HTW Berlin’s MIDE Master’s Is Open for April 2027 — With One Critical Warning Applicants Need to See First. Stop before you apply.
If you’re searching for the MIDE Master’s at HTW Berlin because you’ve read about the DAAD EPOS scholarship that usually accompanies it, there’s something you need to know upfront: DAAD EPOS funding is not available for the April 2027 intake.
The program is open. Admission is running normally. But the scholarship that most applicants associate with MIDE will not be offered this cycle.
That changes the financial picture entirely. Anyone planning to self-fund or source alternative funding can continue. Anyone relying on EPOS support should investigate other options before applying.
With that clearly stated, here’s everything else you need to know about the April 2027 intake.
HTW DAAD MIDE Program Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Program | MIDE — International and Development Economics |
| University | HTW Berlin, Germany |
| Start Date | 1 April 2027 |
| Duration | 18 months |
| Program Fee | €2,500 + semester contribution each semester |
| DAAD EPOS Funding | Not available for this intake |
| Application Deadline | 30 September 2026 |
| Teaching Language | English |
| IELTS Required | Not always — see details below |
The Program Itself
MIDE is an 18-month Master’s degree in International and Development Economics, taught in English at HTW Berlin.
The program runs from April 2027 and costs €2,500 for the full program duration, plus the university’s standard semester contribution charged each semester. Without EPOS support, these costs come from your own resources or an independently sourced scholarship.
Applicants who have their funding in place will find the admission process straightforward. Those still searching for financial support should resolve that question before the September deadline, not after.
Academic Eligibility — The Economics Requirement
The degree requirement is a first university qualification worth at least 180 ECTS, or an equivalent recognized qualification.
Beyond the degree itself, your transcript needs to show sufficient Economics content. HTW Berlin requires:
- At least 15 ECTS in Economics, or
- For degrees outside the ECTS system, at least three Economics-related modules
This catches more applicants than it should. A degree in Business Administration, Finance, or Development Studies sounds relevant — but if your transcript doesn’t contain enough Economics coursework specifically, you may not meet the threshold.
Check your transcript against this requirement before anything else. A degree title alone doesn’t confirm eligibility.
IELTS — Who Needs It and Who Doesn’t
IELTS is not automatically required.
If your previous university degree was taught entirely in English, HTW Berlin states that no additional English-language proof is needed for MIDE admission. Your degree certificate and transcript serve as evidence.
If your previous degree was not in English, you’ll need to provide recognized English proficiency documentation. Check the official program requirements for accepted alternatives.
How Admission Scoring Actually Works
MIDE doesn’t rank applicants on GPA alone. The admission score breaks down across three components:
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Cumulative GPA | 40% |
| Number of Economics courses | 25% |
| Motivation letter | 35% |
That 35% weighting on the motivation letter is higher than most Master’s programs assign to a written statement. It’s not a formality here — it’s a deciding factor.
A strong motivation letter for MIDE should cover:
- Why development economics connects to your previous academic background
- Which specific economic or development problem genuinely interests you
- What you want to do after graduation
- Why MIDE at HTW Berlin fits those plans
What it should not do is summarize your CV across two pages. Reviewers already have your transcript. The letter needs to demonstrate thinking, not recite credentials.
Write it specifically for this program. A generic statement of purpose recycled from other applications will read exactly like one.
Required Documents
Applications are submitted online through HTW Berlin’s portal. At the application stage, electronic copies are sufficient — certified hard copies are only required later, from admitted students who accept their place.
You’ll need to upload:
- Motivation letter (maximum two pages, signed and dated)
- Transcript and degree certificate
- CGPA information and explanation of your university’s grading system
- Europass CV (signed and dated)
- Passport copy
- English-language evidence (where required)
If any academic documents are not in English or German, official translations must be included.
Where to Apply?
Applications for this cycle go directly through HTW Berlin’s own portal. Uni-Assist is not used for MIDE’s April 2027 intake.
The process:
- Create an account on HTW Berlin’s application portal
- Select Summer Semester 2027
- Complete the MIDE application form
- Upload all required supporting documents
- Submit before 30 September 2026
Applying early is practical advice, not just a formality. Your Economics coursework and documents need individual assessment. Starting early gives you time to address missing translations, grading system explanations, or eligibility questions before the deadline closes the window.
On Finding Alternative Funding
DAAD EPOS is unavailable this cycle, but that doesn’t exhaust Germany’s funding landscape.
Several options are worth researching independently:
Explore related options: DAAD Master Studies Scholarships and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation Scholarship