Deadline: November 28, 2025
Applications are open for the CAPES-Humboldt Research Fellowship 2026-2027. The CAPES-Humboldt Research Fellowship supports you – postdoctoral researchers and experienced researchers – with your research in Germany.
In 2013, the Brazilian research funding organisation CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation launched the CAPES-Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme. As a fellow, you will benefit from individual support from the Humboldt Foundation and our 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 researchers and members of underrepresented groups to apply.
Benefits
- Postdocs: Benefit from research sponsorship in Germany at the beginning of your academic career. The CAPES-Humboldt Research Fellowship for Brazilian postdoctoral researchers enables you to conduct research in Germany. The monthly fellowship amount is €2,700 plus additional 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 CAPES-Humboldt Research Fellowship for experienced Brazilian 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 and additional benefits, you will also receive personal support throughout your sponsorship. Prior to your research fellowship, you and your partner will be able to attend an intensive language course. You are then flexible to determine the start date of your fellowship yourself.
- Further financial support, including family benefits for children and partners 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 future research collaborations. A return fellowship or later visits to Germany are also possible.
Eligibility
- You must be a Brazilian national or have permanent resident status in Brazil. German nationals are eligible to apply provided that they have been living and working in Brazil for at least five years and on the assumption of permanence.
- You must be resident in Brazil and have lived outside of Germany for at least 12 out of the last 18 months.
- Confirmation that research facilities are available/host’s statement
- A researcher from an academic institution of your choice in Germany will provide you with a mentoring agreement and written confirmation that research facilities are available as well as compiling a detailed review for you.
- 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 successfully conducting your research. Otherwise, good knowledge of English will suffice.
Application
Note that 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 of publications)
- list of selected key publications (cf. sample list of key publications)
- key publications
- doctoral certificate
- 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 English
In addition:
- host’s statement and confirmation that research facilities are available. Note that these documents can only be uploaded in a protected area by the host personally. You can only submit your application once these documents have been uploaded.
For more information, visit CAPES-Humboldt Research Fellowship.
