Deadline: Ongoing
Applications are open for the Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship 2025 for Postdocs and Experienced Researchers. Through the Humboldt Research Fellowship, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation sponsors researchers with above-average qualifications from across the globe. As a fellow, you will benefit from individual support from the Humboldt Foundation and their diverse sponsorship portfolio.
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation aims to achieve a good balance between genders and a high level of diversity among its fellows in all areas. They therefore expressly invite female scientists and members of underrepresented groups to apply. They welcome all applications, regardless of ethnic, cultural or social background, gender identity, age, religion, worldview, disability or sexual orientation.
Benefits
- Postdocs: Benefit from research sponsorship in Germany at the beginning of your academic career. The Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdocs enables you to conduct research in Germany. The monthly fellowship amount is €2,700 plus addtional benefits. Fellowships may last from 6 to 24 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years.
- Experienced researchers: You can still apply for research sponsorship in Germany even if you are already well advanced in your academic career. The Humboldt Research Fellowship for experienced researchers enables you to conduct research in Germany. The fellowship amount is €3,200 plus additional benefits. Fellowships may last from 6 to 18 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years.
- General conditions: In addition to the fellowship amount plus additional benefits, you will also receive personal support throughout your sponsorship. You are flexible in determining when you would like to start your fellowship. Prior to your research fellowship, you and your partner will be able to attend an intensive language course.
- Further financial support, including family benefits for children and partners, subsidies for private full health insurance and allowances for travel expenses, is also available.
- Alumni programmes: They stay in contact even after your research stay has come to an end. Their alumni sponsorship measures flexibly support every Humboldtian’s individual journey through life, in both their careers and their future research collaborations. A return fellowship or later visits to Germany are also possible.
Eligibility
- Applicant must not be a German national. If you are a German national, or if you obtained your university entrance qualification and university degree, or your university degree and your doctorate, in Germany, you can apply if you have lived and worked abroad for more than ten years and intend to continue doing so long-term. Have you lived and worked abroad for more than five years? You can still apply if there is a strong connection to your current country of residence (permanent employment, additional citizenship etc.
- For your application to be successful, you may not have lived in Germany for longer than a total of six months within the 18-month period prior to submitting your application.
- If you have arrived in Germany recently you should submit your application as soon as possible, as they can only assess your eligibility and formally accept your application after it has been submitted.
- You can provide two expert reviews.
- Postdocs: Your doctoral supervisor and one other researcher – outside of your institute, if possible – should provide well-grounded information on your qualifications.
- Experienced researchers: The reviews should be provided by important collaborative partners and/or researchers at your own institute as well as other institutes – outside your country of origin, if possible.
- Language Skills
- Natural sciences and engineering: You must have a good knowledge of German or English.
- Humanities, social sciences and medicine: You must have a good knowledge of German if this is necessary for conducting your research successfully. Otherwise, good knowledge of English will suffice.
Application
You may only submit your application once you have uploaded the following documents in the application form:
- curriculum vitae (two pages max)
- research outline ( five pages max)
- complete list of your publications (cf. sample list, PDF)
- list of selected key publications (cf. sample list, PDF)
- key publications
- doctoral certificate or proof that your doctorate has been completed successfully, or confirmation that this will be the case within the next six months
- German language certificate, if required
- if required: publisher’s acceptance notifications and/or acknowledgement of receipt and summaries/translations of key publications that are not available in German or in English
- In addition: host’s statement and confirmation that research facilities are available, as well as two expert reviews. Please note that these documents can only be uploaded in a protected area by the host(s) and expert reviewers personally. You can only submit your application once these documents have been uploaded. Further information and explanations can be found on the application form.
For more information, visit Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship.
