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Tamara's World  /  Blog  /  Germany
26 Oct 2026
Germany Kenntnisprüfung

Germany Makes Knowledge Exam the Default for Foreign Doctors

Categories Germany, Work Permits

From 1 November 2026, the Germany Kenntnisprüfung for foreign doctors becomes the standard route to a licence for applicants with degrees from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, according to a summary by the study-prep provider Klinikfuchs. The Kenntnisprüfung is a knowledge examination. It replaces the default of a document-by-document equivalence check. The change comes from a federal law to speed up recognition of foreign health qualifications, and applications filed by 31 October 2026 stay under the old rules, so the next few days matter.

In this report

What the law changes

The Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) describes the act in its FAQ on the recognition law as a way to make recognition faster and more transparent while keeping patient-safety standards unchanged. The ministry says the knowledge test becomes the default (“Regelfall”). It calls the test a licensing exam that applies the same standards to everyone and does not focus on an individual applicant’s specific gaps.

The document-based equivalence check does not disappear. The BMG says it remains available if an applicant explicitly chooses it. That check compares a foreign qualification with German training and looks for significant differences. Klinikfuchs adds that the choice must be made within four weeks of applying and then binds the whole procedure, and that applicants with significant differences still end up taking the Kenntnisprüfung. That detail comes from a commercial provider, so confirm it with your state authority.

Two practical effects are stated by the ministry. Applicants who do not choose the document check no longer need to submit, translate or certify documents such as course curricula. And the German states (Länder) may in future test the language skills of third-country applicants before their professional qualification is assessed.

The dates that decide which rules apply

Klinikfuchs reports that the Bundestag passed the act on 26 March 2026 and the Bundesrat on 8 May 2026, that it was published in the Federal Law Gazette on 28 July 2026 (BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 225), and that it takes effect on 1 November 2026. The BMG’s FAQ page, as we read it, does not itself state the commencement date, so we are attributing the date to the law-gazette reference given by Klinikfuchs and by the law firm FMR Legal.

The transition rule is the part that matters most this week. Klinikfuchs says the application date decides, not nationality: applications submitted by 31 October 2026 stay under the old law, where the authority first assesses equivalence from your documents and requires the Kenntnisprüfung if equivalence is not established or cannot be fully assessed. Anything filed from 1 November follows the new default.

Who is affected

Klinikfuchs covers only doctors. FMR Legal, also a commercial source, says the standard knowledge-exam route applies to physicians, dentists, pharmacists and midwives. Applicants with EU, EEA or Swiss degrees are treated differently: Klinikfuchs says they do not take the Kenntnisprüfung, and substantial differences are addressed through an aptitude test instead. The BMG adds that for those qualifications the professional check still comes before any language check, as EU law requires.

Consider a hypothetical example. Ngozi is a Nigerian doctor with a medical degree from outside the EU who is preparing documents for a German licence. If she files by 31 October, the authority starts with a paper comparison of her training. If she files in November, the exam becomes her default path and she may not need to translate curricula at all. Neither outcome is better in every case; it depends on how complete her paperwork is and how ready she is to sit the exam.

What applicants can do now

First, find the licensing authority for the state where you plan to work, since the BMG notes the Länder run these procedures. Second, ask it in writing which rules apply to your file and whether the state is offering exam dates under the new system. Third, if you are a doctor from a third country weighing a move, compare Germany with other routes on our visa eligibility checker. Germany also appears in our coverage of German PhD scholarship deadlines, and for readers choosing between European destinations, see our report on ETIAS and EES border rules.

What happens next

The law takes effect on 1 November, and how quickly state authorities can schedule exams will determine whether the promised speed-up reaches applicants. The BMG estimates roughly 16 million euros in annual savings from reduced bureaucracy, about 12 million euros and 7,000 hours for applicants and about 3.9 million euros for the states. Those are the ministry’s own estimates. Tamara News will report if the Länder publish exam calendars or if the transition rules change.

Questions on the Kenntnisprüfung change

What is the Kenntnisprüfung?

It is a knowledge examination the BMG describes as a licensing exam applying the same standards to everyone. From 1 November 2026 it becomes the default route to recognition for third-country qualifications.

Does the equivalence check still exist?

