DAAD Re-invitation Scholarship and Fellowship Programme 2026 (Research or Work in Germany Again)

Are you a former DAAD scholarship recipient eager to return to Germany for research or professional development? The DAAD Re-invitation Programme 2026 offers you a unique opportunity to reconnect with academic or professional institutions in Germany and expand your global network. Funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, this program supports short-term research and working stays for alumni of long-term DAAD scholarships.

Programme Overview

The DAAD Re-invitation Programme is designed to:

1. Promote academic and professional exchange
2. Support collaborative research or working projects in Germany
3. Maintain strong international alumni networks of former DAAD scholars.

The programme supports:

1. Research stays at German universities or research institutions
2. Professional working visits in sectors like business, administration, culture, or media for alumni now working outside academia
3. Multi-institution projects within Germany

Duration

1. 1 to 3 months
2. Funding begins in 2026 and is non-renewable
3. Duration is determined by a selection committee based on your project plan

Scholarship Benefits

Depending on your status, the monthly stipend includes:

1. €2,000/month for assistant professors, assistant lecturers, and teachers
2. €2,150/month for full professors
3. Travel allowance (unless otherwise covered)
4. Health insurance coverage (mandatory; covered by DAAD if not available through home provider)
5. Additional financial support for disabilities or chronic illnesses, upon application

Open to applicants of all nationalities.

This scholarship is open to:

1. Former DAAD scholarship holders who received funding for over six months through a Federal Foreign Office-supported programme
2. East German scholarship alumni who studied in Germany for at least one year

Applicants must:

1. Have not lived in Germany for the past three years
2. Coordinate their proposed project with a host institution in Germany
3. Possess strong academic or professional profiles with demonstrable impact

Selection Criteria

Applications are reviewed by an independent selection committee based on:

1. Academic/professional achievements and publications
2. Quality and feasibility of the research or working project
3. Impact and potential multiplier effects (especially for applicants outside academia)
4. Promotion of existing collaborations with German institutions
5. Equal opportunity considerations

Application Deadlines

There are two deadlines to apply for the 2026 intake:

1. 09 September 2025
2. Selection in December 2025
3. Funding begins February 2026
4. 16 February 2026
5. Selection in May 2026
6. Funding begins August 2026

Required Documents

Submit via the DAAD online portal:

1. Online application form
2. CV (max. 3 pages)
3. List of publications (if applicable)
4. Detailed project proposal (max. 10 pages)
5. Time schedule and host institutions
6. Letter of confirmation from German host institution
7. English or German translations of all documents

Note: The application portal is only open during active application periods. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.