Chevening and DAAD are the two most commonly discussed scholarships among African postgraduate students: and for good reason. Both are fully funded, both have strong international recognition, both accept students from all African countries, and both regularly award African students. But they are very different programmes, and the right choice depends entirely on your profile, your goals, and your field of study.
This guide compares Chevening and DAAD side by side across every dimension that matters: GPA requirements, work experience, essay format, funding amount, country, visa process, and long-term career impact. By the end, you should know clearly which one to prioritise, and whether you should apply for both.
Chevening: UK-based, one-year master's, minimum 3.0 GPA, 2 years work experience required, 5% acceptance rate, stipend £1,108–£2,520/month, English-language programmes, leadership-focused essays, 4 essays of 500 words each, interviews required, government-backed prestige. DAAD EPOS: Germany-based, one to two-year master's or PhD, minimum 2.8 GPA, 2 years professional experience required, 18% acceptance rate, stipend €861–€934/month, many English-language programmes available, development-impact-focused, motivation letter and project outline, no interview typically required.
DAAD EPOS has a significantly higher acceptance rate: approximately 18% compared to Chevening's 5%. This means if you applied to both with equally strong applications, you are statistically three to four times more likely to receive a DAAD offer. However, Chevening's lower acceptance rate also means its alumni network is more exclusive and its brand recognition is higher in Anglophone African countries.
DAAD EPOS requires a minimum of 2.8/4.0 GPA, making it accessible to students with a lower second-class degree from most African university systems. Chevening requires a minimum 3.0/4.0, equivalent to approximately a strong lower second or upper second-class degree. If your GPA is between 2.8 and 3.0, DAAD is your only option of the two. If your GPA is above 3.5, you are competitive for both.
Chevening has broader global brand recognition, particularly in Anglophone countries and in diplomatic and government circles. DAAD is more respected in academic and technical fields, and is better known in Francophone Africa. Both are fully legitimate and well-regarded internationally, the distinction matters less than you might expect outside of specific industry contexts.
Yes. Their application timelines overlap in September to October, and you can work on both simultaneously. You are required to notify both organisations if you receive an offer from the other. If you receive both, you must decide which to accept and formally decline the other within the specified deadline.
Chevening's London stipend (£2,520/month) exceeds DAAD's stipend (€861–934/month) in nominal terms, but London's cost of living is significantly higher than most German university cities. In purchasing power terms, they are roughly comparable, both are designed to cover a student's costs without requiring additional income.
Chevening is harder in terms of the application process: it requires four separate 500-word essays plus an interview. DAAD requires a motivation letter and a project outline, which is demanding but simpler in structure. Chevening's interview stage adds an additional filter that DAAD does not have. Both require strong writing; Chevening additionally requires strong performance under pressure.
Yes: both require approximately two years of work experience. For Chevening, this is a firm eligibility requirement and recent graduates are not eligible. DAAD EPOS similarly expects professional experience in a development-relevant field, though the verification is less strict than Chevening's formal requirement.
Last updated: April 2026. Find scholarships on StudiePoint AI →