Leo Baeck Fellowship Programme

The Leo Baeck Fellowship Programme awards fellowships to doctoral students carrying out research into the field of German-Jewish history and culture. The programme welcomes projects on any period or field, including literature, philosophy, history, and cultural studies, and any region such as Europe, Israel, and the Americas. In addition to financial support for one year, it provides opportunities for fellows to exchange ideas with peers.

The programme is open to doctoral candidates of any nationality studying at any university. All fellows remain at their home institution, while coming together for two workshops during the fellowship. The workshops are jointly organised by Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, the Leo Baeck Institute London, and the Leibniz-Institute for Jewish History and Culture – Simon Dubnow Leipzig.

Selection includes review of a complete application set with a research proposal and two letters of recommendation. Shortlisted candidates are invited to two video-based interviews. Working languages are German and English.

Support is provided for one year, with fellows receiving regular support through workshops and an intranet platform. After the first year, students enrolled at a university in Germany may apply for an extension within the framework of the Studienstiftung’s doctoral programme, subject to available funds. Fellows may receive additional support for specific circumstances such as raising children and where the doctorate is pursued outside their home country.

• Doctoral student or doctoral candidate carrying out research into the field of German-Jewish history and culture.
• Project must focus on the history and culture of German speaking Jewries.
• Doctoral candidates of any nationality.
• Studying at any university.
• Excellent University degree(s).
• Date of latest degree must not be before February 2022.
• Must have formal qualification for doctoral studies / acceptance on a doctoral programme at an accredited university.
• Application documents must be submitted in English or German.
• During the fellowship, fellows remain at their home institution.
• Additional employment is permitted only to the precisely defined extent: in research and teaching at the university or a comparable research institution to a maximum of one quarter of a regular full-time position, or outside of research and teaching to a maximum of 5 hours per week.
• Combination with scholarships from third parties is not permitted.
• For extension after the first year: must be enrolled at a university in Germany.

• Monthly living allowance: EUR 1,650.
• Monthly research allowance: EUR 100.
• Health insurance subsidy: 50% subsidy for costs, covering up to a maximum of EUR 100 per month (for fellows not required to have mandatory health insurance).
• Additional support for those pursuing a doctorate while raising children.
• Supplements and travel allowances for research and conference trips abroad.
• For doctorates outside the home country: additional monthly living allowance and, if applicable, a tuition fee subsidy up to EUR 10,000 per calendar year.
• Regular workshops and intranet platform providing support to present research and discuss methodologies and findings with other fellows.

1. Prepare an application set in English or German.
2. Complete the application form.
3. Prepare a cover letter outlining motivation for participation in the programme (1 page).
4. Prepare a curriculum vitae with details on education, general interests, and language skills.
5. Include a photocopy of university degree(s), including marks and if possible ranking.
6. Prepare a research proposal (max. 5 pages).
7. Prepare a research schedule for the academic year 2026/27, including planned research trips.
8. Include a letter of recommendation by the supervisor of the PhD project.
9. Include a second letter of recommendation.
10. Send the documents in the exact order listed above and combine them into a single PDF file to leobaeck(at)studienstiftung(dot)de.
11. Send only letters of recommendation in a separate email if needed; include the applicant’s name in the subject line.
12. Ensure the application set is complete; only complete sets will be considered.
13. After submission, shortlisted candidates are invited to two video-based interviews in April/May 2026.

• Application form.
• Cover letter outlining motivation for participation in the programme (1 page).
• Curriculum vitae with details on education, general interests, and language skills.
• Photocopy of university degree(s), including marks and if possible ranking.
• Research proposal (max. 5 pages).
• Research schedule for the academic year 2026/27, including planned research trips.
• Letter of recommendation by the supervisor of the PhD project.
• Second letter of recommendation.