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Humboldt Research Fellowship

Junge Frau im Labor, Symbolbild Humboldt-Forschungsstipendium

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Humboldt research fellowship for postdoctoral and experienced researchers.

The Humboldt Research Fellowship for researchers of all nationalities and research areas: We support you with your research in Germany .

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.

Looking ahead to the upcoming meetings of the selection committee, we expect that 20 – 25% of the applications received will be approved.

  • Programme information for postdocs (PDF, 131 KB)
  • Programme information for experienced researchers (PDF, 122 KB)
  • Information for hosts
  • Information for expert reviewers
  • Information for independent peer reviewers
  • Recently selected fellows

Porträt Lianet Toranzo de la Cruz

Researchers from developing and emerging countries whose research contributes to sustainable development should apply for a Georg Forster Research Fellowship , which is equivalent to a Humboldt Research Fellowship. Should your programme search yield both Fellowships, please use the Programme Compass for further guidance. It the best possible support when selecting the programme that corresponds most closely to your profile. Researchers from Brazil can only apply for a CAPES-Humboldt Research Fellowship ​​​​​​​.

What we offer

The Humboldt Research Fellowship enables you to conduct your own research at various stages of your career in collaboration with a host at a German research institution of your choice. Hosts may apply for a subsidy towards research costs.

  • Information on sponsorship during the research stay
  • Information on sponsorship for alumni abroad

Benefit from research sponsorship in Germany at the beginning of your academic career. The Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers enables you to conduct research in Germany. The monthly fellowship amount is €2,670. Fellowships may last from 6 to 24 months. 

Experienced researchers

You can still apply for research sponsorship in Germany even if you are already well advanced in your academic career. The Humboldt Research Fellowship for experienced researchers enables you to conduct research in Germany. The fellowship amount is €3,170. Fellowships may last from 6 to 18 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years.

General conditions

In addition to the fellowship amount, you will also receive personal support throughout your sponsorship. You are flexible in determining when you would like to start your fellowship. Prior to your research fellowship, you and your marital partner will be able to attend an intensive language course.

Further financial support, including family benefits for children and marital partners, subsidies for private full health insurance and allowances for travel expenses, is also available.

Alumni programmes

We stay in contact even after your research stay has come to an end. Our alumni sponsorship measures flexibly support every Humboldtian’s individual journey through life, in both their careers and their future research collaborations. A return fellowship or later visits to Germany are also possible.

You must meet the following criteria

The Humboldt Research Fellowship addresses post-doctoral researchers with above-average qualifications from across the globe – regardless of their field.

Did you complete your doctorate – or equivalent academic qualification – during the last four years? Or are you within six months of completing your doctorate and can already provide a written summary of your findings? Have you been published in academic journals and by publishing houses that are reviewed according to international standards? If so, and if you fulfil the criteria under the “What is required of you” section, apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers.

Did you complete your doctorate – or equivalent academic qualification – during the last twelve years? Is your academic profile substantiated by an extensive list of publications in academic journals and by publishing houses that are reviewed according to international standards? If so, and if you fulfil the criteria under the “What is required of you” section, apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship for experienced researchers. If a doctorate in your field or country of origin is not possible or uncommon, you can still apply up to 16 years after completing your master’s or other postgraduate degree provided that you have a publication record commensurate with your career level.

What is required of you

You must fulfil the following criteria to successfully apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship.

Nationality

You are not a German national. If you are a German national, or if you obtained your university entrance qualification and university degree, or your university degree and your doctorate, in Germany, you can apply if you have lived and worked abroad for more than ten years and intend to continue doing so long-term. Have you lived and worked abroad for more than five years? You can still apply if there is a strong connection to your current country of residence (permanent employment, additional citizenship etc. – see FAQs).   

For your application to be successful, you may not have lived in Germany for longer than a total of six months within the 18-month period prior to submitting your application.

If you have arrived in Germany recently you should submit your application as soon as possible, as we can only assess your eligibility and formally accept your application after it has been submitted.

Confirmation that research facilities are available/host’s statement

A researcher from an academic institution of your choice in Germany will provide you with a mentoring agreement and written confirmation that research facilities are available, and will compile a detailed review for you.

Expert reviews

You can provide two expert reviews.  Postdocs: Your doctoral supervisor and one other researcher – outside of your institute, if possible – should provide well-grounded information on your qualifications.  Experienced researchers: The reviews should be provided by important collaborative partners and/or researchers at your own institute as well as other institutes – outside your country of origin, if possible.

Language skills

Natural sciences and engineering: You must have a good knowledge of German or English.  Humanities, social sciences and medicine: You must have a good knowledge of German if this is necessary for conducting your research successfully. Otherwise, good knowledge of English will suffice.

You must abide by the rules of good scientific practice  (PDF) and the principles of scientific ethics. The foundation provides information on dealing with generative AI in the selection area .

You may not apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship if you have already received sponsorship from the Humboldt Foundation. In such cases, our alumni programmes are open to you.

Is the Humboldt Research Fellowship not the most suitable fellowship for you? Use our Programme Search to find the sponsorship that fits your personal career or contact us for individual advice.

  • Programme Search
  • Individual advice

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship, please submit the necessary documents to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation online only .

If you have any doubts or questions, please contact us ( info[at]avh.de ) before submitting your application. We are happy to help.

What we need from you

Please note that you may only submit your application once you have uploaded the following documents in the application form:

  • curriculum vitae (two pages max)
  • research outline ( five pages max)
  • complete list of your publications (cf. sample list , PDF)
  • list of selected key publications (cf. sample list , PDF)
  • key publications
  • doctoral certificate or proof that your doctorate has been completed successfully, or confirmation that this will be the case within the next six months
  • German language certificate, if required
  • if required: publisher’s acceptance notifications and/or acknowledgement of receipt and summaries/translations of key publications that are not available in German or in English
  • In addition: host’s statement and confirmation that research facilities are available, as well as two expert reviews. Please note that these documents can only be uploaded in a protected area by the host(s) and expert reviewers personally. You can only submit your application once these documents have been uploaded. Further information and explanations can be found on the application form.

As soon as we have received your online application, we will send you written confirmation by email. After reviewing your documents, we will notify you of the expected selection date.

The Selection Committee responsible for reviewing applications to this programme meets every March, July and November . Please send your completed application form, including any additional documents required, well in advance of the desired selection date. Applications are usually processed within four to eight months. Incomplete or inaccurate applications take longer to process and often have to be postponed to a later Selection Committee meeting.

The deadline for meeting certain formal conditions – in particular those relating to limitations on career stages and previous stays in Germany – is the date on which we receive your application.

If your application is successful, you may begin your fellowship between two and twelve months after being selected.

If your application is unsuccessful, we may provide you with the reasons for our decision. Please request this information informally by email. You and your host will receive a letter with the outcome of your application approximately five weeks after the decision is made. Decisions cannot be appealed. You can, however, re-apply if you significantly improve crucial aspects of the rejected application. In the case of unanimously rejected applications, you must unfortunately wait a minimum of 18 months before re-applying.

The selection procedure

In March 2022, the Humboldt Foundation launched the pilot phase of a new, digital, interactive review process. Whilst the previous procedure usually involved the submission of two independent specialist reviews for each application, the peer-circle process now being tested is based on a group of six to ten reviewers comparing and discussing several applications on a protected platform. During the pilot phase, applications for Humboldt Research Fellowships in inorganic chemistry, materials science, zoology and modern history will be reviewed using the peer-circle process. Successively, the procedure will be applied to other research areas, too. In 2022, the peer-circle process was evaluated by an independent academic. The results of the evaluation can be found here .

The decision to award research fellowships is taken by a selection committee consisting of 60–70 researchers from various fields. The committee’s decision is usually based on two independent peer reviews that evaluate your personal academic credentials. The assessment is based on the following selection criteria, depending on your career level:

  • academic career and academic record to date (mobility, determination, thematic scope, academic productivity)
  • quality of the key publications named in the application (originality, innovativeness, evaluation of your own contributions to publications involving several authors)
  • originality and innovative potential of your proposed research (significance for the further development of the subject area, convincing selection of scientific methods, potential for scientific development, clear focus and feasibility within the requested sponsorship period, viability at the host institute)
  • your future potential (academic potential, personal development, career prospects, e.g. professorial appointment)
  • your independent research profile (for experienced researchers)

All the best for your application!

  • Members of the Selection Committee

Questions & answers

Application requirements, i have worked in an english-speaking country for several years. do i need an english language certificate.

No, an English language certificate is not required.

It is either not customary or not possible to take a doctorate in my country of origin. Can I apply?

You can apply if you can prove that your academic performance is equivalent to a Ph.D., e.g. by academic publications in internationally reviewed journals and for publishing houses. Should this be the case, you may apply to the programme for experienced researchers, however, only until up to 16 years after you obtained your first university degree (Master's degree, Diploma, etc.). It is, furthermore, possible to apply to the programme for experienced researchers if you hold an academic position that is equivalent to or higher than Associate Professor / Senior Lecturer / Reader etc., regardless of the date of your first university degree, within the first twelve years of working in this position. Please send us your CV and a list of your publications before you apply so we can advise you ( info[at]avh.de ).

Can I apply before I have completed my doctorate?

You may apply if you will complete your doctorate within the next six months. If selected, you must complete your doctorate before commencing the research fellowship. Please note that your application will be rejected for formal reasons if your dissertation has not been published and you do not have any further academic publications at the time of application.

What determines the date of a doctorate?

The relevant date is that of completing the final academic part of the doctoral process (e.g., defence of thesis, doctoral viva). This date will usually be included on your doctoral certificate alongside the date of issue. The key date for calculating the period following your doctorate is the date on which your application is received by the Humboldt Foundation.

Which date is valid if I have several doctorates?

In the case of multiple doctorates, the effective date is that of the first doctoral degree (PhD/CSc.).

My doctorate was completed more than four years ago. Can I apply for a fellowship for postdoctoral researchers?

We cannot consider your application for a fellowship for postdoctoral researchers if your doctorate was completed more than four years ago. In case you already have a clearly recognisable own research profile and, as a rule, working at the level of at least assistant professor or junior research group leader, or have a record of several years of independent scientific work, you can apply for a fellowship for experienced researchers. If you have passed the deadline, an exception may be made in well-founded cases (e.g. recognition of parental leave). Please send us your CV and a list of your publications before you apply so we can advise you ( info[at]avh.de ).

I obtained my doctorate more than twelve years ago. Can I still apply for a fellowship for experienced researchers?

We cannot consider your application if you obtained your doctorate more than twelve years ago. If your doctorate is older than this, an exception may be made in well-founded cases (e.g. recognition of parental leave). Please send us your CV and a list of your publications before you apply so we can advise you ( info[at]avh.de ).

My doctorate was completed less than four years ago. Can I apply for a fellowship for experienced researchers?

Yes. You should, however, already have your own clearly recognisable research profile and, as a rule, be working at the level of at least assistant professor or junior research group leader, or have a record of several years of independent scientific work.

How will child-rearing periods be considered in the application process?

Periods in which you interrupted your academic activities after completing your doctorate in order to rear children may be taken into account as career breaks after examination. The proportionate offsetting of such periods is also possible. Please always indicate child-rearing periods when filling in our application form. Mothers can claim two extra years for each child born after their PhD plus any further verifiable parenting periods. Fathers and other persons responsible for raising children are only credited with verifiable parenting periods. In general, postdoctoral researchers may apply up to four years, and experienced researchers up to twelve years after completing their doctorates. Recognized child-rearing periods may correspondingly extend these maximum timeframes during which the submission of applications is possible. The extension is limited to 6 years. Please contact  info[at]avh.de  if you have any questions.

Which other career breaks are considered in the application process?

Periods in which you interrupted your academic activities after completing your doctorate in order to perform military or alternative service, to care for close relatives, due to long-term illness, or, for example, to care for children or due to the closure of institutes during a lockdown imposed to control an epidemic may be taken into account as career breaks after examination. The proportionate offsetting of such career breaks is also possible. Please always indicate career breaks when filling in our application form. Job hunting, unemployment and non-academic employment do not count as career breaks. In general, postdoctoral researchers may apply up to four years, and experienced researchers up to twelve years after completing their doctorates. Recognized career breaks may correspondingly extend these maximum timeframes during which the submission of applications is possible. The extension is limited to 6 years. Please contact  info[at]avh.de  if you have any questions.

Are child-rearing periods taken into account in the assessment of academic achievements?

Yes, because the assessment of academic achievements is always made on an individual basis at the Humboldt Foundation. Therefore, when filling in the application form, please specify all periods in which you partially or completely interrupted your academic activities after finishing your doctorate in order to rear children. The voluntary disclosure of private circumstances may help increase equal opportunities during the selection process. The consideration of your personal circumstances allows for a fairer assessment of your academic achievements. Please contact  info[at]avh.de  if you have any questions.

Are other career breaks taken into account in the assessment of academic achievements?

Yes, because the assessment of academic achievements is always made on an individual basis at the Humboldt Foundation. Therefore, when filling in the application form, please specify all periods in which you partially or completely interrupted your academic activities after finishing your doctorate in order to perform military or alternative service, to care for close relatives, due to long-term illness, or, for example, to care for children or due to the closure of institutes during a lockdown imposed to control an epidemic.

Job hunting, unemployment and non-academic employment do not count as career breaks.

The voluntary disclosure of private circumstances may help increase equal opportunities during the selection process. The consideration of your personal circumstances allows for a fairer assessment of your academic achievements. Please contact  info[at]avh.de  if you have any questions.

I am from a developing/transition country. Should I apply for a Humboldt or Georg Forster Research Fellowship?

If your primary life focus (nationality and permanent residence) is in a developing or transition country (see list of countries ) and your research is of relevance for that country’s (or region’s) further development (see examples below), we recommend that you apply for a George Forster Research Fellowship. A persuasive presentation of your work’s relevance for development in your region is one of the key criteria used when your application is evaluated. For projects that would be classified as basic research, we recommend applying for a Humboldt Research Fellowship.

Examples of applications with relevance to development:

Example 1: Food security among children in Nigeria

Foodstuffs that are contaminated with mycotoxins, the toxic metabolic substances produced by fungi, present a challenge for the people of Nigeria. As part of a Georg Forster Research Fellowship, one Humboldtian examined with the help of biomonitoring the degree to which Nigerian children and adolescents are exposed to mycotoxins in foodstuffs. In this way she is striving to improve the food safety of the Nigerian people.

Example 2: Climate change and stressed plants

Plants emit a number of volatile organic compounds in response to heat and drought stress. During her guest visit in Germany, a Latin American Humboldtian studied the impact these emissions have on air quality and changes in the climate. Her findings were used to develop sustainable adaptation and mitigation strategies tailored to the region she comes from. These findings offer political stakeholders a scientifically proven basis for making decisions.

Example 3: Improved tax enforcement through international co-operation

Audits are a tried and tested tool in the fight against tax evasion. In the case of transnational audits, joint tax audits can be conducted by international teams. During her Georg Forster research stay in Germany, one Humboldtian examined the advantages of joint tax audits with the aim of formulating recommendations for action to develop and improve international tax law. By doing so, the Moldavian hopes to make a contribution to her country’s integration into international tax law structures.

Example 4: Water reservoirs

Siltation of water reservoirs is a major problem for Iran’s water supply. One Iranian Humboldtian dedicated his stay in Germany to working on methods to reduce sedimentation in water bodies which he can now transfer to his country of origin thanks to his existing contacts and good local connections.

Example 5:  Resource use

A Burmese Humboldtian focused on the extraction of mineral resources in Myanmar. Thanks to his Georg Forster Fellowship he was able to expand his raw materials expertise as one of the only few excellent Burmese economic geologists. He is now making valuable contributions to the geoscience community in his country of origin and is advancing sustainable resource development and use there.

The following examples were not accepted by the Georg Forster Fellowship Programme because they have little relevance to development:

Example 1: Researching neurodegenerative diseases

Worldwide neurodegenerative diseases pose an enormous problem for people suffering from them. Studying and designing possible treatment methods for such diseases requires costly equipment. One applicant planned to increase his knowledge of this type of technology and how to use it. It was not, however, apparent from his application how the skills he aimed to acquire in Germany could be put to practical use without having corresponding infrastructure in his native country.

Example 2: Further development of cosmological models

One applicant sought to further develop cosmological models (theoretical physics) with her research project. She convincingly demonstrated that the project would offer added value for the further development of her field. However, the review of her application did not identify any relevance for the social, economic and/or political development of her native country / region.

Do I need to know German in order to apply?

  • Natural scientists and engineers: good knowledge of German or English is sufficient.
  • Scholars in the humanities and social sciences: should have knowledge of German if it is necessary to carry out their research successfully. In this case, a German language certificate confirming proficiency must be submitted. Otherwise, a good knowledge of English is sufficient.
  • Physicians: if the research involves work with patients, the candidate must have a good knowledge of German (language certificate required). Otherwise, a good knowledge of English is sufficient.

English or German is my native language. Do I have to submit a language certificate proving my proficiency?

No, a language certificate is not required.

I'm a physician (MD / Dr. med.). Are there any special admission requirements?

You are eligible to apply if you hold a research doctorate or a comparable academic degree. In addition, please read our Admission Questionnaire for Physicians (MD / Dr. med.) for detailed information. If you have several research doctorates, the above mentioned FAQ on the subject of "several doctorates" applies.

Which (virtual) mobility rules apply with regard to Germany?

The aim of the programme is to enable highly qualified academics from abroad to come to Germany to conduct a research stay here. Applicants should therefore be living and/or working outside Germany at the time of application. 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 time spent in Germany within those 18 months is taken in to account, regardless of duration or reason.

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 is not eligible to apply. If you have arrived in Germany recently you should submit your application as soon as possible, as we can only assess your eligibility and formally accept your application after it has been submitted. German citizens and/or educational residents* (see following FAQ) are generally ineligible to apply if they have been in Germany within the last 18 months prior to receipt of their application or are already in Germany at the time of applying.

If in doubt, please contact us before submitting your application so we can advise you ( info[at]avh.de ). * Educational residents are individuals who have completed their school education and a university degree, or a university degree and their doctorate in Germany.

Can I apply from abroad as a German citizen/educational resident?

The aim of the programme is to enable highly qualified academics from abroad to come to Germany to conduct a research stay here. German citizens/educational residents* are thus not the target group of this funding programme. You are however eligible to apply if you are permanently working abroad and intend to return abroad immediately following the requested research stay.