Yes. The BMG says it remains available if the applicant explicitly chooses it. Klinikfuchs says the choice must be made within four weeks of applying.

Which applications stay under the old rules?

According to Klinikfuchs, applications submitted by 31 October 2026.

Do EU, EEA or Swiss graduates take the exam?

Klinikfuchs says no. Substantial differences are addressed through an aptitude test instead.

Will I still need translated curricula?

The BMG says applicants who do not choose the document-based check no longer need to submit, translate or certify documents such as curricula.

Who decides my case?

The licensing authority of the German state. Klinikfuchs notes its decision is binding, so confirm details with it directly.

Sources

13 Oct 2026
Germany PhD scholarships

Germany PhD Scholarships Closing 31 October and 24 November 2026

Categories Germany, Scholarships, Study Abroad

Two Germany PhD scholarships close within five weeks of each other. The University of Erfurt accepts applications until 23:59 CET on 24 November 2026, according to its official call. A nine-month research stay run by the ABCD-Centre closes on 31 October 2026, according to a report on the programme. Both reward early preparation, and neither suits every applicant.

This guide

Erfurt: three years of funding from April 2027

The University of Erfurt says its scholarships run from 1 April 2027. Funding is €1,400 a month for three years, extendable by one further year. A family allowance of €300 applies for one child and €150 for each additional child. The scholarships support doctoral projects within the Erfurt Doctoral and Postdoctoral Programme, which is run by certified research training groups or the Max-Weber-Kolleg.

The call page does not list selection criteria or application documents. It points to the university’s announcements page and names a doctorate counselling contact. It also does not say whether international applicants are eligible, so ask the counselling office before you invest time.

Erfurt Cathedral and St Severus' Church, in the city offering the Germany PhD scholarships
Erfurt, home of the university’s doctoral scholarship call.

The ABCD research stay: nine months, two places

The ABCD-Centre, which works on water and climate adaptation, plans to support two doctoral students, the report says. Funding is €1,200 a month for accommodation and living costs, up to €105 a month for insurance, a travel grant of up to €1,000 and up to €1,000 for research materials. Hosts are RWTH Aachen University, Technische Universität Dresden or UNU Resource Nexus.

Eligibility is narrower. Applicants must be full-time doctoral students at a university in a developing country and must have started their PhD within the last three years. The research topic must match the centre’s priorities, such as water infrastructure and urban water extremes. The article gives no official ABCD website, only a link to a document on LinkedIn’s media domain. Treat the details as unconfirmed until you find the centre’s own call.

Other German deadlines on the October calendar

A list compiled by Global South Opportunities on 8 October shows more German options. It lists IMPRS-IS PhD positions with a 15 November deadline and a University of Bremen DAAD marine biology master’s scholarship closing on 15 October. It is an aggregator, so verify each date with the provider. For UK alternatives, see our guide to the Gates Cambridge deadlines.

Which Germany PhD scholarships fit you

Consider a hypothetical doctoral student, Hamza, a Pakistani civil engineering researcher in year two of a PhD on urban flooding. If his university qualifies under the programme’s definition, the ABCD stay could suit him, because his topic matches the water priorities. A researcher in the humanities with a proposal tied to a research training group would look at Erfurt instead. Hamza is an illustration, not a real applicant.

How to prepare for Germany PhD scholarships

Start with the ABCD file, because it closes first. It asks for a single PDF with a two- to three-page motivation statement, a sample scientific paper and a CV. It also needs a support letter from your home institution, an enrolment certificate, a transcript dated within six months and a passport copy. Agree the research plan with your supervisor before you apply. For Erfurt, email the counselling office this week and request the full call. Remember that German study also involves health insurance, which the DAAD says international students must hold.

Planning the move itself? Our visa eligibility checker can help you test your options, and our note on the delayed ETIAS launch explains short-stay travel to the Schengen area.

Research priorities and the Erfurt call page

The ABCD report lists five priority areas: water infrastructure and digitalisation, ecosystem resilience, urban water extremes, unconventional water resources, and sustainable materials and buildings. Applicants should also describe how they would contribute to the centre’s outreach work. One caution on Erfurt: its page is dated September 2026 in the news item but shows a last update of 19 August 2026. The page does not explain the gap, so check the full call before you rely on the deadline.

German PhD funding FAQ

What is the Erfurt deadline?

