Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral and Experienced Researchers in Germany | Fully-funded

Applications are now open for the Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdoctoral and experienced researchers in Germany, fully-funded. The Humboldt Research Fellowship, aimed at researchers of all nationalities and research areas, is meant to support researchers with their research in Germany. Note: This is for 2024 and every other year – Ongoing opportunity!

Overview of The Humboldt Research Fellowship

Through Humboldt Research Fellowships, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation provides seasoned researchers from all over the world with a fantastic opportunity to take part in extensive research projects in Germany. The programme, which offers up to 500 scholarships, targets highly skilled scientists and professors from a variety of professions who have finished their doctorates within the last 12 years. We will cover all the information about this famous scholarship in this extensive guide, including eligibility, advantages, and the application procedure.

Important Information

The Georg Forster Research Fellowship, which is comparable to a Humboldt Research Fellowship, is open to researchers from developing and emerging countries whose work advances sustainable development. If both Fellowships are found through your programme search, please utilize the Programme Compass for more assistance. The greatest assistance is provided when choosing the programme that most closely fits your profile. The Capes – Humboldt Research Fellowship is open to Brazilian researchers only.

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Sponsorship During Your Research Stay in Germany

The Humboldt Research Fellowship allows international researchers to conduct their own research in Germany, with host institutions potentially receiving a subsidy for research costs. The Georg Forster Research Fellowship and Humboldt Research Fellowship provide the following additional sponsorship benefits for fellows:

• Mobility allowance – See more here!
• Research stay within Europe – See more here!
• Booking of a flight by the Humboldt Foundation
• Travel expenses (PDF, 179 KB) – Download PDF
• Research Extension – Read more here and here.

For further details regarding What You Get from this fellowship, check out Information on sponsorship during the research stay and Information on sponsorship for alumni abroad.

Benefits for Postdoc

The Humboldt Research Fellowship offers postdoctoral researchers the opportunity to conduct research in Germany, with a monthly fellowship amounting to €2,670, lasting 6-24 months.

Benefits for Experienced researchers

The Humboldt Research Fellowship allows experienced researchers to conduct research in Germany, with a €3,170 amount, lasting 6-18 months and allowing up to three stays within three years, even if they are already advanced in their academic career.

General Benefits Conditions

In addition to the fellowship amount, the fellowship offers personal support, flexibility in starting the fellowship, and an intensive language course for the recipient and their partner. Additional financial support includes family benefits, private health insurance subsidies, and travel allowances for children and partners. The fellowship also includes an intensive language course.

What is Required of You

To successfully apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship, You must fulfil all the following criteria.

The guidelines for good scientific practise (PDF) and the fundamentals of scientific ethics must be followed. You can read more about the foundation’s strategy for generative AI in the selection domain here.
If you have already been sponsored by the Humboldt Foundation, you are not eligible to apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship. The alumni programmes are available to you in these circumstances.

If the Humboldt Research Fellowship not the most suitable fellowship for you, the use the Programme Search to find the sponsorship that fits your personal career or contact the fellowship body via this link for individual advice.

Eligibility Criteria for The Humboldt Research Fellowship

The Humboldt Research Fellowship addresses post-doctoral researchers from across the globe (regardless of their field) whose qualifications are above-average.

Eligibility Criteria for Postdoc

If you have completed your doctorate within the last four years or are within six months of completing it and can provide a written summary of your findings, and have been published in academic journals and international-reviewed publishing houses, you can apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers. If you fulfil the above criteria and the criteria under the “What is required of you” section, then you are eligible to apply – submit your application here.

Eligibility Criteria for Experienced researchers

Have you finished your PhD, or any other comparable degree, in the last 12 years? Does your academic record include a long list of publications in scholarly journals and from publishing houses that undergo international quality control? If this is the case, and you meet the requirements listed in the “What is required of you” section, submit an application for the experienced researcher Humboldt Research Fellowship.

You can still apply up to 16 years after earning your master’s or other postgraduate degree if a doctorate in your area or country of origin is not feasible or common, as long as your publication history is in line with your career level.

How To Apply

Kindly submit the required documents to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation exclusively online if you wish to apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship.

Required Application Documents

The following documents must be uploaded into the application form before you can submit your application:

• Curriculum vitae (maximum of two pages)
• Research outline, no more than five pages
• An exhaustive list of your publications (see sample list in PDF format)
• List of a few important publications (see example list, PDF)
• Major publications
  
• Doctoral certificate or proof that your doctorate was successfully finished, or proof that this will happen within the next six months
  
• If necessary, a certificate in German language proficiency Notifications of publisher approval and/or acknowledgment of receipt, as well as summaries and translations of important publications not available in German or English
  
• In addition, there are two expert reviews, the host’s statement, and confirmation that research facilities are available. Please be aware that only the host(s) and professional reviewers themselves may post these documents in a secured area. Once these documents have been uploaded, you can only submit your application. The application form contains further details and justifications.

We will email you a written confirmation as soon as we receive your online application. We will let you know the expected selection date after analysing your documents.

Application Deadline

Every March, July, and November, the Selection Committee that is in charge of examining application materials for this programme convenes. Before the desired selection date, please email your completed application form together with any additional documents that may be needed. In most cases, applications are processed in four to eight months. Applications that are incorrect or incomplete take longer to process and frequently need to be rescheduled for a later meeting of the Selection Committee.

The date on which we receive your application serves as the deadline for fulfilling some formal requirements, specifically those pertaining to restrictions on professional stages and past visits in Germany.

You may start your fellowship between two and twelve months after being chosen if your application is successful.

We might give you the rationale for our choice if your application isn’t successful. Kindly send an informal email request for this information. Approximately five weeks after the decision is made, you and your host will get a letter with the result of your application. One cannot appeal a decision. However, if you make substantial improvements to the application that was refused, you are welcome to reapply. Unfortunately, you must wait a minimum of 18 months before reapplying in the case of applications that are unanimously denied.

Additional Information

Visit this page for additional information regarding the Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral and Experienced Researchers.

The selection procedure

You may also be interested in the Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships for International Students or visit our scholarships page here for more scholarship opportunities.