We consider you to be permanently established in a foreign country if you have unquestionably been living and working abroad

  • for more than 10 years;
  • for more than 5 years and meet one of the following criteria that unequivocally indicate strong ties to your current country of residence:
  • a permanent/tenured position;
  • additional citizenship of your country of residence;
  • permanent permission to reside in your current country of residence (e.g. permanent residence permit, green card etc.). Permission to reside based solely on your citizenship (e.g. for EU citizens as part of EU freedom of movement) is not accepted;
  • other indications that you intend to permanently return to your current country of residence

German citizens and/or educational residents* are generally ineligible to apply if they have been in Germany within the last 18 months prior to receipt of their application or are already in Germany at the time of applying. If you intend to apply in order to prepare your permanent return to Germany, we recommend that you instead apply to the “Temporary Positions” programme of the DFG. If in doubt, we would ask to send us only your complete CV and a list of your publications, so that we can advise you. Please state which criterion applies to you ( info[at]avh.de ). * Educational residents are individuals who have completed their school education and a university degree, or a university degree and their doctorate in Germany.

Academic host

Who can be my academic host.

Any researcher working at a university or research institution in Germany who offers to make research facilities available for the research stay may act as your host. If you have already worked in Germany for a longer period of time (12 months or more) you should look for a new academic environment for another guest stay in Germany. Applications that involve returning to the supervisor of the doctoral thesis or to the mentor of a longer postdoctoral stay are generally rejected by the Selection Committee on the basis of a lack of further independent academic development.

Individuals with whom you are in a close personal (marriage or civil partnership) or familial (parents, siblings, children) relationship cannot be selected as hosts.

How can I find an academic host?

You are free to choose your own academic host. The Humboldt Foundation does not provide any direct support in finding a host.

We would like to draw your attention to the following search engines for hosts and research institutes:

  • Institutes at German universities and other research institutions Searchable Portal (GERiT) of the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
  • Research facilities, disciplines and research in Germany (only in German) Research portal of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
  • Research Map Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK)
  • Research facilities, researchers and projects of the DFG in Germany and worldwide GEPRIS - Database of the German Research Foundation
  • Research facilities, disciplines and researchers in Germany and worldwide World of Learning
  • KISSWIN Communication and information platform on career paths and funding opportunities for junior academics

We would also like to draw your attention to the open access part of the Network Online . This database features a large proportion of the Foundation's more than 25,000 academics sponsored worldwide. Here you can search for names, disciplines and keywords.

Can I conduct my research with two academic hosts?

Yes. If the hosts work at different research institutes, they must each provide a host's statement and confirmation that research facilities can be made available.

Will my host institute receive any additional funds for the costs it incurs in connection with my research stay?

In general the host institute will receive an allowance for research costs of €800 per month for research in the field of natural sciences and engineering, and €500 for research in the field of humanities or social sciences.

Please see the respective FAQ of the Department Sponsorship and Network.

Preparation/Planning

Are there deadlines for submitting applications.

There is no closing date for submitting applications. Applications are processed as part of an ongoing procedure. As soon as we have received your complete application we shall forward it to independent peer reviewers. Their written evaluations will then be presented to the selection committee at the next selection meeting at which a decision will be made.

Please note that you can submit your application only after your host and your expert reviewers have uploaded all necessary documents. The date used to determine whether the applicant meets certain formal requirements, such as career stage limitations and stays in Germany, is the date on which the Humboldt Foundation receives the respective application.

Selection committee meetings take place three times a year, in March, July and November. Applications should be submitted at least four to seven months ahead of the prospective selection meeting. A graphic display of the complete application process can be found above on this page.

Can I apply to several Humboldt Foundation fellowship programmes at the same time, or can I apply for a Humboldt Fellowship and the Sofja Kovalevskaja Award at the same time if I fulfil the formal requirements?

No, it is not possible to apply to several fellowship programmes or the Sofja Kovalevskaja Award programme concurrently. Should you be rejected by any of them, you may, however, apply to any other programme as long as you fulfil the formal requirements.

Can I apply for a fellowship from another institution at the same time I submit my application to the Humboldt Foundation?

On principle, it is possible to file parallel applications. You must, however, indicate this on the application form and inform us immediately of any other applications you submit and any other sponsorship decisions that occur while we are considering your application.

Can I do part of my research work abroad?

If it is necessary for the success of the project, fellows may conduct research at research institutions in other parts of Europe during the fellowship period (excepting their country of origin). As a rule, the total length of your Europe Research Stay may not exceed 25 per cent of the projected total duration of sponsorship. Furthermore, if the fellowship is divided up into several stays (experienced researchers), the duration of the Europe Research Stay may on principle not exceed half the duration of the respective fellowship period. Plans for research stays may already be included in your research proposal when you apply, but you cannot submit an application for a stay before you have been awarded the fellowship. The fellowship does not cover research stays in the fellow’s country of origin or another non-European country; as a rule, the fellowship must be interrupted for this period or the stay abroad must be realised before the fellowship begins.

Can I apply for a research fellowship for a period of less than six months?

The first research stay in the context of a postdoctoral fellowship must last at least six months. Experienced researchers must also apply for a stay of at least six months, which can, however, be divided up into two blocks of three months.

Do I have to divide up my research stays strictly according to the model specified by the programme?

Yes. It is not possible to deviate from the standard model.

I am a postdoctoral researcher. Can I divide up my research stay?

It is not possible to break up the research stay.

When do I have to start the fellowship period at the latest?

You must start the fellowship period within twelve months of being selected. Otherwise you will have to submit a new application.

What is the value of the fellowship?

Please refer to our current  programme information for postdoctoral  and  experienced researchers  for details.

Will you pay the fellowship retroactively if I am already at the host institute at the time of being selected?

No, the fellowship cannot be paid retroactively.

Is the intensive German language course part of my research fellowship?

A two- to four-month language course takes place immediately prior to the start of the research fellowship. The language fellowship is not part of the research fellowship. (In other words, if you apply for a two-month language course in connection with a 12-month research stay in Germany, your stay will last a total of 14 months.)

When can I attend a language course?

The intensive German language course can only be taken immediately prior to the start of the research fellowship. If this is not possible, you may apply for funds to attend evening classes during the research fellowship.

Do I have to take a language course?

There is no obligation to take a language course. However, the Humboldt Foundation strongly encourages all its fellows and their partners to learn German during their research stay so that they can fully participate in social and cultural life in Germany.

Who bears the travel expenses to and from Germany?

If the fellow's own institution does not cover travel expenses, the Humboldt Foundation will pay a single lump sum for return travel. The Humboldt Foundation will only pay travel expenses for family members in exceptional circumstances.

Can I bring my family?

The Humboldt Foundation welcomes the idea that fellows' partners and children should accompany them and encourages this by paying family allowances in addition to the fellowship, provided that the family members accompany the fellow for more than three months.

How soon can I begin the fellowship period?

There are three Selection Committee Meetings each year: in March, July and November. If you are coming from abroad, the earliest you may begin the fellowship period is usually two months (three months if you need a visa) after your application has been approved by the Selection Committee. If you are already in Germany, you can start at the beginning of the following month at the earliest.

Application documents

Should my expert reviews be sent directly to the humboldt foundation or enclosed with the application.

Your host(s) and expert reviewer(s) upload the required documents in a secure area themselves, adding them to your application form. You can find the links to this area in the application form. Please send these links on a timely basis to your designated scientists/academics. Once all the documents have been uploaded, you will automatically be notified by email and will then be able to submit your application. You are responsible for ensuring that your documents are complete. Expert reviews should not be more than 12 months old at the time of application.

Who should provide expert reviews for my application and how many expert reviews are required?

The expert review should assess your development as a researcher, your potential, and your academic accomplishments to date. It is, therefore, important that expert reviewers are well acquainted with your academic work to date. You must submit two expert reviews. Postdocs must submit expert reviews from their doctoral supervisor and one other academic, preferably from outside their own institute. Experienced researchers must submit expert reviews from important collaborative partners and/or academics from their own institute and further institutes, if possible, from abroad. Please note: The host's statement does not count as an expert review! You are responsible for requesting all expert reviews and the host’s statement.

Which publications should I enclose with my application?

Your application must contain up to five key publications (postdocs: one to three; experienced researchers: three to five). Other publications will not be accepted (exception: You may optionally submit published reviews of your key publications by other authors). If you wish to cite your dissertation or habilitation as a key publication but have not yet submitted it for printing, please upload the original manuscript of your doctoral or habilitation thesis.

Before uploading, please check the accuracy of the information provided in your publication lists (complete list, list of key publications), in particular with regard to the order and completeness of the information on the authors, the titles of the publications and the publication venues. Inaccurate information could lead to the rejection of your application on formal grounds.

May I include works that have not yet been submitted for publication in the list of key publications and the complete list of publications?

No. Please only cite publications that are already in print, have been accepted for publication or have at least been submitted to a publishing house. Please cite submitted publications without naming the journal or publishing house on your publication list. In the latter case you must include the acknowledgement of receipt from the publisher; in the case of publications that have been accepted, please include the letter of acceptance from the publisher. Any other works cited on the list will be deleted. Exception: Your dissertation or habilitation may be cited as a key publication even if you have not yet submitted it to a publisher. If you wish to cite your dissertation or habilitation as a key publication but have not yet submitted it for printing, please upload the original manuscript of your doctoral or habilitation thesis.

I have not yet completed my doctorate. Do I have to hand in my doctoral certificate later?

Yes. As soon as you complete your doctorate, we need at least official confirmation from your university. You will not be able to start the fellowship without this confirmation.

What are key publications?

You yourself should choose the key publications from your publications. You should choose works which present your most important academic results. In cases of multiple authorship you should select those to which you have made a major contribution. When choosing key publications we recommend including works that reflect your more recent publication activity. Please note that you cannot amend your selection of key publications once the selection process has begun.

How many key publications should I cite?

If you are applying for a fellowship for postdoctoral researchers, one key publication is sufficient. You may cite a maximum of three. If you are applying for a fellowship for experienced researchers you must choose at least three key publications. You may cite a maximum of five. Surplus key publications will be removed from the list without notifying the applicant.

How should I explain why I have chosen a key publication?

Please address the particular academic relevance of the results contained in the key publication and briefly explain the significance of the publication for your academic profile (cf. Sample key publications , PDF). In cases of multiple authorship please also indicate your own personal contribution to the publication.

Should my key publications also be cited in the complete list of publications?

Yes. Please cite all your publications in the complete list of publications, including your key publications. An unpublished dissertation or habilitation, however, may not be listed in the complete list of publications. In this list the key publications should be cited without explanations (cf. Sample publication list ). Please note that the order of the authors on the publication list corresponds to the order of the authors on the submitted publication. Changing the order is against the Rules of Good Scientific Practice and may result in penalties (cf. Rules of Good Scientific Practice ). Please note that it is not possible to amend the list of publications submitted to the Humboldt Foundation once the selection process has begun.

Selection procedure

Will you confirm receipt of my application, as well as other documents, expert reviews and the host's statement.

As soon as we receive your application, we will notify you by email.

How much time do I have to submit further documents or update my application?

Your application will be checked upon receipt to ensure that it is complete and meets the formal requirements for eligibility. We shall only be able to inform you about the expected decision date when we have received all the required documents. Once the review process by independent reviewers has been initiated, it is not possible to submit or exchange any documentation. If any papers or books that have only been submitted for publication at the time of application should subsequently be accepted, you should send us a copy of the acceptance letter immediately by email. This information can be fed into the process prior to the selection meeting. It is not possible to add to the publication list once the procedure has started.

Will I be notified of the date the Selection Committee will decide on my application?

When all the documents have been received we shall notify you about the proposed date of the selection meeting. Should the peer review process of your application take longer than expected you will also be informed if it becomes unavoidable to postpone the date of the decision.

Who will review my application?

Your application will be reviewed by independent peer reviewers.

Who will decide on my application?

The final decision on all applications is made by the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee consists of researchers of all disciplines who decide on all applications by majority vote. The Humboldt Foundation has no vote on the Selection Committee.

Will I be notified of the reasons for a rejection?

If your application is not approved, you may send an informal email requesting feedback to be sent to you and your host on the reasons for the rejection. This will usually follow approximately four to six weeks after the selection committee meeting. Please note that we cannot provide any personalised information before this juncture so as not to delay the notification process.

When will I be informed about the decision?

We shall notify you and your academic host about the decision by email in the days immediately following the selection meeting. At larger selection meetings it may take a few days longer to contact all the applicants and academic hosts.

How high is the success rate?

What are the most important selection criteria.

The essential aspect of the application is the individual applicant's academic qualification. Please refer to the relevant programme information for more details on the selection criteria.

Can I re-apply after being rejected?

It is possible to re-apply. The new application should, however, differ significantly from the original, rejected application. Generally, it makes sense to re-apply after developing one's academic profile, e.g. after academical publications have been accepted by internationally reviewed journals and publishing houses. Our experience shows that applicants should wait about two years before re-applying. Submitting a new application that differs little or not at all from the rejected original may result in a formal rejection of the new application. In the case of unanimously rejected applications, a new application will be accepted only after 18 months.

What issues frequently result in applications being rejected?

Insufficient publication record : In particular, applicants who apply upon completion of their doctoral thesis should ensure that the key findings of the doctoral thesis (key publications) are already published or have been accepted for publication. In case of doubt, it is a good idea to wait for several months before submitting the application until evidence can be provided that the key publications have been accepted. Lack of academic development : The chosen research project should not be a direct continuation of the doctoral thesis or of the academic work carried out to date. Returning to the same academic environment, e.g. returning to the supervisor of the doctoral thesis or the mentor of longer postdoctoral research (more than 12 months), or returning to a host institute where a longer research stay has already taken place, generally results in the rejection of applications on the basis of a lack of further independent academic development. Lack of originality : In the qualitative assessment of the key publications and of the research outline, the independent peer reviewers focus in particular on the originality of the work and the associated impetus for further development in this research area. If these aspects are not immediately apparent, if the research concerns more routine work or if the aims of the planned research and its significance for the continued development of the subject area are not clearly presented, applications are generally rejected. Lack of personal academic profile, academic establishment : In the experienced academics’ programme segment, the personal academic profile is of major importance for the assessment of applications by the independent peer reviewers and committee members. Therefore, applications are frequently rejected if

  • no or insufficient publications are available in sole authorship or as a corresponding author;
  • the applicants’ topics are too narrowly focused;
  • no clear continued academic development is apparent;
  • the research project is not clearly aligned with the research interests of the applicant;
  • after several postdoctoral positions, another "traditional" postdoctoral position is applied for without the applicant becoming independently established academically in the meantime.

For experienced academics whose doctorate was completed more than eight years ago, rejection often results if a position as an independent academic (assistant professor, lecturer, junior research group leader, etc.) has still not been obtained, or if the prospect of a professorial appointment upon completion of the proposed stay is not apparent from the documentation submitted, especially the publication profile.

This programme is financed by

phd fellowship german

Collaborative programmes

On this research fellowship programme, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation cooperates with various private partners. Together, we aim to recruit highly qualified researchers for a research stay in Germany. The application, selection and sponsorship processes in programmes that involve private collaborative partners are conducted in accordance with the established procedure and guidelines of the Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme. In many cases, the privately co-financed fellowships include additional offers, such as visits to the collaborative partners, invitations to events or facilitating contacts. 

If you are interested in such fellowships, please sign the corresponding declaration of consent in the application form. You will be informed as to whether the Humboldt Foundation has been able to admit you to one of the collaborative programmes in the award letter.

Collaborative partners:

  • Bayer Foundation
  • Carl Friedrich von Siemens Foundation

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Fellowships

The Berlin Program offers up to one year of dissertation or postdoctoral research support at the Freie Universität Berlin . It is open to scholars in all social science and humanities disciplines, including historians working on German and European history since the mid-18th century. We offer five different fellowships: Berlin Program Dissertation Fellowship, Berlin Program Postdoc Fellowship, Max Kade Berlin Postdoc Fellowship, Kerstin Leitner Berlin Dissertation Fellowship and Kerstin Leitner Berlin Postdoc Fellowship. For key features and eligibility, check our Fellowships Overview .

Berlin Program Dissertation Fellowships :  Fellowships for dissertation research are EUR 1550 per month (as of October 1, 2023) for 10 to 12 months and carries a travel reimbursement of EUR 1200. Applicants for a dissertation fellowship must be full-time graduate students at a North American university, must have completed all coursework required for a Ph.D. and must have achieved ABD (all but dissertation) status by the time the proposed research stay in Berlin begins.

Berlin Program Postdoctoral Fellowships :   Fellowships for postdoctoral research are EUR 1800 per month (as of October 1, 2023) for 10 to 12 months and carries a travel reimbursement of EUR 1200. We support recent postdocs, i.e. applicants who have received their doctorates in the last two calendar years from a North American university or applicants who are in the process of receiving their Ph.D. from a North American university and will have defended their thesis by the time the proposed research in Berlin begins.

Max Kade Berlin Fellowships (Postdoc): The fellowship offers a stipend of $25,000 for a research stay in Berlin for 10 to 12 months. The support covers living and travel expenses. Eligible are U.S. citizens who have received their doctorates in the last two calendar years from a North American university or applicants who are in the process of receiving their Ph.D. from a North American university and will have defended their thesis by the time the proposed research in Berlin begins. Learn more...

Kerstin Leitner Berlin Dissertation Fellowships: This opportunity is a year-long fellowship (12 months), has a value of EUR 1550 per month (as of October 1, 2023) and carries a travel reimbursement of EUR 1200. Eligible are Ph.D. candidates from China and Africa. Scholars from China’s central provinces (e.g. Gansu, Hubei, Shaanxi) or Southern Africa (e.g. Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe) are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants must be enrolled as a full-time graduate student in a Ph.D. program in a humanities or social science discipline at a university in Africa or China. Learn more...

Kerstin Leitner Berlin Postdoc Fellowships: Fellowships for postdoctoral research are EUR 1800 per month (as of October 1, 2023) for 12 months and carry a travel reimbursement of EUR 1200. We support recent postdocs, i.e. applicants who have received their doctorates in the last two calendar years from a Chinese or African university or applicants who are in the process of receiving their Ph.D. and will have defended their thesis by the time the proposed research in Berlin begins. Learn more...

All applicants must submit an application to the Berlin Program and will be considered in the same applicant pool.

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Studying in Germany

How to Apply for a PhD in Germany: Programs, Funding, & FAQs

phd fellowship german

If you’re considering advancing your academic journey with a PhD and have a passion for conducting research in your field, Germany could be an excellent destination for you. With its top-tier universities, exciting research opportunities, financial support, and diverse culture, Germany stands out as an excellent choice for PhD studies.

These are the main steps to doing a PhD in Germany:

Find a PhD Program and a Supervisor

  • Decide Between Individual and Structured PhD Programs
  • Meet All Requirements & Prepare Your Application

Apply for Doctoral Studies

Secure funding, get a student visa or resident permit, arrive in germany and begin your phd program, why pursue a phd in germany.