The University of Erfurt states 24 November 2026 at 23:59 CET, with scholarships taking effect from 1 April 2027.

How much does Erfurt pay?

€1,400 a month for three years, extendable by one year, plus €300 for one child and €150 for each additional child.

Who can apply for the ABCD stay?

Per the report, full-time doctoral students at a university in a developing country who started their PhD within the last three years.

When does the ABCD call close?

31 October 2026, according to the report. Confirm it with the centre, because no official ABCD site was linked.

Is the information on this page official?

The Erfurt details come from the university’s own call. The ABCD and aggregator details are secondary, so confirm them with the providers.

Sources

02 Oct 2026
DAAD scholarship deadline - Heidelberg castle and Old Bridge

Two Scholarship Deadlines, Days Apart: Chevening and DAAD in October

Categories Germany, Scholarships, Study Abroad

The DAAD scholarship deadline for most master’s and PhD awards starting in 2027 falls on 15 October 2026, according to the uni2study deadline calendar. Chevening, the UK government’s scholarship, closes sooner, at 11:00 UTC on 6 October. If you plan to apply for either, you have days, not weeks.

On this page

The DAAD scholarship deadline and how it works

The German Academic Exchange Service, known as DAAD, funds study and research in Germany. uni2study says most master’s and PhD scholarships for entry in 2027 close on 15 October 2026, and some programmes run later into October. That is a secondary source, so treat the date as a guide and check your own programme.

DAAD says on its site that you can find the various scholarship types and suitable offers in its scholarship database. Use that database to confirm the exact closing date and required documents for the award you want. See the DAAD scholarship pages.

Chevening closes first: 6 October

Chevening’s own timeline for the 2027/28 cycle is clear. Applications opened on 4 August 2026 and close on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. Late submissions are not accepted. Eligibility screening begins in October, and a reading committee reviews applications from October to January.

Shortlisted candidates are told in mid-February 2027, interviews run from March to April at British embassies, and results come in mid-June 2027. Scholars would start in the UK in September or October 2027. See the Chevening application timeline.

For more on the Chevening process, read our guide to the Chevening 2027-28 timeline.

DAAD scholarship deadline - Heidelberg old town on the Neckar at dusk

A realistic plan for the next two weeks

Start with documents. Most scholarships ask for transcripts, references, a personal statement and proof of language skills. These take time to collect, and referees need notice.

To illustrate, picture a Vietnamese engineering graduate comparing a master’s in Germany with one in the UK. They would list each award’s deadline, check the language requirement, and begin with the earliest closing date. This is a hypothetical example, not a real applicant.

Do not leave submission to the last hour. Chevening says its deadline is fixed, and the same discipline applies to DAAD.

Other scholarship rounds to watch

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are different. uni2study notes that each consortium sets its own timeline, and deadlines run from November 2026 to February 2027. There is no single central date, so check each programme page.

Also see the Cambridge route in our guide to Gates Cambridge 2027 deadlines. If you are weighing countries and visa routes, our visa eligibility checker is a quick place to start.

Questions on the DAAD scholarship and Chevening

When is the DAAD scholarship deadline?

uni2study says most master’s and PhD scholarships for 2027 entry close on 15 October 2026. Some programmes run later. Confirm your own programme with DAAD.

When does Chevening close?

Chevening closes on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. Late submissions are not accepted.

When are Chevening results announced?

Chevening lists mid-June 2027 for results, with interviews in March and April 2027.

Are Erasmus Mundus deadlines the same?

No. Each consortium publishes its own timeline, with deadlines between November 2026 and February 2027, according to uni2study.

Where do I find DAAD scholarships?

DAAD says its scholarship database lists the scholarship types and suitable offers.

Sources

Image: Heidelberg old town, castle and Old Bridge, photo by R. J. Mathar, Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Second image: evening view of Heidelberg old town and the Neckar, photo by Hartmut Schmidt Heidelberg, Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

23 Sep 2026
CDU state election defeat coverage: German flags outside a state parliament building

Germany’s CDU Just Posted Its Worst Result Since World War II

Categories Germany, World

Germany’s Christian Democratic Union suffered its worst result in any state election since World War II on Sunday, as the far-right Alternative for Germany overtook it to become the strongest party in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The CDU state election defeat pushed Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s party below the 5% threshold needed to enter the state parliament at all, a result Merz himself called a “disaster.” The vote adds fresh strain to a governing coalition already under pressure from a broader far-right surge across several German states this autumn.

