Supporting At-risk Researchers with Fellowships in Europe

The aim of the SAFE project is to provide a total of 60 fellowships distributed between the two tracks as well as between doctoral and postdoctoral candidates. The exact number and allocation of fellowships will be determined by the selection committee and will also depend on the duration of the fellowships awarded.

Should a doctoral candidate complete his/her doctoral/PhD research while supported by a SAFE fellowship and defend his/her doctoral/PhD thesis, the goal of the fellowship will be deemed achieved and the fellowship will be paid until the month following the award of the doctoral/PhD degree (by the date on the certificate).

The fellowship will be awarded to selected doctoral and postdoctoral researchers to conduct research at an academic or non-academic research organisation based in an EU Member State. The fellowship is paid directly to the host institution, which is responsible for transferring the funds to the selected researchers through a formal employment contract.

Phases

• Following these considerations, the available SAFE fellowships will be awarded between two tracks:
  • Track 1: Researchers at risk without EU citizenship currently outside the EU who are facing threats in their country of residence or have recently fled their country of residence to a third country due to such threats and have neither refugee nor subsidiary protection status there.
  • Track 2: Researchers at risk without EU citizenship who are already in an EU Member State, either with recognised refugee or subsidiary protection status in the EU, or researchers outside the refugee process holding or applying for temporary permits/visas in an EU Member State.

Funding Information

• Fellowship value:
  • Doctoral/PhD: 3400 EUR monthly salary contribution (gross) + 600 EUR mobility monthly allowance
  • Post docs: 5080 EUR monthly salary contribution (gross) + 600 EUR monthly mobility allowance
  • Possibility for family allowance: 660 EUR
  • Possibility for special needs allowance.
• Host institutions:
  • 1000 EUR monthly contribution to research training and networking
  • 650 EUR for management and indirect contribution.
• SAFE fellowships are awarded for a minimum of 12 months up to 24 months. Fellowships must end no later than August 2027.

Eligibility Criteria

• Researchers:
  • The following eligibility criteria apply for candidate-researchers: Candidates must be:
    • Doctoral/PhD candidates:
      • who are enrolled in a doctoral/PhD programme or have started their doctoral/PhD studies10 at the time of application.
      • The start date of the doctoral/PhD studies should be no earlier than 5 years prior to the application deadline.
    • Postdoctoral researchers (i.e. in possession of a doctoral degree at the time the fellowship is set to begin):
      • who have up to 8 years of full-time research experience, starting from the date they received their doctoral degree.
      • Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered eligible to apply.
  • Candidates must have the language skills required to successfully conduct their research activities at the envisaged host institution.
  • Candidates must not hold EU citizenship.
  • Eligible researchers can either be outside the EU and outside the refugee process (Track 1), or within the EU with recognised protection status or holding or applying for other temporary visas/residence permits (Track 2). Researchers that are still in the refugee process are not eligible for the SAFE project.
• Host institutions:
  • Institutions eligible to apply for the SAFE project and host researchers are academic or nonacademic research organisations established in an EU Member State.
  • Host institutions must submit an application on behalf of the prospective researcher they intend to host. Institutions receiving funding are required to sign an employment contract with the researcher for the entire duration of the SAFE fellowship, in accordance with the relevant national legislation of the host country, including social security and social benefits.

For more information, visit German Academic Exchange Service.