Here are some compelling reasons to pursue a PhD in Germany:

  • Top universities. Germany boasts four universities ranked in the top 100 globally, offering access to world-class education and research facilities.
  • International student community. Germany welcomes a diverse and thriving international student community, with over 458,210 international students studying across the country.
  • Abundant research institutions. Germany’s 1,000+ publicly funded research institutions, spanning universities, applied sciences, research institutes, businesses, and government bodies, offer countless opportunities for collaboration and networking.
  • Investment in research and development. Germany’s commitment to research and development is evident through its increasing expenditure, which reached a record high of 112.6 billion euros in 2021.
  • Strong economy. Germany is known for its robust and stable economy, offering potential career opportunities in academia, industry, and research sectors after completing your PhD.

How to Apply for a PhD in Germany

Below, you will find all the steps you need to take, from discovering your perfect program to submitting your application and commencing your PhD adventure in Germany.

To start your PhD in Germany, define your research focus by considering your interests and academic background. Explore resources, attend conferences, and connect with professors. Use online sources, engage with academic communities, and seek advice from current PhD students for insights into the research scene.

If you’re already clear about your research direction, it’s time to search for suitable programs. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides a comprehensive database of current opportunities, which you can explore at the DAAD PhD Database . Additionally, consider researching universities in Germany individually to understand what each institution offers in terms of research and programs.

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You will also have to find a supervisor. One way to do so is by visiting university websites to find faculty directories with profiles of professors and their research interests. Contact professors whose work aligns with your research interests, express your interest and inquire about supervision opportunities.

> You can search PhD programs using the GERiT database , which features over 31,000 research institutions.

Types of PhD Programs in Germany

Before you start searching for a PhD program, it’s essential to understand that in Germany, there are two different paths you can take when pursuing a PhD, each with its own set of advantages and opportunities.

Individual PhD Programs

An individual doctorate program is considered the more common and traditional PhD route in Germany. It is a flexible and self-directed path to earning a doctoral degree, particularly in fields like humanities and social sciences. You take the initiative to find a supervisor (called “Doktorvater” or “Doktormutter”) for your research project and often suggest your research topic.

There’s no fixed curriculum, giving you the freedom to set your research timeline and choose coursework. This approach requires self-discipline and active networking, including participation in doctoral candidate meetings and research events.

Structured PhD Programs

Structured PhD programs in Germany offer a clear path to a PhD degree, typically lasting three to five years. Unlike individual doctorate studies, they include a curriculum, research proposal submission that has to fit an existing program, and a set timeline for coursework and research.

Candidates benefit from advisor supervision and are encouraged to collaborate across disciplines, making structured programs ideal if you’re seeking a guided and comprehensive doctoral experience.

Ensure You Meet All Requirements & Prepare the Application

The requirements and application documents for a PhD in Germany can vary depending on your chosen institution and research area. However, as a general guideline, you should prepare the following:

  • Academic degree recognized in Germany. Typically, you’ll need a master’s degree or a German state examination (Staatsexamen) to qualify for a PhD program.
  • Copy of master’s thesis. Provide a copy of your master’s thesis, showcasing your research skills and the depth of your academic work.
  • Research proposal. Craft a clear and comprehensive research proposal outlining your intended research topic, objectives, methodology, and significance.
  • Statement of purpose. Write a statement of purpose explaining why you wish to pursue a PhD in your chosen field, your academic and career goals, and how this program aligns with your aspirations.
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV). Prepare a detailed CV highlighting your academic achievements, research experience, relevant coursework, publications, and any other qualifications.
  • Proof of language proficiency. Depending on the language of instruction (usually German or English), you may have to provide proof of language proficiency. You can do this with certificates like TestDaF, DSH, TOEFL, IELTS, or proof of previous studies in the language.
  • Academic references. You may need to provide contact information or recommendation letters from professors or academic advisors confirming your academic abilities and research potential.
  • Predoctoral examination. Some programs may require you to pass a predoctoral examination as part of the application process.

Once you’ve found a suitable PhD program and a mentor, and your academic qualifications are recognized in Germany, you can start your application. Depending on the university or research institute, you can apply online or by post, so it’s essential to check their specific requirements. Keep in mind that admission committees are selective and may conduct interviews to admit the best candidates.

Securing funding is a crucial step when preparing for a PhD in Germany. To meet visa requirements and stay in the country, you must demonstrate access to a minimum of €934 per month, totaling €11,208 annually. This proof can be provided through an admission agreement or relevant contract, or you can open a blocked account with individual funds.

There are various ways to financially support yourself while pursuing a PhD in Germany:

  • PhD scholarships. DAAD offers the highest number of doctoral scholarships. PhD students get an average monthly stipend of €1,139.
  • Paid PhD positions. Many universities and research institutions offer paid PhD positions in Germany. You will have a contract and work on specific research projects while receiving a salary.
  • Research associate positions. You can also work as a research associate in a university, research institution, or company and receive a salary as compensation.
  • Part-time jobs. Some PhD students/researchers work part-time jobs that are not related to their studies to secure additional income.

> Read more about the costs associated with studying in Germany.

> Explore scholarship opportunities.

Once your acceptance into the PhD program is confirmed by the university or institution, you can begin the process of applying for a student visa or residence permit. The PhD visa or permit requirements for Germany can vary depending on your nationality and individual circumstances:

Visa Requirements

Citizens of the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland do not need any special permit or visa to pursue a PhD in Germany. They can research and work with just a valid passport or ID card.

For international researchers who are not citizens of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, a visa will be required to work as a researcher in Germany.

The type of visa you need depends on your specific situation:

  • Study visa. If you’re pursuing a full-time doctoral program, you may apply for a student visa.
  • Research visa. If your focus is on research and you have a formal affiliation with a research institution in Germany, you can apply for a research visa.
  • EU Blue Card. If your PhD offer includes a gross annual salary of at least €45,300 (or €41,041.80 in certain professions), you may be eligible for an EU Blue Card, which is a special residence title for international academics.

Residence Permit Requirements

Once you arrive in Germany, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit based on the visa you have:

  • Study permit. If you’re accepted into a PhD program at a German university, you can get a study-based residence permit for up to two years, extendable.
  • Research permit. If you’re a researcher with the right qualifications for doctoral programs, you can get a research permit for Germany. This requires a contract with a research institution for your project.
  • EU Blue Card. You may be eligible for the EU Blue Card, which is for foreign academics and qualified workers in Germany. To get it through a PhD offer, your salary should be at least €45,300 per year, or €41,041.80 for certain bottleneck professions .

*Note that nationals of certain countries , including the United States, Australia, Israel, Japan, and Korea, who are not required to obtain a visa, must still apply for a residence permit.

> For more specific information tailored to your situation, we recommend contacting the German embassy or consulate in your home country. You can also use this visa navigator.

Arriving in Germany and commencing your PhD program is an exciting step, but there are certain formalities you need to take care of. The international office at the university or a representative can guide you, however here are the main things to take care of once you’re in the country:

Register Your Residence

Shortly after your arrival, you must register your residence at the local registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt). This is mandatory, and you typically have a window of two weeks to complete this process.

Obtain Health Insurance

Everyone in Germany, including international PhD students, is obligated by law to have health insurance coverage . The type of health insurance you are eligible for depends on the source of your funding:

  • Doctoral candidates with an employment contract are typically insured automatically with a state-regulated health insurance provider (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung -GKV)
  • Doctoral candidates without an employment contract (with a fellowship or private funding) may choose between:
  • Voluntary health insurance coverage with a state-regulated provider.
  • Coverage with a private health insurance company.

Some exceptions allow you to retain your insurance from your home country, such as students from a European Union (EU) country or other countries with social security agreements with Germany.

Open a Bank Account

It’s advisable to open a German bank account as soon as possible. Many financial transactions in Germany, including receiving your stipend or salary, are typically done through a German bank account.

Enrollment at University

If your PhD program requires enrollment at a university, you’ll need to complete this step. Submit the necessary documents to the university’s enrollment office, which may include your admission letter, passport, proof of health insurance, and proof of financial means.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

There’s a lot to think about when you’re considering pursuing a PhD, especially if it’s in a foreign country. We’re sure you’ve got more questions, and we’re here to help.

What Is the Duration of a PhD Program in Germany?

In general, a PhD program in Germany typically lasts between three to six years.

The duration of a PhD program in Germany can vary depending on several factors, including the university, the subject area, and individual progress.

Are PhD Programs in Germany Tuition-Free?

Most PhD programs in Germany are tuition-free, at least for the first six semesters. However, if you are enrolled at a university, you will need to cover a semester fee. This can vary depending on the university but usually falls within the range of €100 to €350.

Is Knowing German Mandatory to Pursue a PhD in Germany?

Knowing German is not always mandatory to pursue a PhD in Germany. Many German universities offer PhD programs in English, especially in fields like science, engineering, and the humanities. In such programs, you can write your thesis and communicate with professors and peers in English.

However, language requirements differ by university and department. If your program is in German, you might need to prove your proficiency. Knowing German can also be helpful for daily life and integration if you’re living in Germany.

Will I Get a PhD Salary in Germany?

PhD candidates in Germany, whether affiliated with universities, research institutions, or companies collaborating with them, typically receive financial support in the form of a salary or grant.

The majority of doctoral positions are structured under the TV-L (Tarifvertrag im Öffentlichen Dienst) salary scale, often falling within the TV-L 13 category, with a salary range spanning from €4,188 (Tier 1) to €6,037 (Tier 6).

Salaries are typically determined based on a wage agreement that specifies the contract tier (Stufe) and working hours (percentage-based). Many entry-level PhD students start with tier 1 contracts that are not full-time. For example, if your contract places you in Pay Group E-13 Tier 1 of the TV-L and you work at 75% capacity, your monthly gross salary will be €3,141.

Can I Work While Pursuing a PhD in Germany?

It’s generally allowed for PhD students in Germany to have part-time jobs to cover living expenses. However, the rules and expectations can vary depending on your supervisor, field of study, and specific circumstances.

While part-time work is an option, keep in mind that pursuing a PhD can be quite demanding, often requiring long hours of research and study. It’s essential to find the right balance between work and your academic commitments. Additionally, make sure to be aware of any legal and contractual obligations related to your employment while studying for your PhD.

What Is the Process for Defending a PhD Thesis in Germany?

In Germany, defending your PhD thesis involves several steps. You start by submitting your thesis and necessary documents, making sure they meet all the formal requirements. A commission is formed, and you may have the opportunity to suggest reviewers.

Then, you will have to prepare and undergo an oral defense, which can be either public or private and typically lasts between 30 minutes to 2 hours. During this, you present your research and discuss it with the committee.

The outcome of this discussion determines your final grade, which you receive after the defense. If everything goes well, you’re granted the Ph.D. title and have about two years to publish your dissertation.

What Are the Career Prospects After Completing a PhD in Germany?

After completing a PhD in Germany, career prospects are promising. Graduates often find opportunities in academia as professors or researchers or in various industries, including technology, healthcare, and finance. Germany’s strong economy and research-oriented environment make it an attractive place for career development.

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TUM Global Postdoc Fellowship

This attractive two-year fellowship program offers excellent researchers who have recently completed their PhD the chance to continue their academic career at TUM.

Save the Date: The Call for Applications for the TUM Global Postdoc Fellowships 2024 will be published soon.

The TUM Global Postdoc Fellowship 2024 offers up to 10 international young scientists the opportunity to conduct research with a host at TUM for up to 2 years within the framework of the fellowship.  

We will grant the fellowships in two separate calls (March / September). The first call (Call 4.1) will open on March 1, 2024. The deadline for submission of application is March 31, 2024 (23:59 CET).  

Submit your application via our designated application portal. Once the call is published, you will find the respective link on this homepage.

For any question, please contact the team of the TUM Talent Factory at [email protected] .

About the TUM Global Postdoc Fellowship

The  TUM Global Postdoc Fellowship  is a funding opportunity for external postdoctoral scientists who are currently residing abroad and would like to start their research at TUM. For 24 months, we will support fellows to diversify their research profile at a TUM department and to initiate new research projects together with TUM scientists.

The call is open to researchers who have completed their doctorate a maximum of three years ago or who will complete their doctorate within the next 12 months. Researchers must reside outside of Germany at the time of submission.

In each call, there are two phases . In Phase I, you do not require to submit a letter of support from a TUM host. However, you must identify a TUM host, who will support your application, during Phase II of the submission process. See below for further information on these two phases.

The TUM Global Postdoc Fellowship is open to all topics. Researchers are invited to apply with a project that matches the research of the chair/institute/lab of the respective host who supports the application.

If you want to be informed about future calls, please register for our Newsletter .

POSTDOC NEWSLETTER – FOR EXTERNAL RESEARCHERS

Details on the Fellowship

The TUM Global Postdoc Fellowship 2024 offers successful candidates a fellowship  for 24 months. Fellows receive a monthly stipend of 2.670€  and one additional kick-off payment of 430€. Researchers residing in the Munich metropolitan area receive an additional monthly allowance of 350€. It is also possible to apply for family benefits. Please note that additional payments for consumables and conferences are not included and may be covered by the host subject to their agreement.

The TUM Global Postdoc Fellowship is a co-financed fellowship. This means that the TUM host needs to co-finance 20% of the fellowship costs. One TUM host can support up to two applicants per call.

  • Call 4.1. (March 2024): Upon positive evaluation, you can commence the fellowship within a year from October 1, 2024 to October 1, 2025.
  • Call 4.2. (September 2024): Upon positive evaluation, you can commence the fellowship within a year from April 1, 2025 to April 1, 2026.

Please keep the above in mind, when planning your fellowship. During the fellowship, you will have the support of central TUM services, e.g.  TUM Talent Factory .

Application Requirements

Candidates fulfilling the following criteria are eligible to apply for the TUM Global Postdoc Fellowship:

Mobility Rule

Early-career postdocs and doctoral researchers in their final year, residing outside of Germany at the time of submission, are eligible to apply for the TUM Global Postdoc Fellowship. Researchers who are already working at TUM or have received their doctorate at TUM are not eligible to apply.

Completion of PhD or letter of confirmation from PhD supervisor

You are eligible to apply for the fellowship if you have finished your PhD within the last three years at an institution other than TUM.

  • Call 4.1.: Cut-off date is March 1, 2024, which means you can apply if you have completed your PhD on March 1, 2021 or later. The date on the doctoral certificate is binding.
  • Call 4.2.: Cut-off date is September 1, 2024, which means you can apply if you have completed your PhD on September 1, 2021 or later. The date on the doctoral certificate is binding.

You are also eligible, if you have recently handed in your doctorate thesis or if you will complete your PhD within the next 12 months. In each case, you must submit an official letter of confirmation from your supervisor stating that you will complete your PhD within the next 12 months. A PhD certificate is mandatory to be able to start the fellowship.

Support of a TUM Host

For a successful application, you need the support of a TUM host.

In Phase I of the application, you name up to three potential TUM hosts you want to work with. On successful completion of Phase I, you will conduct a matchmaking session moderated by TUM with the potential TUM hosts you have named.

In Phase II of the application, your identified TUM host must support your application by providing a Letter of Support. The Letter of Support by the TUM host is mandatory, as it contains the confirmation of the 20% co-financing by the host.

Please note: Researchers can only apply for the fellowship once.

They are free to apply for the current or a later call so long they fulfil the above-mentioned eligibility criteria.

If you have further questions concerning the application requirements, please check our  FAQ document   (PDF).

Application Documents

To apply for the  TUM Global Postdoc Fellowship  2024, you need the following documents in English :

  • Letter of Motivation (approx. 1 page) Please tell us about your motivation to join TUM for your postdoctoral research. A well-crafted letter of motivation is crucial for the assessment of your application. Therefore, it is essential that you describe your professional goals with precision and explain your motivation thoroughly for pursuing a postdoc at TUM. Also, explain in detail how the TUM professor(s) you are interested to work with match your research interests and scope. Bear in mind that members of the selection committee might not be experts in your specific field of expertise, therefore, your letter of motivation should be clear and accessible to a broader audience.
  • CV , including list of publications (max. 5 pages)
  • Copy of your best paper
  • PhD certificate or a confirmation of your PhD submission or a statement from your PhD supervisor that you have completed your PhD or that you will complete your PhD within the next 12 months.
  • Reference Letter from your PhD supervisor There are two options to upload the Reference Letter: The applicant can directly upload the letter in the application portal and submit their application. Alternatively, if the referee wishes to upload the letter himself/herself, the applicant can send the referee an automated email from the application portal. The referee will receive an email with a link that allows them to upload the letter themselves. 
  • Names of potential TUM hosts that are of interest to you

Please name up to three TUM Hosts who you want to work with. Please note that only active TUM Professors/Head of Institutes/Chairs/Junior Fellows can be hosts. It is not possible to name other scientists, including Honorary Professors, Distinguished Affiliated Professors, and retired professors including the TUM Emeriti of Excellence and TUM President Prof. Dr. Thomas F. Hofmann.

The following websites will enable you to find professors who fits your research profile: TUM Schools and Departments, TUM Clusters of Excellence or TUM Research Centers. You can also go through the list of TUM Professors or TUM Junior Fellows.

  • Research Proposal  (max. 4 pages). Please present the research project you plan to conduct at TUM in a comprehensible way so that reviewers who are not experts in your specific field can follow your argument. In your research proposal, you should also address synergies with the TUM host and your career plans: Why is TUM the best possible place to do your research project? Why is your TUM host  the  person with whom you want to conduct your research project? What are your future career plans? For which subsequent funding would you apply during the fellowship? Your proposal should not exceed four pages (including references and footnotes).
  • Letter of Support  from your TUM host (for details on what the letter of support should entail, see  Information for Hosts ).

Please note that it is not possible to receive the fellowship without the support of a TUM host (i.e., a TUM professor or TUM Junior Fellow) . As a host cannot support more than two applications per Call, we strongly recommend that you obtain the confirmation of TUM Host supporting your application before you prepare the documents. Since this is a relatively new program, note that potential hosts may not be aware of all the details of the TUM Global Postdoc Fellowship.

For questions, you may also refer to our  FAQ document  ( PDF).

Information on the Selection Process

phd fellowship german

The Call is structured into two phases.

