Deadline: October 4, 2026
Applications for the Gerald D. Feldman Travel Grants 2026 are now open. Once a year the Max Weber Foundation confers Gerald D. Feldman Travel Grants to academics in the qualification phase with an international focus. The travel grants are meant to improve the career opportunities for humanities and social science academics.
The scientists conduct a self-chosen research project in at least two and at most three host countries which are home to MWS institutes and branches or at the Richard Koebner Minerva Center for German History in Israel.
The total term of funding shall not exceed three months. Placements (at most one month per host country, shorter stays are possible) are to be used for research, especially in libraries and archives. Academics are expected to produce transnational and transregional studies, providing research with new and original ideas. The research placements should ideally be completed within 12 months, or at most 24.
Grants
Funding is based on the rates of Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and covers:
- documented travel costs for travel to the foreign institute and back (least expensive route);
- daily rates between €34.00 and €66.00 depending on the host country;
- depending on location and availability, affordable accommodation in one of the institutes’ guest rooms may be available.
Eligibility
- Applications may be filed by highly qualified humanities and social science academics of any nationality (highest degree must be at least a Master, M.A., state examination, or German Diploma) who have already published and can present a research plan. In the case of applications by doctoral students, publications do not necessarily have to be available.
- Applications for projects related to research priorities pursued by the Foundation’s institutes/branches will take precedence.
- There is no age restriction for application.
Selection Criteria
The selection criteria are:
- Academic excellence
- Transnational and/or comparative research question
- Submitted project contributes to further academic qualification
Application
All application papers must be submitted in German or English. A complete application will comprise the following documents in one single pdf file:
- an academic CV;
- a detailed presentation of the intended research project (max.2000 words), stating the sources which justify the stay in the specific host countries or at the institutes;
- copies of certificates (examinations, PhD certificate);
- a list of publications (not mandatory for PhD students);
- a reference letter from an expert which should provide information on the applicant’s status and the progress of work and be sent by the reviewer by email ([email protected]) directly to the Max Weber Foundation’s central office;
- a letter confirming supervision by the host institution in Germany is mandatory only if a research stay in Germany is planned.
For more information, visit Gerald D. Feldman Travel Grants.
