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Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdoctoral and experienced researchers
The Humboldt Research Fellowship for researchers of all nationalities and research areas: We support you with your research in Germany.
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 our diverse sponsorship portfolio.
Looking ahead to the upcoming meetings of the selection committee, we expect that 20 – 25% of the applications received will be approved.
- Programme information for postdocs (PDF, 131 KB)
- Programme information for experienced researchers (PDF, 122 KB)
- Information for hosts
- Information for expert reviewers
- Information for independent peer reviewers
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Researchers from developing and emerging countries whose research contributes to sustainable development should apply for a Georg Forster Research Fellowship , which is equivalent to a Humboldt Research Fellowship. Should your programme search yield both Fellowships, please use the Programme Compass for further guidance. It the best possible support when selecting the programme that corresponds most closely to your profile. Researchers from Brazil can only apply for a CAPES-Humboldt Research Fellowship .
What we offer
The Humboldt Research Fellowship enables you to conduct your own research at various stages of your career in collaboration with a host at a German research institution of your choice. Hosts may apply for a subsidy towards research costs.
- Information on sponsorship during the research stay
- Information on sponsorship for alumni abroad
Postdocs
Benefit from research sponsorship in Germany at the beginning of your academic career. The Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers enables you to conduct research in Germany. The monthly fellowship amount is €2,670. Fellowships may last from 6 to 24 months.
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 €3,170. 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, 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 marital partner will be able to attend an intensive language course.
Further financial support, including family benefits for children and marital partners, subsidies for private full health insurance and allowances for travel expenses, is also available.
Alumni programmes
We stay in contact even after your research stay has come to an end. Our 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.
You must meet the following criteria
The Humboldt Research Fellowship addresses post-doctoral researchers with above-average qualifications from across the globe – regardless of their field.
Postdocs
Did you complete your doctorate – or equivalent academic qualification – during the last four years? Or are you within six months of completing your doctorate and can already provide a written summary of your findings? Have you been published in academic journals and by publishing houses that are reviewed according to international standards? If so, and if you fulfil the criteria under the “What is required of you” section, apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers.
Experienced researchers
Did you complete your doctorate – or equivalent academic qualification – during the last twelve years? Is your academic profile substantiated by an extensive list of publications in academic journals and by publishing houses that are reviewed according to international standards? If so, and if you fulfil the criteria under the “What is required of you” section, apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship for experienced researchers.
If a doctorate in your field or country of origin is not possible or uncommon, you can still apply up to 16 years after completing your master’s or other postgraduate degree provided that you have a publication record commensurate with your career level.
What is required of you
You must fulfil the following criteria to successfully apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship.
Nationality
You are not 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. – see FAQs).
Stay
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 we can only assess your eligibility and formally accept your application after it has been submitted.
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, and will compile a detailed review for you.
Expert reviews
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.
You must abide by the rules of good scientific practice (PDF) and the principles of scientific ethics. The foundation provides information on dealing with generative AI in the selection area .
You may not apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship if you have already received sponsorship from the Humboldt Foundation. In such cases, our alumni programmes are open to you.
Is the Humboldt Research Fellowship not the most suitable fellowship for you? Use our Programme Search to find the sponsorship that fits your personal career or contact us for individual advice.
- Programme Search
- Individual advice
How to apply
If you would like to apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship, please submit the necessary documents to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation online only.
If you have any doubts or questions, please contact us (info[at]avh.de ) before submitting your application. We are happy to help.
Apply online
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What we need from you
Please 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 , 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.
As soon as we have received your online application, we will send you written confirmation by email. After reviewing your documents, we will notify you of the expected selection date.
Deadlines
The Selection Committee responsible for reviewing applications to this programme meets every March, July and November. Please send your completed application form, including any additional documents required, well in advance of the desired selection date. Applications are usually processed within four to eight months. Incomplete or inaccurate applications take longer to process and often have to be postponed to a later Selection Committee meeting.
The deadline for meeting certain formal conditions – in particular those relating to limitations on career stages and previous stays in Germany – is the date on which we receive your application.
If your application is successful, you may begin your fellowship between two and twelve months after being selected.
If your application is unsuccessful, we may provide you with the reasons for our decision. Please request this information informally by email. You and your host will receive a letter with the outcome of your application approximately five weeks after the decision is made. Decisions cannot be appealed. You can, however, re-apply if you significantly improve crucial aspects of the rejected application. In the case of unanimously rejected applications, you must unfortunately wait a minimum of 18 months before re-applying.
The selection procedure
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| Application | Processing 4-6 weeks | Review process approx. 4 months | Selection Feb./Mar., June/July, Oct./Nov. |
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Hint
In March 2022, the Humboldt Foundation launched the pilot phase of a new, digital, interactive review process. Whilst the previous procedure usually involved the submission of two independent specialist reviews for each application, the peer-circle process now being tested is based on a group of six to ten reviewers comparing and discussing several applications on a protected platform. During the pilot phase, applications for Humboldt Research Fellowships in inorganic chemistry, materials science, zoology and modern history will be reviewed using the peer-circle process. Successively, the procedure will be applied to other research areas, too.