In Phase I , the Scientific Board will evaluate each application by the following criteria:

  • Scientific excellence of the applicant
  • Career perspectives of the applicant
  • Quality of the motivation letter
  • Synergies with the TUM host

The best applicants will be selected and a matchmaking process with the TUM Host/s (identified by the applicant in Phase I) will be initiated. Once a match is found, the selected applicants will proceed to Phase II . In this phase, the applicant has to submit a support letter from the TUM Host along with the research proposal. The Scientific Board will evaluate each application by the following criteria:

  • Relevance and originality of the proposed research project

phd fellowship german

Information for Hosts

The TUM Global Postdoc Fellowship is an important initiative of the TUM Agenda 2030. It offers talented, recently graduated postdocs an opportunity to continue their career at TUM. To attract global researchers, we therefore award a two-year fellowship . Postdocs with family are entitled to receive additional benefits for their partner and children should they reside in Munich. This fellowship may be considered as a startup fund, allowing postdocs a smooth start in research at TUM. The  TUM Talent Factory   will support the fellows with their applications for third party funding and offer advice on career planning. 

For you as a host, the following information is particularly relevant:

  • TUM Professors and TUM Junior Fellows can be hosts. Other researchers at TUM cannot become hosts (see also our  FAQs ).
  • Call 4.1. (March 2024): Upon positive evaluation, fellowship can be commenced within a year from October 1, 2024 to October 1, 2025.
  • Call 4.2. (September 2024): Upon positive evaluation, fellowship can be commenced the fellowship within a year from April 1, 2025 to April 1, 2026.

Please keep this in mind when planning your support of an applicant.

  • You can support no more than two applicants per call. If you support two applicants, at least one applicant must be female. Please bear this is mind when deciding on potential applicants.
  • The fellowship requires the host to co-fund 20% of the fellowship. The exact amount of the fellowship depends on the fellow’s family situation and – in the case of a successful application – will be calculated based on the fellow’s current family situation. This implies, for a two year period, a host may have to cover total costs of approx. 14.500€ for a single fellow (~ 600€/month) and approx. 18.800€ for a fellow with a partner and two children (~780€/month).

Important note:   You cannot use Haushaltsmittel or Planstellen for fellowship payment. Payment can come from e.g. overhead and free third-party funding.

  • The fellowship only covers the researcher’s living costs. You will need to cover any additional payments for consumables, conferences and so forth.
  • Letter of Support from TUM host must be in English language to aid reviewers who are not fluent in the German language. The applicant can upload the letter of support in the application portal. Alternatively, you can upload the letter of support yourself; the applicant can send you a link via the application portal. It is important to submit the letter before the application deadline . Otherwise, the application may not be considered.
  • The letter of support  must be on an official TUM letterhead with your signature. In addition to evaluating the candidate’s qualification and the project, you need to confirm the following:
  • If the application is successful, you provide the fellow with sufficient working and laboratory place to conduct the project.
  • If the application is successful, you agree to cover 20% of the costs of the fellowship.
  • The Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation will sign the fellowship contract on behalf of TUM. From an administrative point of view, the fellows will receive a scholarship and will have the status of a “guest researcher” instead of an employee status.

For questions, you may also refer to our F AQ Document here (TUM ID required, PDF).

Additional Funding and Support

TUM Talent Factory  will support the TUM Global Postdoc Fellows  to apply for third party funding during the time of their fellowship. The support includes individual advice on funding possibilities or upskilling events to invited fellows.

During the first 12 months  of the fellowship, the fellows should submit at least one application for third party funding at one of the main funding bodies for postdoc fellowships (e.g. AvH, MSCA, DFG). Due to mobility rules, many of these programs are only open to researchers during their first year in Germany.

At the onset of the fellowship, the host and fellow chart out a training plan to define the fellow’s steps and goal. Upon completion of first year, the fellow must submit an  interim report  detailing the progress and accomplishments.

Besides the TUM Talent Factory  , there are other central services at TUM supporting postdocs during their time at TUM, such as TUM Welcome Services, TUM Gender and Diversity, TUM Family Service, or the TUM Institute for LongLife Learning.

Get to know our fellows

Who are the  TUM Global Postdoc Fellows (TGPF)  ? Find out more about the fellows and their projects, as well as the recipients of the  TUM University Foundation Fellowship  (2013–2020).

TUM Global Postdoc Fellows (awarded 2024)

TUM Chair:  Chair of Data Science in Earth Observation , Prof. Dr. Xiaoxiang Zhu

TUM Department: School of Engineering and Design,  Department of Aerospace and Geodesy

Academic career and research areas:

Dr. Xizhe Xue earned her doctoral degree in 2024 from Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) in China, specializing in earth observation. During her Ph.D. studies, she was a visiting student at the National University of Singapore from 2021 to 2023 and also served as a research intern at TikTok in Singapore. At the School of Engineering and Design at TUM under the guidance of Professor Xiaoxiang Zhu, Dr. Xue's research will focus on the multi-scale analysis of landscape heterogeneity in global urbanization. Her work aims to deepen our understanding of how urbanization impacts climate change. Additionally, her research contributes to the development of sustainable urban planning and land management policies, ensuring the preservation of natural environments and ecosystems.

Shruti Vikram

TUM Chair:  Chair of Energy Systems , Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hartmut Spliethoff

TUM Department: School of Engineering and Design,  Department of Mechanical Engineering

Shruti Vikram completed her Master's degree in Thermal Engineering from Thapar University, India in 2017. After that, she received her doctoral degree from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay (Mumbai,India) in 2024. Her PhD research focused on experimental and modeling studies on pyrolysis and gasification of biomass in varying reactive media. As a researcher of bio-energy and sustainable technologies, she investigated the influence of reactive agents on the in-depth understanding of the thermo-chemical conversion routes; and biochar and biofuel generation for decentralized and downstream applications. At TUM, Dr. Shruti Vikram will focus on CO2-assisted pyrolysis of waste feedstock  to achieve high gasification efficiency. The goal is to enhance hydrogen concentration in syngas, while ensuring circular economy, and net-zero carbon emissions. Her research will also be driven to scrutinize the environmental aspects and potential effects on carbon-efficient resource utilization and economic sustainability.

Maryam Khatibi

TUM Chair:  Associate Professorship of Urban Design , Prof. Dr. Benedikt Boucsein

TUM Department: School of Engineering and Design,  Department of Architecture

Maryam Khatibi is an architect who holds a PhD degree (2022) with honors in Architectural, Urban and Interior Design (AUID) from the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano. She has been a postdoctoral researcher at the Université de Lyon (2022-2023) and holds a Master of Advanced Studies in Housing from ETH, Zürich. Her area of research portrays the landscape of collaborative-motivated housing cultures as an efficient way for urban habitation in the European context through which environmentally conscious and participatory process designs are tackled. At TUM, she will pursue her efforts in addressing the socio-ecological impacts of the cooperative housing models through their collective open spaces as an essential resource underpinning urban food gardens and biodiversity conservation.

Ismail Bekar

TUM Chair:  Professorship of Ecoclimatology , Prof. Dr. Annette Menzel

TUM Department: School of Life Sciences, Department of Life Science Systems

Dr. İsmail Bekar received his master's degree from Hacettepe University, Türkiye. Towards the end of his master's studies, he received a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship and started his PhD at ETH Zürich. His doctoral research aimed to enhance understanding of fire regimes using a modeling perspective with a particular emphasis on fire occurrence, fire weather, and large fires. At TUM, his research will focus on investigating fire seasons at a global scale. Using an interdisciplinary approach, he plans to identify the spatial and temporal variability and differences in fire seasons across ecosystems and investigate the role of climatic and anthropogenic factors. His research will be extended to project how climate change may further influence the dynamics of fire seasons.

Malte Toetzke

TUM Chair:  Public Policy for the Green Transition, Prof. Dr. Florian Egli

TUM Department:  TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology

Malte Toetzke conducted his doctoral studies at ETH Zurich focusing on the global transition towards net-zero emissions. In his Ph.D., he developed natural language processing models to inform public policy with new evidence, monitoring different aspects of the transition such as the global provision of climate finance or the emergence of industrial clusters around clean energy technologies. His research has been published and presented in leading academic journals (Nature Sustainability, Nature Climate Change) and machine learning conferences (NeurIPS, ICLR). At TUM, Malte Toetzke will develop a comprehensive platform to inform green industrial policy with real-time evidence, mapping global innovation collaborations around clean energy technologies at the firm level.  

Mattia Piccinini

TUM Chair:  Professorship of Autonomous Vehicle Systems , Prof. Johannes Betz

TUM Department: School of Engineering and Design,  Department of Mobility Systems Engineering

Dr. Mattia Piccinini received his doctoral degree from the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Trento (Italy) in 2024, specializing in minimum-time trajectory planning, control and state estimation for autonomous vehicles. In 2022, he was a visiting doctoral researcher at the Universität der Bundeswehr, in Munich. Before his doctoral research, he received his M.Sc. degree (cum laude) in mechatronics engineering from the University of Trento (Italy) in 2019. At the TUM Professorship of Autonomous Vehicle Systems, Dr. Piccinini will develop new methods for adaptive collision avoidance in uncertain dynamic environments.

TUM Chair:  Professorship of Quantum Sensing , Prof. Dr. Dominik Bucher

TUM Department: School of Natural Sciences,  Department of Chemistry

Dr.Linyan Nie has a master degree of Biological Engineering at Jilin University, China. After that, she completed her doctoral studies under the supervision of Prof.Romana Schirhagl at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, graduating in October 2021. Her research focused on monitering cellular stress levels by tracking the generation of free radicals using a sensitive technique called diamond relaxometry. This technique allowed her to investigate whether single live cells or organelles were under stress. At TUM, her research focuses on addressing sensitivity issues in MRI imaging at the single cell level by using diamond quantum sensors. 

Milad Malekzadehkebria

TUM Chair: Chair of Traffic Engineering and Control , Prof. Klaus Bogenberger

Dr. Milad Malekzadeh successfully obtained his doctoral degree in the field of control engineering, specializing in intelligent transportation applications from Technical University of Crete, Greece. His Ph.D. research primarily concentrated on Internal Boundary Control of Lane-free Automated Vehicle Traffic, supervised by Prof. Markos Papageorgiou and Prof. Ioannis Papamichail. Throughout his doctoral studies, he actively participated in the TrafficFluid project, dedicating his efforts to exploring the complexities of automated vehicle control in the context of lane-free traffic. His educational background includes the attainment of another Ph.D. degree in control engineering, with a focus on electrical engineering, from Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Iran. His research interests encompass the domains of optimal control and nonlinear  dynamics. The main objective of the research carried out at the Chair of Traffic Engineering and Control at TUM, under the supervision of Professor Klaus Bogenberger, is to evaluate the feasibility of lane-free movement at the designated test-site. 

Bastiaan Wilhelmus Albertus Bögels

TUM Chair: Chair of Physics of Synthetic Biological Systems , Prof. Dr. Friedrich Simmel

TUM Department: School of Natural Sciences,  Department of Bioscience

Dr. Ir. Bas Bögels completed both his bachelor's and master's degree at Eindhoven University of Technology (The Netherlands). He subsequently completed his PhD from the same university under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Ir. Tom de Greef. During his PhD he explored compartmentalization of DNA nanotechnology for computing purposes. The research interests of Dr. Ir. Bögels are synthetic biology, nucleic acid nanotechnology, and molecular computing. He is currently working on developping RNA-based decission making circuits for use in mammalian cells. Such circuits are expected to allow for more complex yet predictable signalling networks in synthetic biology.

Behnam Khorrami

TUM Chair: Chair of Hydrology and River Basin Management ,  Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Disse

TUM Department: School of Engineering and Design,  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Academic career and research areas: ​​​​​​​

Dr. Behnam Khorrami has an educational background in the field of Remote Sensing (RS), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). He obtained a Master's degree from the University of Tabriz (Iran; 2016) and and a PhD from Dokuz Eylul University (Türkiye; 2022). As his PhD thesis, Dr. Khorrami worked on the evaluation of hydrological dynamics of groundwater storage over Türkiye's major watersheds using remotely sensed products, mainly the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite observations, and some hydrological model outputs. Dr. Khorrami's thesis received the Best PhD Thesis Award of 2022 from the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS) Türkiye chapter. Dr. Khorrami's research area is purely multi-disciplinary encompassing environmental- and hydro-informatics. His research at TUM will mainly center around the analysis of hydrological dynamics of groundwater by integrating Machine Learning (ML), hydrological modelling and RS data / techniques. 

TUM Global Postdoc Fellows (awarded 2023)

Stefan holzinger.

TUM Chair: Applied Mechanics , Prof. Dr. Daniel J. Rixen

TUM Department: School of Engineering and Design, Department of Mechanical Engineering 

Dr. Stefan Holzinger completed his doctorate at the Department of Mechatronics at the University of Innsbruck (Austria) in 2023. In his doctoral research, he developed novel formulations and methods for the efficient simulation of rigid and flexible multibody systems and methods for parameter identification. Besides his doctoral research, Dr. Holzinger is also active in teaching at the University of Innsbruck on multibody dynamics, robotics, and mechanical engineering fundamentals. Furthermore, he has been part of several third-party-funded research projects. Before his doctoral research, he received his master's degree in mechatronics in 2016 from the Management Center Innsbruck (MCI), Austria.

At TUM, Dr. Holzinger’s research will center on methods for efficient and accurate modeling of human soft tissue behavior within multibody formulations and on methods for developing computationally highly efficient multibody models capable of accurately predicting human movement.

Kundu Debraj

TUM Chair: Electronic Design Automation , Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ulf Schlichtmann

TUM Department: School of Computation, Information and Technology, Department of Computer Engineering

Debraj Kundu pursued a Master of Technology (M.Tech) from Calcutta University, India, in 2016. After that, he started his research career as a Ph.D. scholar at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, India, under the supervision of Prof. Sudip Roy. His doctoral research focuses on developing algorithms for the automation of various bioprotocols on programmable microfluidic biochips. Design automation problems related to sample preparation, module placement, and fluid routing have been the prime focus of Mr. Kundu’s research so far.

He will concentrate on creating new approaches at TUM to address various design automation issues with flow-based microfluidic biochips. Mr. Kundu will research how flow-based microfluidic biochips are made with the goal of creating an effective automation technique to implement some bio-applications on them.

Apolline Louvet

TUM Chair: Population genetics , Prof. Aurélien Tellier

TUM Department: School of Life Sicences, Department of Life Science Systems

Dr. Apolline Louvet has received her doctoral degree in 2022 from Ecole Polytechnique (France). Under the supervision of Amandine Véber and Nathalie Machon, she developed and studied new mathematical models for expanding populations and the dynamics of the spontaneous flora in an urban environment. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bath (United Kingdom). Prior to completing her PhD, she received an M.Sc in Mathematics for the Life Sciences from Université Paris Sud (France).

Her research focusses on the mathematical modeling of populations out of equilibrium, and the developement of associated statistical tools to be applied to real-world datasets. During her fellowship at TUM, she will use stochastic approaches to investigate the effect of dormancy on the stability of ecological communities, and the implications in term of genetic diversity.

Nazli Ecem Dal-Bekar

TUM Chair:  Proteomics and Bioanalytics , Prof. Dr. Bernhard Küster

TUM Department: School of Life Sciences, Department Molecular Life Sciences

Dr. Nazlı Ecem Dal-Bekar received her M.Sc. degree in Clinical Immunology from Ankara University, Türkiye. She then completed her Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine at Dokuz Eylül University, Türkiye in 2022. Her Ph.D. studies focused on understanding the association between vitamin D and oxidative DNA damage in scleroderma and developing chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods. In 2019, she received a grant from EMBO to visit Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland, where she was able to develop new methods. From 2022 to 2023, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Izmir University of Economics, Faculty of Medicine. She conducted a research project funded by the National Science Foundation of Türkiye.

Dr. Dal-Bekar's research focuses on translational studies in development and application of chromatography-mass spectrometry methods for diagnosis/monitoring processes and determination of effective treatment strategies in autoimmunity and cancer. At TUM, her research will concentrate on a novel proteomic approach using mass spectrometry-based methods to decrypt the mechanisms of action of therapeutic antibodies.

Anna Takayasu

TUM Chair: Traffic Engineering and Control , Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus Bogenberger

TUM Department: TUM School of Engineering and Design, Department of Mobility Systems Engineering

Dr. Anna Takayasu received her doctoral degree in the civil engineering field in 2022 from Lyon University (ENTPE) in France and collaborated with EPFL in Switzerland. Her Ph.D. research focused on traffic and trip behavior characteristics simulation and application. Using real traffic data from loop detectors and GPS on cars and complete trajectory data from drones, she investigated the effect of data availability on traffic state estimation. Also, she assessed the macroscopic traffic state prediction accuracy depending on model settings. Prior to her Ph.D., she completed her Master's in information science from Tohoku University in Japan.

Her research activities at the Chair of Traffic Engineering and Control at TUM under professor Klaus Bogenberger aim to develop a multimodal road network design method considering traffic state, comfort, and safety in anticipation of future conditions. The insights of her research will also provide a science-based concept to local organizations for new traffic measures and policies to make sager and less congested transportation.

Dandan Zhang

TUM Chair:  Information-Oriented Control ,  Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sandra Hirche

Dr. Dandan Zhang was a postdoctoral researcher in the Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, from 2022 to 2023, and pursued her Ph.D. degree in the School of Information Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China, between 2017 and 2022. From 2019 to 2021, she was a Ph.D. Visiting Student at University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.

Her research interests include deterministic and stochastic hybrid systems and cyber-physical systems. At TUM, she will focus on stochastic hybrid systems, which may exhibit three sources of randomness: the Wiener process resulting from a stochastic disturbance, the jump times resulting from stochastic impulse, and the jump values resulting from stochastic reset rules.

TUM Chair:  Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry , Prof. Dr. Jürgen Ruland

TUM Department: School of Medicine

Dr. Jing Zhang completed her PhD in the lab of Prof. Dr. Peter ten Dijke at the Leiden University Medical Center (Netherlands) in 2022. During her PhD, she has specialized towards cancer biology, focusing on understanding the changes of tumor microenvironment, tumor metastasis and the aberrant cellular processes in breast, lung and pancreatic cancer to improve treatment options for cancer patients. After her PhD, she continued as a post-doc in the same lab to work on the regulation of TGF-β signaling and EMT in various cancer types.

At TUM, Dr. Jing Zhang will focus on the aberrant signaling pathways during T cell l lymphomagenesis to offer novel insights for lymphoma-targeted therapies.  

TUM Global Postdoc Fellows (awarded 2022)

Alex delhomme.

TUM Chair:  Semiconductor Quantum Nanosystems ,  Prof. Dr. Jonathan Finley

TUM Department:  School of Natural Sciences,   Physics

Alex Delhomme received a PhD degree in Physics in 2022 from Université Grenoble Alpes (Grenoble, France). At the Laboratoire National des Champs Magnétiques Intense, the French continuous high magnetic field facility, he investigated the optical and magnetic properties of Van der Waals lamellar systems. His research focused on the recombination of interlayer excitons in transition metal dichalcogenide heterobilayers. Prior to completing his PhD, he received a M.Sc in Nanophysics and holds a B.Sc. in Physics from the same university.

