Greetings,
We are excited to share this fellowship opportunity from the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung (Foundation). The Humboldt Research Fellowship program allows outstanding scientists and scholars to spend extended periods of time conducting research in Germany. More information about the award can be found in the synopsis and links below. For a full list of currently open opportunities that have been announced through our office, please visit our new Current Opportunities web page. As a reminder, our Research Development team is available to provide proposal development support to FAS ladder faculty.
- OSP Deadline: Not applicable for awards made to individuals
- Sponsor Deadline: The next call will open on July 15, 2026. Once a call has reached the maximum number (currently 800 applications), the round will close. There will be three calls for applications annually (July, November, and March), each opening approximately eight months before a corresponding selection meeting.
- Award Amount:
- Experienced Researchers will receive a monthly stipend of 3,600 EUR for 6-18 months, plus a monthly mobility allowance and subsidy towards the cost of medical and liability insurance.
- Travel expenses and an initial lump sum payment are also provided.
- The duration of the fellowship may be divided into a maximum of three visits, with each visit lasting at least three months. See sponsorship information online for additional details.
- A family allowance for accompanying partners and/or children under 18 will be granted if they are staying in Germany for at least three months.
- Hosts in Germany can apply for an allowance for research costs to the value of 800 EUR per month (natural sciences, life sciences, and engineering) or 500 EUR (humanities and social sciences).
Program Overview
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables highly-qualified scientists and scholars from abroad to spend extended periods of research in Germany. The Fellow's research project is carried out in cooperation with an academic host at a German research institution. Candidates choose their own topic of research and their host in Germany. Details of the research project including information on the intended duration of the fellowship and division of visits, if applicable, must be agreed with the intended host before applying. Any researcher working at a university or research institution in Germany who offers to make research facilities available for the research stay can serve as a host. Under certain conditions, research fellows can conduct research outside Germany during the sponsorship period, if this is necessary for the implementation of their research.
Apart from sponsoring international science, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation aims to develop a personal relationship between researchers from all countries and disciplines and Germany itself. This happens not only in laboratories and libraries, but in everyday life: through contacts with the people of the country. In order to intensify these contacts, the Foundation sponsors German courses for research fellows and their partners. In addition, a network meeting, a study tour, and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s annual meeting provide opportunities to convene and network with other Humboldtians as well as Foundation staff.
Eligibility Criteria
- Scientists and scholars from all disciplines and countries, who hold a doctorate or comparable academic degree, are eligible.
- Candidates may apply in the "Experienced Researcher" category if they are within twelve years of completing their doctorate.
- Candidates must have their own clearly defined academic profile and hold employment in a leadership role appropriate to their career level. Experienced Researchers are typically working at the level of Assistant Professor or have a record of several years of independent academic work.
- Experienced Researchers must have previously published papers on which they acted as thematic lead.
- Necessary language skills:
- Humanities or social sciences and medicine: good knowledge of German if it is necessary to carry out the research successfully; otherwise a good knowledge of English.
- Natural sciences and engineering: good knowledge of German or English.
- Eligible applicants will have spent no more than 90 days in Germany within the 18 months before their application is received by the Foundation. Any person who, regardless of their place of residence, has supported themselves for more than 90 days out of the last 18 months with financing from German institutions or who has worked on a doctoral project at an institution in Germany is not eligible to apply.
- Potential applicants of German nationality are eligible provided that their regular place of work and residence has been located abroad on the assumption of permanence for at least five years. See the program's FAQs for more information about the program's eligibility requirements.
- Any person who has already been sponsored by the Humboldt Foundation in the form of a research fellowship or research award is not eligible to apply.
Application Materials
- CV (two pages max)
- Research outline (five pages max)
- Complete list of publications (cf. instructions and sample list, PDF)
- List of (at least one and up to three) selected key recent publications on which the candidate acted as thematic lead (cf. instructions and sample list, PDF)
- Key publications
- Doctoral certificate or proof that the doctorate has been completed successfully
- 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
- Two expert reviews from collaborative partners and/or academics from the candidate's own institute or others. Please note these documents can only be uploaded in a secure area of the application portal by the expert reviewers themselves. Candidates will not be able to submit their application until these documents are uploaded, if the portal is open at that time.
- Detailed statement from the host in Germany, as well as a confirmation of research facilities
Selection Criteria
- Candidate's academic record and academic performance to date
- Quality of key publications specified in the application
- Originality and innovation potential of the proposed research project
- Applicant’s future potential
Additional details about the selection process are available on the Fellowship program's website.
Additional Information and Resources
Complete program information can be found in the Guidelines and Information for Research Fellowships of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Candidates can also review a list of recent fellows.
The completed application form, including the required attachments, should be submitted online at least four to seven months ahead of the prospective selection date. For the next round, applications can be initiated after the call opens on July 15. Approximately 20-25% of the applications received in a given round are expected to be approved.
Before the start of the fellowship, the Humboldt Foundation provides an intensive language course in Germany lasting two or four months (accompanying partners may also attend). The language course is not part of the research fellowship term, and is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. The intensive German language course can only be taken immediately prior to the start of the research fellowship. If this is not possible, Fellows may apply for funds to attend evening classes during the research fellowship. If a Fellow is traveling to Germany from abroad, the earliest they may begin the fellowship period is usually two months (three months if a visa is needed) after their application has been approved by the Selection Committee. If a Fellow is already in Germany, the earliest they can start is the beginning of the following month. The research fellowship must be used within 36 months of commencement, or within 48 months if it is extended.
Questions from FAS or SEAS faculty about this opportunity may be directed to research_development@fas.harvard.edu. |
