Apply for Humboldt Research Fellowship

Through the Humboldt Research Fellowship, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation sponsors researchers with above-average qualifications from across the globe. As a fellow, you will benefit from individual support from the Humboldt Foundation and our diverse sponsorship portfolio.

Categories

• Postdoctoral
  • In providing Humboldt Research Fellowships for postdocs, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables highly-qualified scientists and scholars from abroad who are just embarking on their academic careers and who completed their doctorates less than four years ago to spend extended periods of research (6–24 months) in Germany. Scientists and scholars from all disciplines and countries may apply.
• Experienced Researchers
  • In providing Humboldt Research Fellowships for experienced researchers, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables highly-qualified scientists and scholars from abroad, who completed their doctorates less than twelve years ago to spend extended periods of research (6-18 months; may be divided up into a maximum of three blocks) in Germany. Candidates are expected to have their own, clearly defined research profile. This means they should usually be working at least at the level of Assistant Professor or Junior Research Group Leader or be able to document independent research work over a number of years. Scientists and scholars from all disciplines and countries may apply.

Benefits

• Postdoctoral
  • Additionally to the monthly fellowship rate of 2,500 EUR, the following benefits can be granted:
    • mobility lump sum as a subsidy for expenses in connection with necessary conference and research trips, archive and library stays, etc. in Germany and abroad;
    • subsidy towards the cost of medical and liability insurance;
    • lump sum for the fellow’s travel expenses if the costs are not borne by a third party;
    • language fellowship for an intensive language course lasting two to four months at selected language institutes in Germany immediately prior to the actual period of research;
    • language fellowships may also be granted to accompanying marital partners.
    • family allowances for accompanying family members staying at least three months;
    • for single parents: flat-rate allowance for accompanying children (under the age of 18) for stays of at least three months;
    • additional extension of the fellowship up to 12 months for research fellows accompanied by children under the age of 12;
    • Europe allowance for a research stay at a research institute in another European country (though not the research fellow’s own country); for a designated period in the course of the fellowship if necessary to ensure the success of the research;
    • a subsidy towards research costs to be paid to the hosts in Germany amounting to 800 EUR per month (for research in the natural sciences and engineering) and 500 EUR (for research in the humanities and social sciences);
    • extensive alumni sponsorship once a successful research stay has come to an end, especially for maintaining contacts with collaborative partners in Germany during the Humboldtian’s entire academic career.
• Experienced Researchers
  • Additionally to the monthly fellowship rate of 3,000 EUR, the following benefits can be granted:
    • mobility lump sum as a subsidy for expenses in connection with necessary conference and research trips, archive and library stays, etc. in Germany and abroad;
    • subsidy towards the cost of medical and liability insurance;
    • lump sum for the fellow’s travel expenses if the costs are not borne by a third party;
    • language fellowship for an intensive language course lasting two to four months at selected language institutes in Germany immediately prior to the actual period of research;
    • language fellowships may also be granted to accompanying marital partners.
    • family allowances for accompanying family members staying at least three months;
    • for single parents: flat-rate allowance for accompanying children (under the age of 18) for stays of at least three months;
    • additional extension of the fellowship up to 12 month for research fellows accompanied by children under the age of 12;
    • Europe allowance for a research stay at a research institute in another European country (though not the research fellow’s own country); for a designated period in the course of the fellowship if necessary to ensure the success of the research;
    • a subsidy towards research costs to be paid to the hosts in Germany amounting to 800 EUR per month (for research in the natural sciences and engineering) and 500 EUR (for research in the humanities and social sciences);
    • extensive alumni sponsorship once a successful research stay has come to an end, especially for maintaining contacts with collaborative partners in Germany during the Humboldtian’s entire academic career.

Eligibility Criteria

• Postdoctoral
  • Doctorate or comparable academic degree (Ph.D., C.Sc. or equivalent), completed less than four years prior to the date of application. Candidates who have nearly completed their doctoral degrees are eligible to apply provided that they submit the manuscript of their dissertation or publications containing the results of their dissertation, however, at the earliest, 6 months prior to the completion of their dissertation.
  • Academic publications reviewed according to international standards and printed in journals and/or by publishing houses.
  • Confirmation that research facilities are available and mentoring agreement and a detailed expert’s statement by an academic host at a research institution in Germany.
  • Expert reviews from the doctoral supervisor and one other academic qualified to give wellfounded comments on the applicant’s qualification, preferably including reviewers not working at the applicant’s own institute.
  • Necessary language skills: humanities or social sciences and medicine: good knowledge of German if it is necessary to carry out the research successfully; otherwise a good knowledge of English; natural sciences and engineering: good knowledge of German or English.
  • Eligible applicants must have lived outside Germany for a minimum of 12 months in total in the 18-month period prior to submission of the application. Any person who, regardless of their country of residence, has supported themselves for more than six out of the last 18 months with financing from a German institution or who has worked on a doctoral project at an institution in Germany in the last 18 months also is not eligible to apply.
  • Potential applicants of German nationality are eligible to apply provided that their habitual place of work and residence has been located abroad on the assumption of permanence for at least five years. Potential applicants who have completed their school education and one university degree or one university degree and their doctorate in Germany are subject to the regulations governing German citizens.
  • Academics who have already been sponsored by the Humboldt Foundation are not eligible to apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme but should turn to the Foundation’s Alumni Programme for support for further research stays.
• Experienced Researchers
  • Doctorate or comparable academic degree (Ph.D., C.Sc. or equivalent), completed less than twelve years prior to the date of application. If it is not possible or customary to take a doctorate in the candidate’s subject or country, an application may be submitted up to 16 years after completing a Master’s or Diploma degree, provided that the publication record is commensurate with the candidate’s career stage.
  • The candidate’s own research profile documented by a comprehensive list of academic publications reviewed according to international standards and printed in journals and/or by publishing houses.
  • Confirmation that research facilities are available and mentoring agreement and a detailed expert’s statement by an academic host at a research institution in Germany.
  • Two expert reviews from important collaborative partners and/or academics from the candidate’s own institute and, if possible, from abroad.
  • Necessary language skills: humanities or social sciences and medicine: good knowledge of German if it is necessary to carry out the research successfully; otherwise a good knowledge of English; natural sciences and engineering: good knowledge of German or English.
  • Eligible applicants must have lived outside Germany for a minimum of 12 months in total in the 18-month period prior to submission of the application. Any person who, regardless of their country of residence, has supported themselves for more than six out of the last 18 months with financing from a German institution also is not eligible to apply.
  • Potential applicants of German nationality are eligible to apply provided that their habitual place of work and residence has been located abroad on the assumption of permanence for at least five years. Potential applicants who have completed their school education and one university degree or one university degree and their doctorate in Germany are subject to the regulations governing German citizens.
  • Academics who have already been sponsored by the Humboldt Foundation are not eligible to apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme but should turn to the Foundation’s Alumni Programme for support for further research stays.

For more information, visit Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.