Delhomme research interests lie in the experimental characterization of low dimensional quantum structures as well as the physics of systems in extreme environment. At TUM, his efforts are directed at investigating novel quantum phases created by a strain tunable moiré potential in two-dimensional quantum materials.

Maryam Hemmati

TUM Chair:  Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science , Prof. Dr. Corinna Dawid

TUM Department:  TUM School of Life Sciences, Department Molecular Life Sciences

Dr. Maryam Hemmati graduated with a PhD in Applied/Analytical Chemistry from University of Semnan (Iran) in March 2019. In 2018, she got a nationally competitive fellowship to pursue more research opportunities on doctoral level at Granada University (Spain). Her research works have dealt with developing sample preparation techniques compatible with different samples followed by LC-DAD and LC-MS/MS analyses. In 2019, she awarded a grant to undertake postdoctoral research at the University of Liege (Belgium) on “LC‐MS for metabolomics in the context of fluxomics analysis”. She conducted an exercise-induced targeted metabolomics study on low-volumes of whole blood, which were collected by using microsampling techniques.

At TUM, she will develop an integrated Metabo-Lipid-Prote-omics approach to study the inflammation dependent and independent cancer models in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Corinna Dawid.

Sara Arana Peña

TUM Lehrstuhl: Chemie Biogener Rohstoffe ,  Prof. Dr. Volker Sieber

TUM Department:  Campus Straubing

Akademische Laufbahn und Forschungsbereich:

Dr. Sara Arana Peña has completed her PhD under the direction of Prof. Dr. Roberto Fernández Lafuente in Optimization of Enzymatic Biocatalysts and Bioprocess group at the ICP-CSIC (Spain). Previously she has obtained her B.Sc. in Biology and a M.Sc. in Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain).

Dr. Arana Peña’s research is focused on the field of enzyme immobilization. The use of different immobilization strategies, the development and modification of supports and the characterization of biocatalysts were the main points to highlight out of it. At TUM, she will lead a project at Prof. Dr. Volker Sieber’s group to develop co-immobilization strategies for enzymes involved in cascades reactions for their application in sustainable chemistry processes. The preparation of optimal co-immobilized cascades will allow to reduce the cost of processes and improve reaction yields, providing a promising green alternative to the traditional chemical industry.

Sophie R. Thomas

TUM Lehrstuhl:   Inorganic and Metal-Organic Chemistry , Prof. Dr. Roland A. Fischer

TUM Department: School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry

Sophie Thomas graduated with a Master of Chemistry at Cardiff University (UK) in 2017 before gaining a place on the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Catalysis programme. In 2018, Sophie obtained a Master of Research in Catalysis and then began her PhD under the supervision of Prof. Angela Casini at Cardiff University. Her doctoral research focuses on the use of gold complexes as therapeutic agents, with a focus on achieving catalysis in living cells.

At TUM, she will focus on the use of water-soluble gold nanoparticles stabilized by N-heterocyclic carbenes for applications in catalysis and biomedicine, with potential to combine both applications for catalysis in cells for therapy.

TUM Global Postdocs Fellows (Alumni)

2023: méline saubin (alumni).

Meline Saubin received her Master's degree in Biodiversity, ecology and evolution from Montpellier University and her Engineering degree from the French National Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences (AgroParisTech) in 2019. Then, she completed her PhD degree in Biology and ecology of forests and agrosystems in 2023 at AgroParisTech (Nancy, France). At the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), she investigated the influence of demographic variations on the genetic structure of populations in the context of emerging disease. Using population genetics and epidemiology, she developed demogenetic models to study rapidly evolving pathogen populations.

During her fellowship at TUM, she will use temporal genomic data to decipher the bases of host-parasite coevolution. She will develop a Bayesian method to analyse host-parasite coevolution, and apply this method to plant and parasite full genome data.

2023: Somvanshi Sandeep (Alumni)

TUM Chair:  Bioseparation Engineering , Prof. Dr. Sonja Berensmeier

TUM Department: School of Engineering and Design,  Department of Energy and Process Engineering

Mr. Sandeep B. Somvanshi is currently pursuing Ph.D. as a DST-INSPIRE Fellow at the Department of Physics, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad (M.S.), India. He has completed the master’s degree in Physics from the same department. The core activity of his Ph.D. research work is to design and develop multifunctional magnetic nanomaterials-based technologies for the potential benefits of their multimodal-functionality in biomedical applications which will strongly improve the performances of currently used diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

At TUM, Mr. Sandeep B. Somvanshi will conduct research on “Screening and Optimization of Selective Aptamer-Based Separation Processes for the Isolation of Asthma-Preventing Proteins”. This proposed research work intends to overcome the limitations of current protein separation technologies in proteins by testing the aptamer-based approach for the development of a specific separation process.

2023: Graziano Frungieri (Alumni)

TUM Chair: Process Systems Engineering , Prof. Dr. Heiko Briesen

TUM Department: School of Life Sciences, Department of Life Science Engineering

Dr. Graziano Frungieri is a Chemical Engineer, graduated from Politecnico di Torino, Italy, in 2014. He obtained his PhD from Politecnico di Torino in 2018, with a thesis dealing with the numerical simulation of aggregation and breakup phenomena in sheared colloidal suspensions. During his PhD, he spent one year as a guest researcher at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.

After his PhD, within the H2020 project VIMMP, he worked on the development of multiscale simulation strategies coupling CFD and DEM simulations to address industrially relevant modelling challenges.

At TUM, Dr. Graziano Frungieri will work on the development of novel computational techniques to study the production of Janus colloidal particles via Pickering emulsion and their exploitation as building blocks for supra-colloidal structures. 

2022: Alexander Rolle (Alumni)

TUM Chair:  Applied Topology and Geometry , Prof. Dr. Ulrich Bauer

TUM Department: School of Computation, information and Technology, Department of Mathematics

Academic Career and Research Areas :

Dr. Alexander Rolle completed his PhD in Mathematics at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, in 2019. There, he studied applications of topological methods to algebraic geometry, and motivic cohomology in particular. From 2019 to 2021, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at TU Graz, Austria, focusing on topological data analysis.

Dr. Rolle’s research is aimed at the development of novel methods in data analysis and statistics that build on well-understood mathematical tools, and especially the tools of algebraic topology. At TUM, he will work on multi-parameter persistent homology and statistics.

2022: Muhammad Hegazy (Alumni)

TUM Chair:  Building Technology and Climate Responsive Design , Prof. Thomas Auer

TUM Department: School of Engineering and Design, Department of Architecture

Muhammad Hegazy is an architect and researcher with strong research interests in sustainability, building simulation, and interactive immersive environments. His doctoral research in Architectural Engineering (Osaka University, Japan) focused on the assessment and spatial mapping of daylight perception in architectural spaces using virtual reality, as well as the relationship between such perceptions and physically based daylight metrics.

At TUM, he will pursue a research project on physiological and psychological reactions to daylighting in virtual built environments. This research will contribute to a better understanding of the interdependencies between perception, wellbeing, and daylighting attributes in the built environment.

2022: Anik Dutta (Alumni)

TUM Chair:  Phytopathology ,  Prof. Dr. Ralph Hückelhoven

TUM Department:  TUM School of Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Life Sciences

Dr. Anik Dutta has received his doctoral degree in 2021 from ETH Zurich, funded by Federal Office for Agriculture in Switzerland. His PhD research focused on understanding the principles of agricultural pathogen adaptation to biotic and abiotic environments. Using high throughput phenotypic and whole genome sequence data, he investigated mechanisms that maintain genetic diversity in pathogen life-history traits. He also conducted the large-scale genome wide association mapping to uncover sources of complex trait genetic variation. Prior to his PhD, he completed M.Sc. in Crop Sciences from the University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart.

His research activities at the Chair of Phytopathology at TUM in collaboration with Dr. Remco Stam are directed at studying the diversity and evolution of plant-pathogen interactions under variable climatic conditions. He will use precise phenotypic and genomic data to identify resistance and susceptibility genes in wild tomato plants to different pathogen. The knowledge derived from this research will be valuable for plant breeders to develop crop varieties with durable resistance to plant pathogens.

2022: Chao Zhou (Alumni)

TUM Chair: Organic Chemistry , Prof. Dr. Thorsten Bach

TUM Department:  School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry

Academic career and research areas

Dr. Chao Zhou incepted his PhD degree in organic chemistry in 2020 from Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). There, he designed and developed a series of visible-light-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions of olefin and N-arylation reactions with high chemo and regioselectivity. From 2021 to 2023, he has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, focusing on the construction of spiro-compounds via visible light-mediated radical dearomatization.

Dr. Chao’s research is aimed at the development of novel and practical methodologies for the efficient construction of biologically active and synthetically useful molecules, in particular by photocatalysis. At TUM, he will work on the enantioselective photocatalytic organic transformations with Prof. Thorsten Bach.

2022: Nesibe A. Dogan (Alumni)

TUM Chair:   Biogenic Functional Materials , Prof. Dr. Rubén D. Costa

TUM Department:   TUM Campus Straubing

Dr. Nesibe A. Dogan completed her PhD degree with full scholarship at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in 2019. Her research focused on synthesis of nanoporous polymers for capture of CO 2  gas from industrial flue gas mixtures and precious metal capture from wastewaters. She developed nanoporous covalent organic polymers which were chemically tuned to have an affinity for the desired material in a liquid or gaseous mixture.

During her postdoctoral work at CNRS in collaboration with Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (Paris, France), she worked in a Horizon2020 project and developed nanocellulose-metal organic framework composite thin films and built an adsorption chamber to operate tests on the artefacts. Currently as a postdoctoral researcher in Aalto University (Finland), she is involved with synthesis and characterization of nanocellulose gels and cyanobacterial growth for photosynthetic cell factories with FET Open Horizon2020 project.

During her fellowship at TUM, she will combine nanocellulose derivatives and fluorescent proteins to develop color filters for bioLEDs. Hybrid optoelectronics is a newly emerging field which promises to incorporate biological materials to advance Green Photonics concept.

2022: Yunyi Liang (Alumni)

TUM Chair: Transportation Systems Engineering , Prof. Dr.Constantinos Antoniou

TUM Department: School of Engineering and Design, Department of Mobility Systems Engineering

Dr. Liang was a postdoctoral researcher in Traffic Information and Control Engineering at Tongji University, Shanghai, China, from 2019 to 2021, where he also pursued his doctoral degree between 2014 and 2019. From 2016 to 2018, he was a visiting Ph.D. student at University of Washington. His research focuses on data-driven optimization and control of transportation systems with connected autonomous vehicles, and machine learning. He is particularly interested in developing machine learning models, control models, optimization models and game theory to tackle research challenges.

At TUM, he will conduct research on “Personalized Cooperative Automated Platooning using Safe Reinforcement Learning”. In this research, he will develop a simulation platform which is capable of simulating human driving behaviours in a realistic traffic and vehicle-to-vehicle communication environment. Further, using safe reinforcement learning theory, he will develop a methodology for describing human driving styles in making decisions on platoon formation, platoon maintenance and platoon dissolution as well as in planning the corresponding trajectory, and a methodology for personalized decision making and trajectory planning for human-machine-collaboration-driven vehicles.

TUM University Foundation Fellows (awarded 2013-2021)

Tuff alumni round 1-11.

This is a non-exhaustive list and only includes persons who provided their consent to be added to the Alumni list.

TUFF Round 1

  • Dr. Joanna Deek – Professorship of Molecular and Cellular Biophysics, Department of Physics
  • Dr. Satoshi Endo – Chair of Information-oriented Control, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Dr. Cristian Gutierrez Ibanez – Chair of Zoology, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan
  • Dr. Juan Leonardo Martinez-Hurtado – Center for Nontechnology and Nanomaterials, Department of Physics
  • Dr. Genny Pang – Chair for Biological Imaging, TUM School of Medicine
  • Dr. Thomas Stecher – Chair of Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry

TUFF Round 2

  • Dr. Roberta Fonti – Chair of Structural Design, Department of Architecture
  • Dr. Sijie Hao – Professorship of Experimental Semiconductor Physics, Department of Physics
  • Dr. Paul Albert König – Chair of Clinical Chemistry, TUM School of Medicine
  • Dr. Hesam Sagha – Chair of Human-Machine Communication, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Dr. Annelies Vandersickel – Chair of Energy Systems, Department of Mechanical Engineering

 TUFF Round 3

  • Dr. Siwei Bai – Professorship of Bio-inspired Information Processing, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Dr. Karin Kleigrewe – Chair of Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan
  • Dr. Jürgen Rauleder – Chair of Helicopter Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Dr. Simone Scilabra – Chair of Neuroproteomics, TUM School of Medicine
  • Dr. Weiwei Xie – Chair of Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry
  • Dr. Goutam Tanti – Department of Neurology, TUM School of Medicine

TUFF Round 4

  • Dr. Ina Bisha – Theoretical Chemical Biology and Protein Modelling Group, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan
  • Dr. Alejandro Cosimo – Chair of Applied Mechanics, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Dr. Paul D'Agostino – Professorship of Biosystems Chemistry, Department of Chemistry
  • Dr. Bhupal Dev – Chair of Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics, Department of Physics
  • Dr. Kiwon Um – Chair of Computer Graphics and Visualization, Department of Informatics
  • Dr. Bin Zou – Chair of Mathematical Finance, Department of Mathematics

TUFF Round 5

  • Dr. Giorgia Aquilar – Chair for Urban Development and Regional Planning, Department of Architecture 
  • Dr. Astrid De Clercq – Chair of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry
  • Dr. Pablo Lanillos – Chair of Cognitive Systems, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Dr. Nicolás M. Ortega – Chair of Livestock Biotechnology, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan 
  • Dr. Pablo Albertos Arranz – Professorship for Biotechnology of Horticultural Crops, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan 

TUFF Round 6

  • Dr. Gulen Burak – Professorship of Protein Chemistry, Department of Chemistry 
  • Dr. Alessandro Cattabiani – Chair of Computational Mechanics, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Dr. Laura Hoodless – Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, TUM School of Medicine 

TUFF Round 7

  • Dr. Batyr Garlyyev – Professorship of Physics of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics
  • Dr. Abdulla Ghani – Professorship of Thermo-Fluid Dynamics, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Dr. Zhi Jin – Chair of Media Technology, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Dr. Tahoora Narany – Chair of Hydrology and River Basin Management, Department of Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering
  • Dr. Gianluca Orlando – Chair for Analysis, Department of Mathematics
  • Dr. Yongpeng Wu – Institute for Communications Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

TUFF Round 8

  • Dr. Diala Abu Awad – Section of Population Genetics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan
  • Dr. Kausik Basak – Chair of Molecular Imaging Engineering, TUM School of Medicine  
  • Dr. Jordi Cotela Dalmau – Chair of Structural Analysis, Department of Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering
  • Dr. Hildeberto Jardón Kojakhmetov – Chair of Multiscale and Stochastic Dynamics, Department of Mathematics
  • Dr. Shobin Loukkose Rosemary – Chair of Semiconductor Nanostructures and Quantum Systems, Department of Physics
  • Dr. Johannes Margraf – Chair of Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry
  • Dr. Jamie McDonald – Professorship of Theoretical Physics of the Early Universe, Department of Physics 
  • Dr. Gustavo Adolfo Silva Arias – Section of Population Genetics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan
  • Dr. Magdalena Wagner – Centre of Land, Water and Environmental Risk Management, TUM Department of Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering
  • Dr. Catherine Weetmann – Professorship of Silicon Chemistry, Department of Chemistry

TUFF Round 9

  • Dr. Ana M. Ferreira – Professorship of Biothermodynamics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan
  • Dr. Biao Yang – Chair of Surface and Interface Physics (E20), Department of Physics
  • Dr. Ibon Santiago González – Chair of Physics of Synthetic Biological Systems (E14), Department of Physics
  • Dr. Adam Papp – Chair of Nanoelectronics, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Dr. Linda Giresini – Chair of Structural Mechanics, Department of Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering
  • Dr. Tianzhe Liu – Chair of Biosystems Chemistry, Department of Chemistry
  • Dr. Chien-Yun Lee – Chair of Proteomics and Bioanalytics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan
  • Dr. Jong-Seob Han – Chair of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Dr. Liang Dong – Chair of Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan
  • Dr. Philipp Baumert – Chair of Exercise Biology, TUM Department of Sport and Health Sciences
  • Dr. Sandra G. L. Persiani   – Chair of Building Technology and Climate Responsive Design, TUM Department of Architecture
  • Dr. Cambyse Rouzé – Chair   of Theory of Complex Quantum Systems, TUM Department of Mathematics 
  • Dr. Samuel Weber – Chair of Landslide Research, TUM Department of   Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering
  • Dr. Burak Özbey – Chair of High-Frequency Engineering, TUM Department Electrical and Computer Engineering

TUFF Round 10

  • Dr. Needhi Kotoky – Chair of Computational Mechanics, TUM Department of   Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering
  • Dr. Haichao Hong – Institute of Flight System Dynamics,TUM Department of Aerospace and Geodesy
  • Fadhilah Muslim, PhD – Chair of Materials Science and Testing,TUM Department of   Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering
  • Dr. Bhavya S. – Chair of Aquatic Systems Biology, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan
  • Dr. Gaurav Tomar – Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics, Department of Physics
  • Dr. Ali Khansefid – Chair of Structural Mechanics, TUM Department of   Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering
  • Dr. Mohanned Alhussien – Chair of Reproductive Biotechnology, TUM School of Life Sciences
  • Dr. Chuang Xu – Multiscale and Stochastic Dynamics, TUM Department of Mathematics 
  • Dr. Naveen Tripathi – Chair of Process System Engineering, TUM School of Life Sciences
  • Dr. Jingshui Huang – Chair of Hydrology and River Basin Management, TUM Department of   Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering
  • Dr. Xing Huang – Chair of Electronic Design Automation, TUM Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Dr. Luisa Roeder – Chair of Human Movement Science, TUM Department of Sport and Health Sciences  

TUFF Round 11

  • Dr. Tess Doezema – Chair of Innovation Society and Public Policy (Innovation Research), Munich Center for Technology in Society
  • Dr. Thomas Rigotti – Chair of Organic Chemistry I, Department of Chemistry
  • Dr. Teresa Pérez Ciria – Chair of Hydrology and River Basin Management,   Department of Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering
  • Dr. Ryan Kisslinger –   Chair of Experimental Semiconductor Physics,   Department of Physics
  • Dr. Janio Venturini – Chair of Synthesis and Characterization of Innovative Materials ,  Department of Chemistry
  • Adeyinka Adetula, PhD – Chair of Reproductive Biotechnology, TUM School of Life Sciences

TUM Talent Factory

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Welcome Services for international researchers

The TUM Global and Alumni Office provides welcome services to support international postdocs and guest professors, as well as their hosts from TUM, in completing any paperwork and formalities. As the central point of contact for the TUM campuses in Munich, Garching, and Freising, we can help researchers to integrate into academic life at TUM smoothly.