How the CDU state election defeat unfolded

The Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state election was held on September 20, 2026, with turnout reaching 78.1%, a high figure for a regional vote. The AfD won 38.2% of the vote and 32 seats, making it the strongest party in the state legislature for the first time. The CDU collapsed from 13% in the previous election to just 4.9%, falling under the 5% cutoff and losing every seat it held. The Social Democrats finished second with 35.5% and 29 seats, while the Greens took 5.7% and five seats and The Left won 6.5%, also for five seats.

Why the AfD surge matters beyond one state

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was one of several German states to hold elections this September, and the pattern has been consistent: the AfD gaining ground while the CDU’s traditional base erodes. Analysts covering the vote described it as part of a wider realignment in eastern Germany, where economic anxiety and migration policy have become dominant campaign issues. A result this stark, a governing national party shut out of a state parliament entirely, is without recent precedent for the CDU.

What it means for Merz’s coalition

Merz, who leads the federal coalition government in Berlin, does not face a national election because of this result, but the symbolism is difficult to contain. A chancellor’s party being wiped out in a state legislature raises questions about his authority within his own party ahead of tougher budget and migration votes later this year. Coalition partners are watching closely for signs that CDU lawmakers grow more cautious about defending unpopular policy positions.

Where German politics goes from here

The immediate practical effect is a Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state government that will likely be negotiated between the SPD, Greens and Left, since no mainstream party will govern with the AfD. The bigger question is whether the CDU can regroup before the next round of state votes, or whether Sunday’s result marks the start of a longer decline in its eastern German strongholds. For now, Merz has said he intends to stay in his post, but the pressure inside his own party is unlikely to ease soon.

CDU state election defeat

What travelers and businesses watching Germany should note

Political instability at the state level rarely disrupts daily life immediately, but investors and multinational employers with operations in eastern Germany are watching for policy shifts around energy subsidies and labor rules that a weakened CDU may struggle to defend. Germany’s national government has not signaled any change in course, and coalition talks in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are expected to take weeks rather than days.

How this fits Germany’s wider election calendar

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was not an isolated data point. Berlin and Saxony-Anhalt also held state elections in the same window this September, and in each case the AfD gained ground while support for the traditional governing parties softened. Taken together, the results suggest eastern Germany’s political map is shifting faster than national polling had captured, with implications for how federal lawmakers approach migration and energy policy ahead of budget negotiations later this year. Regional analysts note that the CDU’s collapse in this particular state was unusually severe even against that broader backdrop, since the party did not simply lose ground, it lost every seat.

How other parties are responding

Leaders from the SPD, Greens and The Left have publicly ruled out any coalition involving the AfD, a position that has held across Germany’s states despite the far-right party’s growing vote share. That leaves the three parties needing to negotiate a workable governing arrangement in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern despite holding fewer combined seats than a comfortable majority would typically require. Party officials from all three have signaled they expect talks to be difficult, given how differently they have historically approached spending priorities and industrial policy in the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused the CDU state election defeat in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern?

A combination of AfD gains on migration and economic messaging, and eroding CDU support in eastern Germany, produced a 4.9% result for the CDU, well below the 5% threshold needed for parliamentary seats.

Did the CDU lose all its seats?

Yes. Falling under the 5% threshold means the CDU holds zero seats in the new Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament, compared with 13% and a governing role in the prior term.

Is Chancellor Merz’s national government affected directly?

Not immediately. Merz remains federal chancellor, but the result increases internal pressure on his leadership and complicates upcoming coalition negotiations in Berlin.

Who will govern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern now?

With the AfD shut out by other parties’ refusal to form a coalition with it, a government is expected to be negotiated among the SPD, Greens and The Left, who together hold a workable majority.

Is this part of a wider trend in Germany?

Yes. The AfD has posted gains across several eastern German state elections in 2026, part of a broader realignment analysts have been tracking since the party’s rise began in the mid-2010s.

Related coverage on Tamara News

For more context, see our reporting on Alberta independence referendum vote and Ukraine drone attack moscow refinery.

Sources

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

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