Humboldt Research Fellowship

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation sponsors researchers with above-average qualifications through the Humboldt Research Fellowship. The programme is part of the Global Minds Initiative Germany of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, and the fellowship is for conducting research in Germany in collaboration with a host at a German research institution of the applicant’s choice.

The Humboldt Research Fellowship is for researchers of all nationalities and research areas. It covers two groups: postdocs and experienced researchers. Postdocs apply if they completed their doctorate (or equivalent) during the last four years (or will complete it before the envisaged selection meeting and can provide a written summary of findings). Experienced researchers apply if they completed their doctorate (or equivalent) during the last twelve years, with an alternative route up to sixteen years after completing a master’s or other postgraduate degree where a doctorate in the field or country of origin is not possible or uncommon.

The application procedure uses three selection rounds per year with three calls for applications annually. Each call opens eight months before the respective selection meeting, and the application round closes when the maximum number of applications for the call is reached. Applications that fail to include important documents or information, or diverge substantially from specifications (e.g., for creating a list of publications), are formally rejected without further review; ambiguities requiring clarification usually postpone the decision to the following selection meeting. The foundation expects that 20–25% of applications received will be approved.

Fellowships may last from 6 to 24 months for postdocs or from 6 to 18 months for experienced researchers, and they can be divided into up to three stays within three years. The fellowship includes personal support throughout the sponsorship and flexibility in choosing a start time. Prior to the research fellowship, the applicant and their partner can attend an intensive language course. Alumni sponsorship measures may continue after the research stay ends, and a return fellowship or later visits to Germany are also possible.

• Applicant status: post-doctoral researchers with above-average qualifications, regardless of field.
• Nationality: applicant must not be a German national.
• If applicant is a German national, or if they obtained their university entrance qualification and university degree, or their university degree and doctorate, in Germany: application is possible only if they have lived and worked abroad for more than ten years and intend to continue doing so long-term.
• If applicant has lived and worked abroad for more than five years: application is possible if there is a strong connection to their current country of residence (examples given include permanent employment and additional citizenship).
• Stay in Germany: the applicant may not have lived in Germany for longer than a total of 90 days within the 18-month period prior to submitting the application.
• Research facilities: a researcher from an academic institution of the applicant’s choice in Germany will provide a mentoring agreement and written confirmation that research facilities are available.
• Expert reviews: applicant can provide two expert reviews.
• Postdocs expert reviews: the applicant’s doctoral supervisor and one other researcher (outside of the applicant’s institute, if possible) should provide information on the applicant’s qualifications.
• Experienced researchers expert reviews: reviews should be provided by important collaborative partners and/or researchers at the applicant’s own institute as well as other institutes (outside the applicant’s country of origin, if possible).
• Language skills (natural sciences and engineering): applicant must have a good knowledge of German or English.
• Language skills (humanities, social sciences and medicine): applicant must have good knowledge of German if this is necessary for conducting research successfully; otherwise good knowledge of English will suffice.
• Doctoral timing for postdocs: applicant completed their doctorate (or equivalent academic qualification) during the last four years, or will complete it before the envisaged selection meeting and can already provide a written summary of findings.
• Publication requirement for postdocs: applicant must have been published in academic journals and by publishing houses reviewed according to international standards.
• Doctoral timing for experienced researchers: applicant completed their doctorate (or equivalent academic qualification) during the last twelve years, and their academic profile must be supported by an extensive list of publications including important papers where they acted as thematic lead.
• Leadership requirement for experienced researchers: applicant must hold a leadership role commensurate with their career level in a corresponding position (examples given include assistant professor, lecturer, head of an independent research group, or higher-level position).
• Alternative experienced researcher route: if a doctorate in the applicant’s field or country of origin is not possible or uncommon, the applicant can apply up to 16 years after completing their master’s or other postgraduate degree provided they have a publication record commensurate with their career level.
• Application invitation: the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation aims for gender balance and diversity and expressly invites female scientists and members of underrepresented groups to apply.
• Participation welcome: applications are welcomed regardless of ethnic, cultural, or social background, gender identity, age, religion, worldview, disability, or sexual orientation.

• Monthly fellowship amount for postdocs: €3,000 plus additional benefits.
• Monthly fellowship amount for experienced researchers: €3,600 plus additional benefits.
• Duration (postdocs): fellowships may last from 6 to 24 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years.
• Duration (experienced researchers): fellowships may last from 6 to 18 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years.
• Personal support throughout the sponsorship.
• Language course: prior to the research fellowship, the applicant and their partner can attend an intensive language course.
• Further financial support: family benefits for children and partners; subsidies for private full health insurance; allowances for travel expenses.
• Hosts may apply for a subsidy towards research costs.
• Alumni sponsorship measures after the research stay ends; a return fellowship or later visits to Germany are also possible.

• For postdocs who will complete the doctorate before the envisaged selection meeting: a written summary of findings.
• Expert reviews: two expert reviews (postdocs: doctoral supervisor and one other researcher; experienced researchers: collaborative partners and/or researchers at the applicant’s own institute and other institutes).
• Mentoring agreement and written confirmation that research facilities are available from a researcher at an academic institution in Germany.
• A list of publications (applications diverging substantially from specifications for creating a list of publications are formally rejected without further review).