HSTS

phd fellowship german

  • Scholarships

Doctoral scholarships

Academic support.

The Studienstiftung's academic support includes summer academies, research groups, language courses, workshops and supervision by local tutors.

Financial support

The Studienstiftung offers generous financial support for Ph.D. students. Additional funds are provided for research and travel abroad.

Application

Highly qualified and socially committed PhD students may, together with their supervisors, submit an application for support for their doctoral studies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here you can find answers to frequently asked questions about requirements, application and funding concerning the Studienstiftung’s doctoral scholarships.

Research in Bavaria : Homepage

  • Universities

Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts

Sources of Funding

In Germany, and Bavaria particularly, you will find many funding opportunities to support your research. From funding offered by universities to special European grants, we provide an overview of PhD scholarships, postdoc fellowships, and other grants you can apply for in Bavaria.

Funding for Your Research

The list below, while not exhaustive, provides information on some of the most common funding options that you can apply for directly. *

Tips for a Successful Application

  • Before you apply, find the appropriate institution or host: Your research project should fit into their research agenda or complement it. Browse our research topics and database to start your search.
  • Take your time to develop a coherent project idea and discuss it with your host professor.
  • For all funding programs, you will need to document the support of your host. Depending on the program, an invitation letter, a hosting statement, a joint proposal or even a commitment to co-finance the grant may be required.
  • Advanced researchers will be referred to the university’s funding advice service to discuss the strategical and financial aspects of the application. At this career level, the preparation of an application can take several months, so plan ahead and with plenty of time.

Variety in Funding Options

The programs listed here are not the only way to fund your research. Other options include:

  • country specific scholarships or grants
  • program-specific scholarships for candidates in structured PhD programs
  • employment as a research associate during your PhD or Postdoc, or a professorship at a university (visit our jobs page )
  • funding for short term stays may be acquired by hosts through the university’s own programs for guest professors or by programs funding the initiation of international projects

Short-Term Research Stays

If you are looking for special funding to cover a short-term visit to a Bavarian university, there are many PhD scholarships and short-term research grants for you to consider. Basic amounts vary between ca. €1,000 and €2,000 depending on the career level and are often complemented by allowances for specific purposes.

Short-Term Grants

  • Type of funding: short-term grant
  • Open to: highly qualified PhDs and postdocs
  • Subject area: all disciplines
  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month, healthcare cover, accident and personal liability insurance benefits, travel allowance
  • Duration: 1–6 months
  • Application deadline: twice yearly
  • Funding information: Short Term Grants

Research Stays for University Academics and Scientists

  • Open to: university teachers and established academics and scientists who have usually completed a doctoral degree and work at a university or research institute in their home country.
  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month
  • Duration: 1–3 months
  • Application deadline: once or twice yearly
  • Funding information: Research Stays for University Academics and Scientists

Scholarship Program 1

  • Type of funding: scholarship or short-term scholarship
  • Open to: graduates, doctoral candidates, and postdocs of Catholic denomination (particularly those from the Middle East) or candidates from other religions who are put forward by Catholic partners and can prove their commitment to interreligious dialogue.
  • Amount: (not specified)
  • Duration: one year, or research stays of 2 – 6 months
  • Application deadline: annual
  • Funding information: Scholarship Program 1

Eastern European Program

  • Type of funding: short-term scholarship
  • Open to: graduates, PhD candidates, postdocs, and scientists and lecturers from Central, Eastern, or Southeastern Europe, the Caucuses, and Central Asia. Good knowledge of German and of Catholic denomination (other denominations will be considered, provided candidates are put forward by catholic partners).
  • Duration: maximum 6 months
  • Funding information: Programme for Eastern Europe

PhD Funding

Because tuition is free in Germany, PhD scholarships are generally offered by third-party organizations rather than the universities. Basic amounts vary between ca. €800 and €2,000 depending on the organization and are often complemented by allowances for specific purposes.

Research Grants – Doctoral Programmes

  • Type of funding: research grant
  • Open to: highly qualified doctoral candidates
  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month, including cover for health, accident, and personal liability insurance, travel allowance, one-off research grant, preparatory language courses, sometimes also monthly rent allowances, as well as monthly supplements for accompanying family members
  • Duration: maximum 4 years
  • Application deadline: annual, depending on country of origin
  • Funding information: DAAD Research Grants – Doctoral Programmes

One-Year Grants for Doctoral Candidates

  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month including cover for health, accident, and personal liability insurance, travel allowance, one-off research grant, preparatory language courses, sometimes also monthly rent allowances, as well as monthly supplements for accompanying family members
  • Duration: 7–12 months
  • Funding information: One-Year Grants for Doctoral Candidates

Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees / Cotutelle

  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month, including health, accident and personal liability insurance, travel allowance, one-off research grant, preparatory language courses, occasionally monthly rent allowances, as well as monthly supplements for accompanying family members, travel and living expenses for university lecturers
  • Duration: maximum 2 years, can be divided into several short research stays.
  • Funding information: Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees / Cotutelle

Doctoral Scholarship

  • Open to: highly qualified and socially committed doctoral candidates who have been accepted on a doctoral program at a German university
  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month, contributions towards health insurance costs (50%; max. of 100€/month), family/childcare allowances, travel grants. As a scholarship holder you are supported in your academic and personal development by an adviser in the German Academic Scholarship Foundation’s office and a personal tutor at your home university. Furthermore, you can benefit from social activities, international networking and an interdisciplinary academic program.
  • Duration: maximum 3 years, child birth, parental leave, eldercare and illness can extend this period
  • Application deadline: applications are accepted on a rolling basis
  • Funding information: Doctoral Scholarships

Marianne-Plehn-Program

  • Type of funding:  salaried part-time employment of 25% ( TV-L E13 )
  • Subject area:  all disciplines
  • Open to:  highly qualified doctoral candidates who have obtained a doctoral scholarship of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes)
  • What funding covers:  salaried part-time employment of 25% at any university in Bavaria (providing social security as well as important experience in teaching academic classes and in administrative tasks). As a member of the Elite Network of Bavaria you benefit from activities, international networking and add-ons to your doctorate within our interdisciplinary excellence program.
  • Duration: ends with doctoral scholarship of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes)
  • Application deadline:  applications accepted on a rolling basis; parallel to the application for the doctoral scholarship or in the first year of the doctoral scholarship
  • Funding information: Marianne-Plehn-Program

One-year Scholarship Program for Graduates of Central, Eastern and Southeastern European States

  • Open to: graduates and PhD candidates from Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe
  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month, if applicable additional funds for children
  • Duration: maximum 3 years
  • Application deadline: end of November/beginning of December each year
  • Funding information: One-year Scholarship Program for Graduates of Central, Eastern and Southeastern European States

Doctoral Fellowships in Quantum Science

  • Subject area: quantum sciences
  • Open to: highly qualified doctoral candidates affiliating with one of the MQV research groups
  • What funding covers: a 75% working position ( TV-L E13 ) and generous research and conference travel allowance. MQV doctoral students affiliated with related research groups can enter the existing graduate programs at their respective institutions. Moreover, they can participate in QST summer schools and a wide range of workshops organized by MQV partners, e.g. MCQST and Max Planck IMPRS programs.
  • Duration: 3 years
  • Application deadline: 15 January
  • Funding information: Doctoral Fellowships, Munich Quantum Valley

PhD Fellowship Basic Biomedical Research

  • Subject area: biomedicine
  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month additional funding for travel costs, if applicable additional funds for children and spouses
  • Application deadline: 1 February, 2 June and 2 October each year
  • Funding information: PhD Fellowship Basic Biomedical Research

PhD Scholarship in the Historical Sciences

  • Subject area: historical humanities
  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month, family allowance, relocation costs if applicable, travel allowance and funding for research materials as necessary
  • Duration: 2 years
  • Application deadline: applications accepted on a rolling basis
  • Funding information: PhD Scholarship in the Historical Sciences

Funding for Postdocs

Funding for Postdocs is often offered in the form of a salaried position. The grant usually covers a monthly stipend of around €2,300 and more as well as financial support for resources you may need for your research.

Walter Benjamin Programme

  • Type of funding: salaried position
  • Open to: postdoctoral researchers at an early career phase
  • What funding covers: salaried position, funding for resources and travel, as well as publication costs and benefits for parents, if necessary.
  • Duration: maximum 2 years
  • Funding information: Walter Benjamin Programme

Individual Research Grants

  • Open to: researchers with a doctoral degree
  • What funding covers: own position, resources, and staff
  • Duration: depending on the project (several years)
  • Funding information: Individual Research Grants

Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers

  • Open to: postdocs who have obtained their doctorate within the last 4 years
  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month, mobility allowance, allowance for health and liability insurance, family allowance, preparatory language courses for you and your spouse
  • Duration: 6-24 months
  • Application deadline: March, July and November each year
  • Funding information: Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers

Georg Forster Research Fellowship

  • Open to: postdocs from developing and emerging countries who have obtained their doctorate within the last 4 years
  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month intensive language course for researchers, their spouse before the start of the scholarship, financial support for the family and travel allowance
  • Application deadline: February, June and October each year
  • Funding information: Georg Forster Research Fellowship

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship

  • Open to: researchers with a doctoral degree or at least four years’ full-time research experience by the time of the call deadline
  • Amount: funding for research and travel expenses
  • Application deadline: September each year 
  • Special features: the Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR) , the German National Contact Point for Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions and the European Liaison Office of the German Research Organisations (KoWi) support researchers in all phases of their research project, including the application. Universities might connect you with these specialized agencies after deciding to support your application.
  • Funding information: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship

General Research Grants: Scholarships

  • Open to: postdocs who have obtained their doctorate within the last 10 years
  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month, family allowance, allowance for scholarships abroad, travel aid and material aid
  • Duration: 1-24 months
  • Application deadline: several times during the year
  • Funding information: General Research Grants: Scholarships

Funding for Your Own Research Group

Experienced postdocs who are ready to take the next step in their careers, can apply for funding of their own research group . The grants are typically longer-term and highly sought after. As well as financing your own position at university, costs for your staff and for your equipment are covered. Depending on the organization and on your project, the total amount can reach up to €3M for the whole funding period.

Emmy Noether Programme

  • Open to: experienced postdocs who have obtained their doctorate within the last 4 years.
  • What funding covers: salaried position, and additional modules for resources, and staff, family allowance
  • Duration: maximum 6 years
  • Application deadline : applications accepted on a rolling basis
  • Funding information: Emmy-Noether Programme

Heisenberg Programme

  • Type of funding: research grant, salaried position and your own research group, or professorship
  • Open to: researchers who have qualified for professorship
  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month, funding for research materials, travel allowance, if applicable additional funds for children; salaried position or professorship, funding for research materials, resources
  • Duration: maximum 5 years
  • Special features: when you are accepted into the Heisenberg Program, you can choose from different types of funding (research grant, salaried position and funds for your own research group, or professorship)You initially request a Heisenberg grant
  • Funding information: Heisenberg Programme

Junior Research Groups

  • Open to: postdocs who have obtained their doctorate within the last two to five years
  • What funding covers: salaried position, and resources for staff, research materials and equipment, family allowance
  • Application deadline: not currently accepting applications
  • Funding information: Junior Research Groups

ERC Starting Grant and ERC Consolidator Grant

  • Open to: researchers who have obtained a doctorate within the last 2–7 years (Starting Grant) or within the last 7–12 years (Consolidator Grant)
  • What funding covers: salaried position, staff, resources, technical equipment
  • Duration: 5 years maximum
  • Application deadline: each year
  • Special features: the Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR) , the German National Contact Point ERC and the European Liaison Office of the German Research Organisations (KoWi) support researchers in all phases of their research project, including the application. Universities might connect you with these specialized agencies after deciding to support your application.
  • Funding information: ERC Starting Grant; ERC Consolidator Grant

Funding for Established Researchers

There is ample support for highly qualified researchers looking to pursue a research career in Bavaria. To qualify for this type of funding, applicants will generally need to have qualified for professorship , e.g. by a previous group leader position, a habilitation or a particularly strong academic record. Basic amounts vary considerably depending on the funding organization, your project and your experience.

Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers

  • Open to: researchers who have obtained their doctorate within the last 12 years
  • Duration:  6-18 months, the stay can be divided into up to three stays within three years
  • Funding information: Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers
  • Open to: experienced researchers from developing and emerging countries who have obtained their doctorate within the last 12 years
  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month intensive language course for researchers and their spouse before the start of the scholarship, financial support for the family and travel allowance
  • Duration: 6 - 18 months
  • Type of funding: research grant, salaried position and own research group, or professorship
  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month, travel allowance, if applicable additional funds for children; salaried position or professorship, funding for research materials, resources
  • Special features: when you are accepted into the Heisenberg Program, you can choose from different types of funding (research grant, salaried position and funds for your own research group, or professorship)

Lichtenberg Endowed Professorship

  • Type of funding: professorship W2 / W3
  • Open to: professors
  • Amount: €2M
  • Duration: 5 years
  • Special features: joint application with the university, which has to contribute another €3M to the endowment capital
  • Funding information: Lichtenberg Endowed Professorship

ERC Advanced Grant

  • Type of funding: own research group
  • Open to: researchers who have a track-record of significant research contributions achievements in the last 10 years, exceptional leaders in terms of originality and significance of their research
  • Special features: the “ German National Contact Point ERC ” and the “ European Liaison Office of the German Research Organisations “ (KoWi) support researchers in all phases of their research project, including the application
  • Funding information: ERC Adanced Grant

General Research Grants: Scholarship

  • Open to: researchers with habilitation, associate professors, senior lecturers or similar
  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month, family allowance, living abroad allowance, travel allowance and resources as necessary
  • Application deadline: several times each year
  • Funding information: General Research Grants: Scholarship

Threatened Researchers

Discrimination, the violation of human rights, armed conflicts and wars are threatening the lives and work of researchers in different parts of the world. With awareness rising among the research community, support structures are currently adapted and new programs developed. Funding programs running on a long-term basis and available to all threatened researchers who want to join Bavarian universities are listed here.

Philipp Schwartz-Fellowship

The Philipp Schwartz Initiative provides funding for researchers who are facing severe threats, including threats of violence, torture, wrongful imprisonment or prosecution. Various Bavarian universities have hosted Philipp Schwartz Fellows during the last years and developed support programs to integrate these researchers. These institutions recently founded a network to provide better support for potential applicants as well as current fellows.

  • Open to: threatened researchers with a doctoral degree; a confirmation of a pertinent threat should be confirmed either by way of a residence status in the context of an asylum-granting procedure within the EU or by way of a credible threat assessment issued no more than 12 months ago by a third party, such as the Scholars at Risk Network (SAR) or the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA)
  • What funding covers: fixed amount per month (around €3,500/month)
  • Duration: max. 3 years
  • Special Features: the university applies for the funds in accordance with its institutional strategy for threatened researchers; researchers should contact the university of their choice or the Scholars at Risk Network .
  • Funding information: Philipp Schwartz-Fellowship

Support for Researchers from Ukraine

The scientific community and universities in Bavaria offer their support to students and researchers, who were forced to leave Ukraine and have arrived in Bavaria. Ad-hoc funding programs have been put in place by a large range of institutions on a regional as well as on the national level. In Bavaria, both universities and research groups can act as a host and nominate you for specific programs.

How to find your host:

Use our database “Find Your Peers” and our list of structured PhD programs to find a research group or host in your field. You can also check out our twitter account to find out about current job offers for young researchers at Bavarian universities.

How to get funding:

Your host, together with the Research Funding Offices and Welcome Centers at the university of your choice are glad to inform you about adequate options and guide you through the process.

Coordination Office for Ukraine and further assistance

The Coordination Office for Ukraine , a service by the Bavarian Academic Center for Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe ( BayHOST ), connects students and academics with Bavarian universities. Their website provides an overview of all support measures put in place and useful information for the time after your arrival.

Furthermore, we can also recommend DAAD’s Webpage on offers of assistance for Ukrainian students and scientists .

* No responsibility is taken for the correctness of the details provided. Please refer to the individual funding organization for the latest information.

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phd fellowship german

FellowshipBard

Phd in germany: cost, scholarships, & admission requirements.

Have you considered pursuing a PhD in Germany? Germany is a popular destination for international students seeking a high-quality education and a vibrant research environment.

Pursuing a PhD in Germany can provide you with a unique opportunity to work with leading researchers in your field, gain valuable experience, and develop your skills.

In this article, we will explore some of the key aspects of pursuing a PhD in Germany, including the application process, funding opportunities, and the research environment.

How Much Does PhD Cost in Germany?

The cost of pursuing a PhD in Germany varies depending on several factors, including the university, the program, and the student’s lifestyle. However, most public universities in Germany offer their doctoral programs at a highly subsidized tuition or even at no tuition cost at all.

The only cost that students may have to pay is a semester fee ranging from 300-3,000 EUR a year. Private universities may charge higher tuition fees, but they are generally more expensive than public universities.

In addition to tuition fees, students will also have to consider the cost of living in Germany, which includes rent, food, transportation, and other expenses. The average cost of living in Germany is around 700-1,100 EUR per month.

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How Many Years is a PhD in Germany?

The duration of a PhD program in Germany typically ranges from 3-5 years. The duration may vary depending on the field of study, the research topic, and the student’s progress. 

Who is Eligible for PhD in Germany? 

To be eligible for a PhD program in Germany, applicants must meet certain requirements. Here are the general eligibility criteria for pursuing a PhD in Germany based on the search results:

  • A strong research-oriented master’s degree in a relevant field of interest is a major prerequisite while applying for a PhD in Germany.
  • The acknowledged degree for entering doctoral studies in Germany is a Master’s Degree – taken by completing at least eight semesters of your Master studies.
  • Extremely well-qualified international applicants with a bachelor’s degree may be admitted as doctoral students via a fast-track program, which will involve taking an entrance exam and perhaps attending an interview.
  • Applicants must have a good higher education degree which is equivalent to a German master’s degree.
  • Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 80% from a recognized university.
  • Applicants must have a valid Curriculum Vitae (CV) that mentions prior work experience, academic pursuits, etc.
  • Applicants must demonstrate language proficiency in either English or German. For English, applicants must have an IELTS score of 6.5 and above or TOEFL score of 80 and above.
  • For German, applicants may need to prove their proficiency in the language with a test such as DSH-2 or the Goethe certificate C2.

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Do you get paid to do a phd germany.

