Wissenschaftskolleg Fellowships in Germany: Research Fellowship in Berlin

Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin offers fellowship applications with two routes to candidacy: candidates can apply on their own behalf or they can be nominated. Nominations are submitted to admissions(at)wiko-berlin.de. Regular applications are submitted via the Wissenschaftskolleg electronic application platform. Fellows choose their own projects for their stay, with no thematic specifications, and the proposed research must be possible to carry out in residence.

The fellowship opportunity applies to early-career researchers through yearly calls, including calls in the humanities and social sciences and a call for the College for Life Sciences. Applicants can also apply as a tandem if two researchers want to work on a joint publication project. The Wissenschaftskolleg also invites a small number of people from outside academia; this includes composers, writers, photographers, journalists, and other figures in intellectual and public life, with journalists and other public intellectuals applying themselves for a residency.

For nominations, the nomination letter must include a reference to two relevant publications by the nominee. Regular applications are submitted through the electronic application platform. Journalists and other public intellectuals apply by themselves via the application platform for a ten-month residency. Shorter fellowships are available only within certain programs and collaborations, including the College for Life Sciences and other named fellowship streams and awards.

Fellows are in residence while carrying out the projects proposed with the application. The page describes a ten-month residency for journalists and other public intellectuals, and shorter fellowships of three to five months within the College for Life Sciences for early-career scholars from the life and natural sciences. Short-term invitations are also described as being extended regularly to specific fellowship categories and talents in music theater.

• Candidacy can be through an application on the candidate’s own behalf or through nomination.
• Nominations: the nomination letter must include a reference to two relevant publications by the nominee.
• Early-career researchers can apply for a fellowship in the framework of yearly calls.
• Projects: fellows choose their projects; there are no thematic specifications.
• Project feasibility: the research projects proposed with the application need to be possible to carry out in residence.
• Tandem format: if two researchers want to work on a joint publication project, they can apply as a tandem.
• People from outside academia: the Wissenschaftskolleg invites a small number of people from outside academia, including composers, writers, photographers, journalists, and other figures in intellectual and public life.
• Advisors and nominations in some fields: the Rector has appointed Senior Advisors for music, literature, and photography who have the exclusive right to nominate candidates from their respective fields.
• Journalists and other public intellectuals: can apply by themselves for a ten-month residency via the application platform.
• Shorter fellowships: available only within certain programs and collaborations.

• Ten-month residency for journalists and other public intellectuals.
• Shorter fellowships of three to five months within the framework of the College for Life Sciences for early-career scholars in the life and natural sciences.

1. Decide whether to apply on your own behalf or be nominated.
2. If applying via nomination: ensure the nomination letter includes a reference to two relevant publications by the nominee and send it to admissions(at)wiko-berlin.de.
3. If applying directly: submit a regular application via the Wissenschaftskolleg electronic application platform.
4. If you are an early-career researcher: apply in the framework of the yearly calls.
5. If you are applying as two researchers for a joint publication project: apply as a tandem.
6. If you are a journalist or other public intellectual: apply by yourself for a ten-month residency via the application platform.
7. If you are seeking a shorter fellowship: apply only within the programmes and collaborations described for shorter fellowships.

• For nominations: a nomination letter that includes a reference to two relevant publications by the nominee.