep.

Want a second pair of eyes on your study-abroad plan? Start at https://wa.link/i9l1ec

Where strong applications are built

Four essays carry the application: leadership, networking, your study choice, and your career plan. Each needs a concrete story, not a list of adjectives. Pick three UK courses that clearly connect to your goals, and explain why the United Kingdom specifically. Line up two referees early and brief them on what each essay claims, so their words reinforce yours. Keep evidence of your work experience handy, because the eligibility check is strict. Weak applications read like a CV. Strong ones read like a plan.

Before you hit submit

  • Applications open August, close 6 October 2026.
  • Four essays: leadership, networking, study, career.
  • Around two years of work experience is expected.
  • You return home for two years after the course.

Common questions

When does the Chevening 2027 application open and close?
It opens in early August 2026 and closes on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC, with no extensions.

How much work experience do I need?
Most applicants need about two years, roughly 2,800 hours, though the exact rule depends on your country.

What does the scholarship cover?
Tuition for a one-year UK master’s, a monthly living stipend, and return flights.

Do I need a UK offer before applying?
No. You apply first, then must hold an unconditional UK offer by 8 July 2027.

Related reads

Share this story

  • LinkedIn: The Chevening 2027 window opens in August. Preparation beats panic every time.
  • Twitter: Chevening 2027 closes 6 Oct 2026. Fully funded UK master’s. Start now.
  • Facebook: Dreaming of a UK master’s? Chevening 2027 applications open in August.

Turn a UK degree into your next chapter

A funded master’s can reset a career, but only if the application is ready before the rush. Build your essays, choose your courses, and brief your referees this month. Get organised with our study-abroad tools here: https://wa.link/i9l1ec

Sources


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26 Aug 2026
J-1 exchange visitor rule

The J-1 Visa Hasn’t Been Rewritten in 25 Years — That’s About to Change

Categories Study Abroad, Visa Updates

The State Department has proposed the first overhaul of Exchange Visitor Program rules in more than 25 years. The centerpiece is a new J-1 exchange visitor rule that expands the government’s power to end a participant’s status. The State Department published the proposal in the Federal Register on July 30. It would give the department express authority to terminate J-1 participation in specified circumstances, on top of the termination powers sponsors already hold.

Why this J-1 exchange visitor rule proposal exists

The proposal updates regulations governing the Exchange Visitor Program for the first time in more than 25 years. It would define unauthorized employment and valid program status more precisely. It would also clarify exactly when sponsors must terminate an exchange visitor’s participation. The State Department frames the changes as closing gaps. Sponsors and exchange visitors have had to navigate those gaps without clear regulatory guidance for decades.

International students on a university campus, relevant to the J-1 exchange visitor rule

What terminate-and-reinstate would look like

Sponsors already hold termination powers over J-1 participants. The proposal would add new, express State Department authority to terminate participation directly. It would also revise the procedures governing extensions and reinstatements. And it would update how officials correct certain SEVIS status errors. Sponsors currently manage most day-to-day compliance decisions themselves. Giving the department its own direct termination authority marks a shift toward more centralized federal oversight of individual cases.

The new 90-day deadline for extensions

Under the proposal, certain J-1 program extension requests would need filing at least 90 days in advance. The rule allows no exceptions for late filing — a firmer deadline than current practice allows. That change would push sponsor organizations and exchange visitors to handle extension paperwork earlier. They would need to act well ahead of a program’s end date, rather than closer to expiration as some currently do.

How SEVIS correction windows are shrinking

The proposal would also shorten the period for correcting many Student and Exchange Visitor Information System status errors. The window would drop from 120 days down to just 30 days. Sponsors and program administrators would need to catch and fix data or status errors far faster than before. A missed 30-day window could leave an exchange visitor’s record out of compliance, with no easy path to a retroactive fix.

Why the program hasn’t been updated in 25 years

The Exchange Visitor Program’s core regulations have stayed largely unchanged for more than a quarter-century. Meanwhile, the number and variety of J-1 categories grew substantially over that period. Those categories range from au pairs to research scholars to summer work-travel participants. The State Department’s proposal frames the update differently. It aims to close gaps around unauthorized employment and unclear program-status definitions. It is not a wholesale rewrite of which categories the program covers.

What happens during the comment period

Public comments on the proposed rule are due by September 28, 2026. Exchange visitors, sponsor organizations and universities have until that date to weigh in. After that, the State Department will finalize the changes. Sponsor organizations in particular are expected to submit detailed feedback. Two provisions will likely draw the most comments: the proposed 90-day extension deadline and the shortened SEVIS correction window. Both would directly affect how sponsors manage their exchange visitor caseloads.

Who should be paying attention right now

Universities that host J-1 scholars and researchers have a direct stake in how the final rule handles extensions and terminations. Au pair agencies and summer work-travel sponsors face similar exposure, since both categories depend heavily on predictable timelines for placing participants. Individual exchange visitors currently in the US on J-1 status may not see any immediate change, since the proposal has not yet been finalized. Even so, immigration attorneys are advising current J-1 holders to track the rule’s progress. That matters most for anyone planning to request an extension in the months ahead.