Yes, PhD students in Germany receive a salary or stipend during their studies.The amount of salary or stipend varies depending on the university, the program, and the student’s experience.

The average stipend for PhD students in Germany is around 24,500 EUR per year (approximately INR 19,53,189 per year). However, some universities may offer higher stipends depending on the field of study and the research topic.

In addition to the stipend, PhD students may also receive other benefits such as health insurance, travel grants, and conference funding.

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What is top 20 universities in germany.

  • Technical University of Munich
  • Ludwig Maximilians University Munich
  • Heidelberg University
  • University of Bonn
  • University of Gottingen
  • University of Freiburg
  • Humboldt University of Berlin
  • University of Tübingen
  • RWTH Aachen University
  • University of Hamburg
  • University of Cologne
  • University of Stuttgart
  • University of Frankfurt
  • University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
  • University of Würzburg
  • University of Konstanz
  • University of Mannheim
  • University of Bremen
  • University of Münster
  • University of Duisburg-Essen

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What is top 10 phd scholarships in germany.

Here are some of the top PhD scholarships available for international students in Germany based on the search results:

  • DAAD Scholarship (German Academic Exchange Service)
  • Helmholtz Research Scholarship
  • Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation Scholarships
  • Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships
  • Friedrich Ebert Foundation Scholarships
  • Konrad Adenauer Foundation Scholarships
  • Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Scholarships
  • Hans Böckler Foundation Scholarships
  • Max Planck Society Scholarships
  • Einstein International Postdoctoral Fellowship

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How to apply for a phd in the germany.

1. Find a suitable PhD program and a supervisor: The first step is to find a PhD program that matches your academic and career goals. You can search for programs on the university websites or other online platforms. Once you have identified a program, you need to find a supervisor who can guide you through your research.

2. Check the eligibility criteria: Before applying, you need to check the eligibility criteria for the program. The criteria may vary depending on the university and the program. Generally, you need to have a strong research-oriented master’s degree in a relevant field of interest, a valid Curriculum Vitae (CV), and language proficiency in either English or German.

3. Prepare the application documents: The application documents may include a CV, a copy of your degree certificate, a brief description of your doctoral research, language proficiency certificates, and letters of recommendation. You may also need to submit a research proposal, a statement of purpose, and a writing sample.

4. Submit the application: Once you have prepared the application documents, you can submit them online or by mail. The application process may involve multiple stages, and the timeline may vary depending on the program.

5. Wait for the response: After submitting the application, you need to wait for the response from the university. If your application is accepted, you will receive a confirmation letter from the university. You can use this letter to apply for a German student visa.

What is PhD Application materials in Germany?

The application materials required for a PhD program in Germany may vary depending on the university and the program. However, common application materials required:

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV): A detailed CV that mentions prior work experience, academic pursuits, research interests, and other relevant information.

2. Degree certificate: A copy of your degree certificate that proves you have completed a master’s degree or equivalent. Research proposal: A brief description of your doctoral research, including the research question, methodology, and expected outcomes.

3. Statement of Purpose (SOP): A statement that explains your motivation for pursuing a PhD, your academic and career goals, and how the PhD program aligns with your goals.

4. Language proficiency certificates: Proof of language proficiency in either English or German. For English, applicants must have an IELTS score of 6.5 and above or TOEFL score of 80 and above. For German, applicants may need to prove their proficiency in the language with a test such as DSH-2 or the Goethe certificate C2.

5. Letters of Recommendation (LOR): Letters of recommendation from professors or employers who can attest to your academic and research abilities.

6. Aptitude scores: Some universities may require aptitude scores like GRE or GMAT.

7. Exposé of the dissertation project: A detailed description of the dissertation project.

Can I work while doing PhD in Germany?

Yes, it is possible to work while doing a PhD in Germany. PhD students in Germany can work as research associates at their universities, which is usually a part-time job. The research associate job description includes research, teaching, and administrative duties. PhD students can also work outside the university.

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PhD fellowships

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) awards PhD fellowships of 2 to 3.5 years to outstanding junior scientists worldwide who wish to pursue an ambitious PhD project in basic biomedical research in an internationally leading laboratory.

The peer-review selection process evaluates the applicant's achievements, as well as the scientific quality of the project and host laboratory. The process is highly competitive, with less than 10% of applicants receiving a fellowship.

On top of the monthly stipend, we offer our fellows seminars, travel allowances, individual and personal support, and a worldwide network of fellows and alumni.

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phd fellowship german

הפקולטה למדעי הרוח | Faculty of Humanities

כִּי עוֹד אַאֲמִין גַּם בָּאָדָם, גַּם בְּרוּחוֹ, רוּחַ עָז.

(Shaul Tchernichovsky)

לוגו אוניברסיטת חיפה

Call for Applications for the Manfred Lahnstein Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Haifa in 20th-Century German Studies   for the 2024–2025 Academic Year

The Bucerius Institute for Research of Contemporary German History and Society , University of Haifa Call for Applications for  the Manfred Lahnstein Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Haifa in 20th-Century German Studies for the 2024–2025 Academic Year

The Bucerius Institute for Research of Contemporary German History and Society invites applications for the Manfred Lahnstein one-year post-doctoral fellowship (lasting a minimum of 10 months). The fellowship of 90000 NIS (together with office facilities) will be granted for research at the University of Haifa.

All materials should be written in English. Applications should be sent to Amir Bar-On (Administrative Coordinator) at [email protected] .

The deadline for submissions is March 18, 2024 , and decisions will be made by April 21, 2024 . For More Info

Faculty of Humanities Haifa University 199 Aba Khoushy Ave. Mount Carmel, Haifa Zip code:3498838 Tel: 04-8240122

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Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Marie skłodowska-curie actions award €260 million to postdoctoral researchers in 2023.

1,249 experienced post-doctoral researchers were selected for funding among 8,039 applicants.

MSCA postdoctoral fellowship header

The European Commission will award €260 million to 1,249 post-doctoral researchers to work at top universities, research centres, private and public organisations and small and medium-sized enterprises.

The European Research Executive Agency (REA) received 8,039 applications for this call, 15.8% of which were selected for funding.

The Commission will award

  • €221.40 million to 1,110 researchers through European Postdoctoral Fellowships , allowing them to carry out their projects in the EU or countries associated to Horizon Europe
  • € 39.07 million for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships , allowing 139 researchers to carry out research outside the EU or countries associated to Horizon Europe, mostly in the United States, Switzerland, Canada and Japan, before returning back to Europe

Women are 42% of the awardees. Selected applicants represent nearly 80 nationalities and will work in 45 countries in Europe and the rest of the world.

The projects selected span all scientific disciplines

  • social sciences and humanities (25.2%)
  • life sciences (21.7%)
  • information sciences and engineering (13.3%)
  • chemistry (14.4%)
  • physics (11.35%)
  • environment and geosciences (10.2%)
  • mathematics (2.15%)
  • economic sciences (1.7%)

Among the successful applicants, three postdoctoral fellows have been selected in the field of nuclear research as part of the cooperation between the MSCA and the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2021-2025 .

An overview of the evaluation results, cut-off scores and statistics has been published on MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 call page of the Funding and Tenders Opportunities Portal.

Once grant agreements are finalised, the complete list of funded projects will be published on the same page and on CORDIS .

Next steps for successful applicants

Host organisations and researchers have received letters informing them of the outcome of the selection process. They should be able to access the results of the evaluation in their personal area of the Funding and Tenders Opportunities Portal .

The letter contains all the instructions about the next steps to prepare the grant agreement with the European Research Executive Agency (REA) . The first projects will start at the earliest in April 2024.

Successful applicants with a host organisation based in the United Kingdom will not be eligible to receive funding, since the UK’s association to Horizon Europe applies for award procedures implementing the 2024 budget and onwards.

These applicants should nevertheless be eligible to apply for funding under the UK’s Horizon Europe guarantee .

576 projects are on the reserve list and may be contacted  at a later stage if funding is available.

MSCA Seal of Excellence recipients

1,737 applicants with an evaluation score equal to or above 85%, but whose proposal could not be funded due to insufficient budget, will be awarded an MSCA Seal of Excellence to help them  secure alternative funding from national or regional authorities.

The certificates will be awarded around mid-April 2024. Awardees will receive a notification on the Funding and Tenders Opportunities Portal . Once available, the Seal of Excellence certificate can be downloaded from the “Process documents” section.

We advise recipients to consult  at national/regional level for MSCA Seal of Excellence holders. MSCA National Contact Points in your host country can also help finding alternative funding sources.

ERA fellowships

50 additional fellowships will go to excellent researchers in low research and innovation performing countries in the European Union and associated countries (“Widening Countries”) under the ERA Fellowships , mostly in Portugal, Czech Republic, Cyprus, and Greece.

Selected applicants will receive the results of the ERA Fellowships call together with the letter informing them of the results of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships. The letters provide detailed instructions on the next steps for the preparation of the grant agreement with the European Research Executive Agency (REA).

Applicants should be able to access the results of the evaluation by accessing their personal area on the Funding and Tenders Opportunities Portal .

Next funding round coming soon

The next call for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships will open on 10 April 2024.

For more information please see how to apply .

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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Literatures, Cultures, and Languages

German studies student wins prestigious fellowship.

Guerlina Philogene, a senior in German Studies’ dual-degree EUROBIZ program, has been named a graduate fellow in the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Program, funded by the United States Department of State and administered by Howard University. The program, which welcomes applications from members of underserved minority communities, prepares students for foreign service careers in the State Department.

Guerlina says she became aware of her strong interest in a diplomatic career thanks to her experiences in LCL, in particular with her advisers in the German Section, professors Anke Finger and Sebastian Wogenstein. “Before enrolling into UConn or EUROBIZ,” Guerlina says, “I met with Anke Finger and spoke to her about my deep interest in German and international relations.” Later, Sebastian “hinted to me, during my exchange year, that it appeared that I am more interested in foreign relations.” Guerlina concludes, “They both seemed to have known where my mind was headed before I discovered my passion while in Brussels.”

According to the announcement in UConn’s campus publication  Today, 

Following her graduation from UConn, Philogene will attend graduate school and take part in Pickering activities during her summer break between years in Washington, D.C. She will also take part in a two-week program in Washington this summer as an orientation to the program. Upon completion of graduate school, Philogene will have a 10-week overseas internship at a United States embassy or consulate. Philogene will then have a five-year commitment to State Department employment in foreign service.

Guerlina generously credits her time in LCL with helping her form the broad perspective necessary for a diplomatic career. She says, “T he topics we talk about during my German courses also resonate deeply with my goals representing the United States. We discussed topics that are not often talked about when you think about Germany such as for example, Turkish, Black, and Vietnamese minority groups and their experiences.”

LCL, Guerlina relates, “became a place of refuge for me to study.” Moreover, her time in the department represented an important part of her development as a future global leader. “ Whenever I go abroad,” she continues, “I always try my best to represent groups that are often looked over when speaking about the US. The German department although small, exemplifies diversity and pushing boundaries.”

Congratulations, Guerlina!

Preparing a Competitive Graduate Fellowship Application in the Social Sciences 3/1

02/21/2024 By Daniel Riechers

Are you a graduate student in the social sciences looking for fellowship funding to support your research? 

Join grant consultant Rob Guroff (Hanover Research) for a walkthrough of how to interpret a graduate fellowship opportunity announcement and employ grant-writing best practices to prepare a competitive proposal. This presentation is geared toward the fields of criminal justice, education, psychology, and other social sciences, and will include examples from popular fellowship opportunities such as the National Institute of Justice's Graduate Research Fellowship program. 

Hosted by UMass Lowell's Office of Research Development . Friday, March 1 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Via Zoom

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Participants

These were the 24 candidates from 15 countries who participated in the YPF European Piano Competition 2022 – Grand Prix Youri Egorov! The 24 candidates have been selected by the pre-selection jury, consisting of Thomas Beijer, Ton Demmers, Christiaan Kuyvenhoven and Hanna Shybayeva, from the 48 applications (19 countries) that YPF received for the YPF European Piano Competition 2022.

phd fellowship german

Aarón Ormaza Vera

Aarón Ormaza Vera (1995, Ecuador) began playing the piano at an early age. He took lessons at the Conservatorio Sergei Rachmaninov for most of his

phd fellowship german

Alexander Jansen

Alexander Jansen (2005, The Netherlands) has been enchanted by music since he was 3 years old. He was barely 3 years old when he first

phd fellowship german

Alexandra Kaptein

Alexandra Kaptein (1999, The Netherlands) started piano lessons at the age of 5. At the age of six she already won her first prize at

phd fellowship german

Antoniu Nagy

Antoniu Nagy (2000, Romania) is currently studying piano at the National Music Academy ‘Gheorghe Dima’ under the guidance of Daniel Goiti. At the same time he’s

phd fellowship german

Augustinas Eidukonis

Augustinas Eidukonis (1995, Lithuania) has been learning at the National M.K. Čiurlionis School of Arts since 2002, in professor Vida – Emilija Prekerytė’s class. In 2011, he

phd fellowship german

Brecht Valckenaers

Brecht Valckenaers (2000, Belgium) likes to make people part of his passion for music. Playing existing music and creating new music are important elements in

phd fellowship german

Carlos Marín Rayo

Carlos Marín Rayo (1994, Spain) is currently studying with Frank van de Laar at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Previously, his main mentors were Mariana Gurkova,

phd fellowship german

Dora Petkovic

Dora Petkovic (1996, Croatia) is currently is studying a Master program specialized in solo piano performance at Musik-Akademie FHNW Basel with professor Filippo Gamba. In 2019, she

phd fellowship german

Florian Verweij

Florian Verweij (1997, The Netherlands) studies as a master student with Naum Grubert at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where he graduated with the highest remarks

phd fellowship german

Francesco Maccarrone

Francesco Maccarrone (1997, Italy) studied piano from an early age, having inherited a passion for music from his uncle Domenico Clapasson, a pianist and composer. 

phd fellowship german

Germán García Pérez

Germán García Pérez (1996, Spain) began his musical career in Granada with the teachers Andrei Reznik and Javier Herreros. His studies continued in Badajoz at

phd fellowship german

Jacopo Giovannini

Jacopo Giovannini (1997, Italy) starts playing the piano at the age of 4, at 5 wins his first competition with international jury and at 6 he

phd fellowship german

Juan Pedro García Oliva

Juan Pedro García Oliva (2001, Spain) began studying piano at the age of eight in the music school in his hometown. In 2013, he started

phd fellowship german

Leah Nicholson

Leah Nicholson (2001, United Kingdom) began studying with Galina Sandovskaya in St Petersburg, Russia, before continuing her musical education at Chetham’s School of Music in

phd fellowship german

Marta Mata (1997, Portugal) started playing piano at the age of eight and one year later she entered the Conservatory of Palmela, in Portugal. She

phd fellowship german

Noah Zhou (2001, United Kingdom) began learning piano at age 5 with Tra Nguyen before moving on to study with Hilary Coates. Since initially being awarded

phd fellowship german

Noora Ylönen

Noora Ylönen (1995, Finland) is currently doing her second Master’s degree in Folkwang Universität Der Künste under the guidance of Prof. Henri Sigfridsson. Earlier she has

phd fellowship german

Pavel Tesík

Pavel Těšík (1996, Czech Republic) studied piano at the Pavel Josef Vejvanovský Conservatory in Kroměříž with Ondřej Hubáček. Then he continued his studies at the Janáček

phd fellowship german

Pavle Krstic

Pavle Krstic (1998, Bulgary) is an Austrian-based pianist. He is currently a post-graduate student of Prof. Pavel Gililov, as well as a PhD candidate at

phd fellowship german

Radu Ratering

Radu Ratering (2004, The Netherlands) started taking piano lessons at the age of 7 after he heard Radu Lupu playing in the Royal Concertgebouw of Amsterdam. He

phd fellowship german

Rakhadin Yarmetov

Rakhadin Yarmetov (1996, Russia) was educated at Music College named after A.Scriabin, Elektrostal, Moscow Region (2011-2015), Gnesins Academy of Music, Moscow (2015-2017, Bachelor’s degree with teacher Vladimir

phd fellowship german

Shane van Neerden

Shane van Neerden (1999, United States) has appeared as soloist on stages in Europe as well as in the United States. In the Netherlands, he

phd fellowship german

Tom De Beuckelaer

Tom De Beuckelaer (1999, Belgium) is regarded as the leading young pianist of his generation in Belgium. He began performing in public since age six

phd fellowship german

Victor Naranjo Pérez

Victor Naranjo Pérez (1996, Spain) began studying piano at the age of 7 with his mother. He continued his studies at the Conservatory of Music of

  • Contributors

Post-Doctoral Corporate Governance Fellowships For Finance, Economics, and Accounting Researchers

phd fellowship german

The Program on Corporate Governance at Harvard Law School (HLS) is seeking applications for Corporate Governance Post Doctoral Fellowships from highly qualified candidates with graduate training in finance, economics, or accounting.

Applications are considered on a rolling basis, and the start date is flexible. Appointments are for one year but the appointment period can be extended for additional one-year period/s (contingent on business needs and funding as are other Program positions).

To be eligible to apply candidates should (i) have a J.D., LL.M., or S.J.D. from a U.S. law school, (ii) by the time they commence their fellowship, (ii) be pursuing an S.J.D. at a US law school, provided that they have completed their program’s coursework requirements by the time they start, or (iii) have a doctoral degree in law, or have completed much of the work toward such a degree, in a law school outside the U.S.

During the term of their appointment, Fellows will be in residence at HLS. They will be required to devote part of their time to work on research projects of the Program, depending on their skills, interests, and Program needs. Fellows will also be able to spend significant time on their own projects. The position will provide a competitive fellowship salary and Harvard University benefits.

Interested candidates should submit to [email protected] a CV; graduate program transcripts; any research papers they have written; and a cover letter. The cover letter should describe the candidate’s experience, reasons for seeking the position, career plans, and the period during which they would like to work with the Program.

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Program on corporate governance advisory board.

  • William Ackman
  • Peter Atkins
  • Kerry E. Berchem
  • Richard Brand
  • Daniel Burch
  • Arthur B. Crozier
  • Renata J. Ferrari
  • John Finley
  • Carolyn Frantz
  • Andrew Freedman
  • Byron Georgiou
  • Joseph Hall
  • Jason M. Halper
  • David Millstone
  • Theodore Mirvis
  • Maria Moats
  • Erika Moore
  • Morton Pierce
  • Philip Richter
  • Marc Trevino
  • Steven J. Williams
  • Daniel Wolf

HLS Faculty & Senior Fellows

  • Lucian Bebchuk
  • Robert Clark
  • John Coates
  • Stephen M. Davis
  • Allen Ferrell
  • Jesse Fried
  • Oliver Hart
  • Howell Jackson
  • Kobi Kastiel
  • Reinier Kraakman
  • Mark Ramseyer
  • Robert Sitkoff
  • Holger Spamann
  • Leo E. Strine, Jr.
  • Guhan Subramanian
  • Roberto Tallarita
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Find your PhD position in Germany

Before you start your search ....

Before you start your search you should know that there are different PhD models:

  • Individual doctorate  or
  • Structured PhD programmes

What's the difference? Check out our  overview of the various ways to do your PhD in Germany  

Find your individual doctorate

Two young researchers are sitting on a lab desk listening to a standing professor and taking notes. The professor holds a molecular model in his hands.

The "traditional" or "individual" path to a PhD remains the most common in Germany. An individual doctorate involves a thesis or dissertation that is produced under the  supervision of one professor . This form of PhD study offers a great deal of  flexibility , but demands a high degree of  personal initiative  and responsibility.

How to find your PhD supervisor

In Germany there is no central admissions or selection office for doctoral students. Therefore, your first step is to find a suitable professor who is willing to be your supervisor.

One way to find a supervisor is to look for a university institute that matches your area of research. The following online search engines might help you find a suitable supervisor:

  • GERiT – German research institutions GERiT is a website containing information on approximately 29,000 research institutions in Germany. GERiT allows the user to search easily by location or subject. It provides all the information needed to choose an institution at which to research, study or do a doctorate. www.gerit.org
  • Finding a PhD position PhDGermany publishes PhD openings in Germany that specifically target international applicants. Accordingly, in most cases the working language is English. Fluent knowledge of German is only required for certain special positions. PhDGermany helps you find the right PhD opening or supervisor for your doctoral thesis and assists you with the online application process. www.phdgermany.de
  • Higher Education Compass   This database provides up-to-date information from universities about doctoral opportunities in Germany. The search engine enables you to carry out targeted searches on the basis of departments, admission requirements and form of doctoral thesis. www.higher-education-compass.de

Furthermore,  your contacts with your professors or previous university  could help direct you to a suitable department or potential supervisor in Germany.

It is also helpful to attend  academic conferences  in your own subject area. There you will be able to exchange information and make contacts ­– and perhaps even find a future PhD supervisor.

Find your structured PhD programme

Students are sitting in a modern study hall on red chairs at grey desks.

DAAD/Ausserhofer/Himsel

Structured PhD programmes in Germany are frequently very similar to the PhD programmes in English-speaking countries, in which a  team of supervisors  look after a  group of doctoral students . Around 12,000 doctoral students from abroad – roughly one in four – do their PhDs in structured programmes. As a rule, it is possible to complete a doctorate in four to five years.

Where to find your PhD programme

There is no central database of all structured PhD programmes in Germany. You can usually find these programmes directly through the respective universities, graduate schools or non-university research institutions. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) database is also a good place to look. Here you will find a large number of PhD programmes that are specially aimed at international doctoral students.

International doctoral programme database

Are you interested in an international doctoral programme in Germany? This DAAD database presents a selection of roughly 230 international doctoral programmes in Germany. The database can be searched according to different criteria.  www.daad.de/international-programmes 

Doctoral programmes at universities

Many universities offer structured doctoral programmes, which they publicise on their websites. The Student Advisory Service or Graduate Centre at the respective university will also provide help here. You can find the relevant addresses using the Higher Education Compass provided by the German Rectors’ Conference. www.higher-education-compass.de

​​​​​​​DFG-funded research training groups

Research training groups are also funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation, DFG) for a period of up to nine years. Their key emphasis is on the qualification of doctoral researchers within the framework of a focused research programme and a structured training strategy. www.dfg.de > Current Research Training Groups

Helmholtz Research Schools, Colleges and Graduate Schools

The Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organisation. In collaboration with various institutions of higher education, Helmholtz Association research centres have established structured PhD programmes under the auspices of Helmholtz Graduate Schools, Helmholtz Research Schools and Colleges.  www.helmholtz.de > PhD Candidates 

Leibniz Graduate Schools

The Leibniz Association connects 97 research institutes that conduct problem-oriented research and provide scientific infrastructure of national and international importance. Together with universities they run structured PhD programmes in Leibniz Graduate Schools. www.leibniz-association.eu > Leibniz Graduate Schools

International Max Planck Research Schools

The Max Planck Society specialises in innovative basic research and its institutes are able to offer up-and-coming researchers excellent infrastructure and support. The website lists the programmes available at International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS):  www.mpg.de > International Max Planck Research Schools  

Max Planck Schools

In Germany, the best researchers in a specific field are often work at different universities and non-university research institutions spread throughout the country. The Max Planck Schools serve as hubs which gather this distributed knowledge. Here, the brightest minds in their fields have come together from within the scientific community to interconnect in faculties made up of active researchers. Students gain access to these unique networks, learn in close personal exchange from leaders in their fields and their peers, and enjoy access to outstanding infrastructure. Currently, three Schools are operating in the fields of Cognition, Matter to Life, and Photonics. www.maxplanckschools.de

Where can I find out about requirements?

Application procedures  differ from programme to programme . The precise requirements and deadlines can be found on the website of the respective university, research training group or graduate school. You should therefore first choose a PhD programme and/or graduate school.

You've found the position you want to apply for, but how does applying to a potential supervisor or structured PhD programme work in Germany? Find out more here.

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We help you navigate through the large number of job portals that specialise in openings for academics and scientists. These are some of the sites that may get you started.

DAAD/Uta Konopka

The cover of the brochure "Doing a PhD in Germany". It depicts a graduation cap and a diploma. On the bottom left there is the logo of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. On the bottom right is the logo of "Research in Germany"

Check out our brochure

Doing a phd in germany (2019, 40 pages).

This booklet for (prospective) international doctoral students presents the different options for doing a doctorate in Germany. It explains the formal requirements and gives some practical advice on finding the right supervisor or doctoral programme. It also outlines different sponsorship and funding options.

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Agrarian Studio expands with Future of Work fellowship

By julie greco.

Looking for community after the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Associate Professor Sarah Besky established the Agrarian Studio in the ILR School to foster a collective approach to training anthropology graduate students.

“It’s a mash-up of a creative writing seminar and the labs of natural scientists,” said Besky, who serves as the director of the South Asia Program at the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies and is a member of the Anthropology (Arts & Sciences) and Development Studies (Agriculture and Life Sciences) Graduate Fields.

Besky’s Agrarian Studio, which is growing with the help of a Future of Work grant, emphasizes the importance of training that fosters critical thinking and refining ideas through collective engagement.

The studio is propelled by the research of the graduate students Besky works with. Each week, a different student circulates something they’ve written, such as a chapter of their dissertation or a grant proposal, and then receives feedback from their peers and Besky.

Now in its third year, the studio is expanding through the work of post-doctoral associate Hadia Akhtar Khan , whose two-year appointment is funded by a Future of Work grant. Kahn, who recently completed a Ph.D. in anthropology at the University of Toronto, studies how transnational families have become upwardly mobile by running convenience stores in Malaysia and accumulating land in rural Pakistan. 

In addition to collaborating and running the studio alongside Besky, Kahn is organizing the Graduate Conference on Agrarian Studies, Climate Change, and the Future of Work on April 21, as well a larger conference on Agrarian Studies, Climate Change, and the Future of Work, to be held on April 26-27.

Read the full story on the ILR website .  Julie Greco is a senior communications specialist in the ILR School. 

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First refuelling for Russia’s Akademik Lomonosov floating NPP

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phd fellowship german

The FNPP includes two KLT-40S reactor units. In such reactors, nuclear fuel is not replaced in the same way as in standard NPPs – partial replacement of fuel once every 12-18 months. Instead, once every few years the entire reactor core is replaced with and a full load of fresh fuel.

The KLT-40S reactor cores have a number of advantages compared with standard NPPs. For the first time, a cassette core was used, which made it possible to increase the fuel cycle to 3-3.5 years before refuelling, and also reduce by one and a half times the fuel component in the cost of the electricity produced. The operating experience of the FNPP provided the basis for the design of the new series of nuclear icebreaker reactors (series 22220). Currently, three such icebreakers have been launched.

The Akademik Lomonosov was connected to the power grid in December 2019, and put into commercial operation in May 2020.

Electricity generation from the FNPP at the end of 2023 amounted to 194 GWh. The population of Pevek is just over 4,000 people. However, the plant can potentially provide electricity to a city with a population of up to 100,000. The FNPP solved two problems. Firstly, it replaced the retiring capacities of the Bilibino Nuclear Power Plant, which has been operating since 1974, as well as the Chaunskaya Thermal Power Plant, which is more than 70 years old. It also supplies power to the main mining enterprises located in western Chukotka. In September, a 490 km 110 kilovolt power transmission line was put into operation connecting Pevek and Bilibino.

Image courtesy of TVEL

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Showcases will take place in Room 110, 220, and the Chittenden Commons. This event is open to all, please join us from 6:00-8:00pm if you are able. An RSVP is requested. 

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PhRMA Foundation: 2024 Predoctoral Fellowship - Drug Delivery

Research category, funding type, internal deadline.

Submit Intent to Submit     // Limit: one postdoctoral applicant per lab

The Predoctoral Fellowship in Drug Delivery provides support for promising students in advanced stages of training and thesis research in drug delivery research, including basic pharmaceutics, biopharmaceutics, pharmaceutical technology, pharmaceutical biotechnology, or biomedical engineering.

Eligibility: 

  • Applicants will have completed most of their pre-thesis requirements and be PhD candidates. 
  • Applicants should expect to complete their PhD requirements in two years or less from the time funding begins. 
  • Applicants enrolled in MD/PhD programs should not be engaged in required clinical coursework or clerkships while the fellowship is active. 

*Due to the competitive nature of this funding program, the internal competition is run based on the  anticipated  May 15, 2024 LOI deadline.

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Prestigious research organisations, universities and industry collaborate across many sectors, not only enabling the German economy to remain innovative and competitive, but enabling you, as an early career researcher or postdoc, to find jobs and fellowships in cutting-edge research projects.

Wherever you wish your career to take you in Germany, it’s vital you have an outstanding doctorate, can demonstrate commitment and motivation and have a research project that is relevant to your future employer.

Discover more about rewarding career and research opportunities in Germany at  www.research-in-germany.org > postdoc .

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COMMENTS

  1. DAAD Scholarships

    Scholarships for a Master's degree in Germany are available, in particular, for persons from industrial countries. Students and doctoral candidates who are at risk of being denied educational or other rights in their country of origin have the chance to apply for a scholarship from the Hilde Domin Programme.

  2. Funding programmes

    Green Talents The winners of this competition are invited to visit leading German institutions of environmental and sustainability research. Furthermore, Green Talents awardees can complete a research stay at an institution of their choice. More Individual Doctoral Projects at Fraunhofer Institutes

  3. Humboldt Research Fellowship

    The Humboldt Research Fellowship for experienced researchers enables you to conduct research in Germany. The fellowship amount is €3,170. Fellowships may last from 6 to 18 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years. ... The Humboldt Research Fellowship addresses post-doctoral researchers with above-average ...

  4. PhD Funding in Germany

    The German Government expects international students to have at least €11,208 per year available to support themselves during a PhD (you'll need to demonstrate you have this much in funding, sponsorship or savings in order to get a German PhD visa ). In practice, you should aim to have slightly more than this. €800-1,000 is a good benchmark.

  5. Fellowships • Berlin Program for Advanced German and European Studies

    Under the umbrella of our program, we offer five different fellowships to scholars from North America, Africa and China: the Berlin Program Dissertation Fellowship, the Berlin Program Postdoc Fellowship, the Max Kade Berlin Postdoctoral Fellowship, the Kerstin Leitner Berlin Dissertation Fellowship and - starting this fall - the Kerstin Leitner ...

  6. PhD Fellowships

    The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) awards PhD Fellowships to outstanding early career researchers who wish to carry out an ambitious scientific PhD project in basic biomedical research at an internationally leading laboratory. Who can apply?

  7. How to Apply for a PhD in Germany: Programs, Funding, & FAQs

    These are the main steps to doing a PhD in Germany: Find a PhD Program and a Supervisor Decide Between Individual and Structured PhD Programs Meet All Requirements & Prepare Your Application Apply for Doctoral Studies Secure Funding Get a Student Visa or Resident Permit Arrive in Germany and Begin Your PhD Program Why Pursue a PhD in Germany?

  8. Funding programmes

    ERC Consolidator Grants Postdoctoral researchers of any nationality can strengthen their research independence by consolidating their own research team at a host research institution in Germany. More ERC Starting Grants

  9. TUM Global Postdoc Fellowship

    Early-career postdocs and doctoral researchers in their final year, residing outside of Germany at the time of submission, are eligible to apply for the TUM Global Postdoc Fellowship. ... You are eligible to apply for the fellowship if you have finished your PhD within the last three years at an institution other than TUM. Call 4.1.: Cut-off ...

  10. Doctoral scholarships

    Academic support The Studienstiftung's academic support includes summer academies, research groups, language courses, workshops and supervision by local tutors. Financial support The Studienstiftung offers generous financial support for Ph.D. students. Additional funds are provided for research and travel abroad. Application

  11. Fellowships and PhD scholarships

    Because tuition is free in Germany, PhD scholarships are generally offered by third-party organizations rather than the universities. Basic amounts vary between ca. €800 and €2,000 depending on the organization and are often complemented by allowances for specific purposes. Research Grants - Doctoral Programmes

  12. PhD Program

    The DKFZ International PhD Program is the interdisciplinary program for all students working at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). Our 500 PhD students conduct research at the forefront of basic and translational cancer research. We warmly invite you to apply at the DKFZ and to join its many distinguished scientists in cancer research!

  13. 14 Professional Fellowships in Germany

    The fellowship allows young climate experts from developing countries to spend a year in Germany working on a research-based project of their own choice in the field of climate protection and climate-related resource conservation. Fellows are free to choose their own hosts.

  14. PhD in Germany: Cost, Scholarships, & Admission Requirements

    The average stipend for PhD students in Germany is around 24,500 EUR per year (approximately INR 19,53,189 per year). However, some universities may offer higher stipends depending on the field of study and the research topic. In addition to the stipend, PhD students may also receive other benefits such as health insurance, travel grants, and ...

  15. PhD fellowships

    The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) awards PhD fellowships of 2 to 3.5 years to outstanding junior scientists worldwide who wish to pursue an ambitious PhD project in basic biomedical research in an internationally leading laboratory.

  16. Call for Applications for the Manfred Lahnstein Post-Doctoral Research

    The Bucerius Institute for Research of Contemporary German History and Society invites applications for the Manfred Lahnstein one-year post-doctoral fellowship (lasting a minimum of 10 months). The fellowship of 90000 NIS (together with office facilities) will be granted for research at the University of Haifa.

  17. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions award €260 million to postdoctoral

    The European Commission will award €260 million to 1,249 post-doctoral researchers to work at top universities, research centres, private and public organisations and small and medium-sized enterprises. ... €221.40 million to 1,110 researchers through European Postdoctoral Fellowships, allowing them to carry out their projects in the EU or ...

  18. German Studies Student Wins Prestigious Fellowship

    Posted on February 19, 2024 by Roger Travis. Guerlina Philogene, a senior in German Studies' dual-degree EUROBIZ program, has been named a graduate fellow in the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Program, funded by the United States Department of State and administered by Howard University. The program, which welcomes applications ...

  19. Preparing a Competitive Graduate Fellowship Application in the Social

    This presentation is geared toward the fields of criminal justice, education, psychology, and other social sciences, and will include examples from popular fellowship opportunities such as the National Institute of Justice's Graduate Research Fellowship program. Hosted by UMass Lowell's Office of Research Development . Friday, March 1. 9:30 to ...

  20. Participants

    Participants. These were the 24 candidates from 15 countries who participated in the YPF European Piano Competition 2022 - Grand Prix Youri Egorov! The 24 candidates have been selected by the pre-selection jury, consisting of Thomas Beijer, Ton Demmers, Christiaan Kuyvenhoven and Hanna Shybayeva, from the 48 applications (19 countries) that ...

  21. Post-Doctoral Corporate Governance Fellowships For Finance, Economics

    The Program on Corporate Governance at Harvard Law School (HLS) is seeking applications for Corporate Governance Post Doctoral Fellowships from highly qualified candidates with graduate training in finance, economics, or accounting. Applications are considered on a rolling basis, and the start date is flexible. Appointments are for one year but the appointment period can be […]

  22. Find your PhD position

    Doing a PhD in Germany (2019, 40 pages) This booklet for (prospective) international doctoral students presents the different options for doing a doctorate in Germany. It explains the formal requirements and gives some practical advice on finding the right supervisor or doctoral programme. It also outlines different sponsorship and funding options.

  23. Apply for the Quad Fellowship

    The Quad Fellowship aims to build a network of next-generation STEM talent by awarding scholarships to students from Japan, the United States, Australia, India, and ASEAN countries countries to obtain master's and doctoral degrees in the United States. Both incoming (fall 2024) and current grad students are eligible to apply for the fellowship.

  24. Agrarian Studio expands with Future of Work fellowship

    Besky's Agrarian Studio, which is growing with the help of a Future of Work grant, emphasizes the importance of training that fosters critical thinking and refining ideas through collective engagement. The studio is propelled by the research of the graduate students Besky works with. Each week, a different student circulates something they ...

  25. First refuelling for Russia's Akademik Lomonosov floating NPP

    Rosatom's fuel company TVEL has supplied nuclear fuel for reactor 1 of the world's only floating NPP (FNPP), the Akademik Lomonosov, moored at the city of Pevek, in Russia's Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. The supply of fuel was transported along the Northern Sea Route. The first ever refuelling of the FNPP is planned to begin before the end of ...

  26. Teaching Cohort Fellowship Showcase

    The Graduate School cordially invites you to join the Teaching Cohort Fellowship Showcase where Graduate School sponsored fellows share the projects they have worked on throughout the academic year. Showcases will take place in Room 110, 220, and the Chittenden Commons. This event is open to all, please join us from 6:00-8:00pm if you are able. An RSVP is requested.

  27. PhRMA Foundation: 2024 Predoctoral Fellowship

    Submit Intent to Submit // Limit: one postdoctoral applicant per lab. The Predoctoral Fellowship in Drug Delivery provides support for promising students in advanced stages of training and thesis research in drug delivery research, including basic pharmaceutics, biopharmaceutics, pharmaceutical technology, pharmaceutical biotechnology, or biomedical engineering.

  28. Information for Postdocs and Early Career Researchers

    Address. Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst e.V. Kennedyallee 50. 53175 Bonn. Germany. All addresses in the DAAD Network. Receive regular up-to-date information about our work and organisation. Newsletter - DAAD. Information for postdocs and early career researchers.