J-1 program changes: what exchange visitors are asking

What is the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program?

A US program for international students, scholars, trainees and other exchange visitors. It lets them take part in approved exchange activities under State Department oversight.

When was this rule proposed?

The State Department published it in the Federal Register on July 30, 2026.

What’s the biggest change in the proposal?

New, express State Department authority to terminate a J-1 exchange visitor’s status directly. That comes in addition to the termination powers program sponsors already have.

How much notice will I need for a J-1 extension?

At least 90 days in advance for certain extension requests, with no late-filing exceptions under the proposal.

What’s changing with SEVIS error corrections?

The window to correct many SEVIS status errors would shrink from 120 days to 30 days.

Can the public comment on this proposed rule?

Yes. Comments stay open until September 28, 2026, before the State Department finalizes the rule.

How this fits a wider pattern of visa rule changes in 2026

The J-1 proposal arrives alongside several other 2026 changes affecting international students and exchange visitors, including a shortened F-1 grace period and the end of duration-of-status protection for F and J visa holders. Immigration attorneys describe this year as an unusually active one for exchange and student visa regulation, with multiple agencies revising rules that had gone largely untouched for years. Universities and sponsor organizations are having to track several overlapping rule changes at once, rather than a single isolated update.

Related coverage on Tamara News

25 Aug 2026
F-1 visa grace period

F-1 Student Visa Grace Period Cut From 60 to 30 Days

Categories Study Abroad, Visa Updates

International students in the United States are facing a significantly tighter timeline to wrap up their affairs after finishing a degree. Under a final rule published July 17, 2026, the F-1 visa grace period to depart the country after completing a program is being cut from 60 days to 30 days, effective September 15, 2026, as part of a broader overhaul that eliminates open-ended “Duration of Status” for foreign students.

What the shorter F-1 visa grace period changes

F-1 visa grace period

The Department of Homeland Security’s final rule eliminates Duration of Status for F, J and I nonimmigrants, replacing it with a fixed admission period, according to DHS. Previously, F-1 students could remain in the US as long as they maintained active enrollment, with a 60-day window to depart, transfer schools or change status after completing a program. Under the new rule, that departure window shrinks to 30 days, and students will be admitted for a fixed period tied to their program rather than an open-ended status.

Who is most affected

The shorter window creates the most risk for students who plan to transfer institutions, extend enrollment, or move onto Optional Practical Training (OPT) immediately after graduating, since there is now less time to complete paperwork. Students registered in the annual H-1B cap lottery face a particular complication: a shorter grace period can affect eligibility for change of status and for the F-1 Cap-Gap extension that normally lets selected applicants keep working until April 1 of the following year, according to guidance published by Yale’s Office of International Students and Scholars.

How this fits a broader immigration tightening trend

The change follows a pattern of US immigration agencies narrowing flexibility for both students and other visa categories this year. USCIS separately began allowing officers to deny applications without first issuing a request for evidence, a shift we detailed in our coverage of USCIS denials without an RFE, and travelers on advance parole have faced new re-entry risks outlined in our report on the BIA ruling on advance parole travel. Universities and international student offices are urging students to build in earlier planning timelines given the accumulating compliance requirements.

What students should do next

Universities and J-1 sponsoring organizations have until September 15 to update their compliance procedures and advise students on the new fixed admission periods. Immigration attorneys expect a wave of legal challenges to the rule, similar to past disputes over Duration of Status changes, though none have yet succeeded in delaying the effective date. Students nearing program completion are being advised to consult their school’s international office well before the deadline to map out OPT, transfer or change-of-status timelines under the tighter window. International education associations have also warned that the compressed timeline could disproportionately affect students from countries where visa processing for onward moves, such as a transfer to a third country, already takes longer than 30 days, effectively narrowing their options compared with students who can complete paperwork domestically within the shorter window.

F-1 grace period: frequently asked questions

When does the new F-1 visa grace period take effect?
The rule takes effect September 15, 2026, cutting the post-completion grace period from 60 days to 30 days.

What is Duration of Status and why is it ending?
Duration of Status allowed F-1, J-1 and I visa holders to stay in the US as long as they maintained active enrollment or program status; the new rule replaces it with a fixed admission period.

Who is most affected by the shorter grace period?
Students planning to transfer schools, extend enrollment, or move onto OPT face the most risk due to the shorter timeline.

Does this affect the H-1B Cap-Gap extension?
Yes, a shorter grace period can affect eligibility for change of status and the Cap-Gap extension that lets selected H-1B applicants keep working until the following April.

Can students still apply for OPT under the new rule?
Yes, but with significantly less buffer time, students are advised to file OPT applications as early as possible after the rule takes effect.

Is the rule being challenged in court?
Immigration attorneys expect legal challenges, though none have delayed the September 15, 2026 effective date so far.

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