In 2022, the peer-circle process was evaluated by an independent academic. The results of the evaluation can be found here .
The decision to award research fellowships is taken by a selection committee consisting of 60–70 researchers from various fields. The committee’s decision is usually based on two independent peer reviews that evaluate your personal academic credentials. The assessment is based on the following selection criteria, depending on your career level:
- academic career and academic record to date (mobility, determination, thematic scope, academic productivity)
- quality of the key publications named in the application (originality, innovativeness, evaluation of your own contributions to publications involving several authors)
- originality and innovative potential of your proposed research (significance for the further development of the subject area, convincing selection of scientific methods, potential for scientific development, clear focus and feasibility within the requested sponsorship period, viability at the host institute)
- your future potential (academic potential, personal development, career prospects, e.g. professorial appointment)
- your independent research profile (for experienced researchers)
All the best for your application!
- Members of the Selection Committee
Questions & answers
Application requirements
I have worked in an English-speaking country for several years. Do I need an English language certificate?
No, an English language certificate is not required.
It is either not customary or not possible to take a doctorate in my country of origin. Can I apply?
You can apply if you can prove that your academic performance is equivalent to a Ph.D., e.g. by academic publications in internationally reviewed journals and for publishing houses. Should this be the case, you may apply to the programme for experienced researchers, however, only until up to 16 years after you obtained your first university degree (Master's degree, Diploma, etc.). It is, furthermore, possible to apply to the programme for experienced researchers if you hold an academic position that is equivalent to or higher than Associate Professor / Senior Lecturer / Reader etc., regardless of the date of your first university degree, within the first twelve years of working in this position. Please send us your CV and a list of your publications before you apply so we can advise you (info[at]avh.de ).
Can I apply before I have completed my doctorate?
You may apply if you will complete your doctorate within the next six months. If selected, you must complete your doctorate before commencing the research fellowship. Please note that your application will be rejected for formal reasons if your dissertation has not been published and you do not have any further academic publications at the time of application.
What determines the date of a doctorate?
The relevant date is that of completing the final academic part of the doctoral process (e.g., defence of thesis, doctoral viva). This date will usually be included on your doctoral certificate alongside the date of issue. The key date for calculating the period following your doctorate is the date on which your application is received by the Humboldt Foundation.
Which date is valid if I have several doctorates?
In the case of multiple doctorates, the effective date is that of the first doctoral degree (PhD/CSc.).
My doctorate was completed more than four years ago. Can I apply for a fellowship for postdoctoral researchers?
We cannot consider your application for a fellowship for postdoctoral researchers if your doctorate was completed more than four years ago. In case you already have a clearly recognisable own research profile and, as a rule, working at the level of at least assistant professor or junior research group leader, or have a record of several years of independent scientific work, you can apply for a fellowship for experienced researchers. If you have passed the deadline, an exception may be made in well-founded cases (e.g. recognition of parental leave). Please send us your CV and a list of your publications before you apply so we can advise you (info[at]avh.de ).
I obtained my doctorate more than twelve years ago. Can I still apply for a fellowship for experienced researchers?
We cannot consider your application if you obtained your doctorate more than twelve years ago. If your doctorate is older than this, an exception may be made in well-founded cases (e.g. recognition of parental leave). Please send us your CV and a list of your publications before you apply so we can advise you (info[at]avh.de ).
My doctorate was completed less than four years ago. Can I apply for a fellowship for experienced researchers?
Yes. You should, however, already have your own clearly recognisable research profile and, as a rule, be working at the level of at least assistant professor or junior research group leader, or have a record of several years of independent scientific work.
How will child-rearing periods be considered in the application process?
Periods in which you interrupted your academic activities after completing your doctorate in order to rear children may be taken into account as career breaks after examination. The proportionate offsetting of such periods is also possible. Please always indicate child-rearing periods when filling in our application form.
Mothers can claim two extra years for each child born after their PhD plus any further verifiable parenting periods. Fathers and other persons responsible for raising children are only credited with verifiable parenting periods.
In general, postdoctoral researchers may apply up to four years, and experienced researchers up to twelve years after completing their doctorates. Recognized child-rearing periods may correspondingly extend these maximum timeframes during which the submission of applications is possible. The extension is limited to 6 years.
Please contact info[at]avh.de if you have any questions.
Which other career breaks are considered in the application process?
Periods in which you interrupted your academic activities after completing your doctorate in order to perform military or alternative service, to care for close relatives, due to long-term illness, or, for example, to care for children or due to the closure of institutes during a lockdown imposed to control an epidemic may be taken into account as career breaks after examination. The proportionate offsetting of such career breaks is also possible. Please always indicate career breaks when filling in our application form.
Job hunting, unemployment and non-academic employment do not count as career breaks.
In general, postdoctoral researchers may apply up to four years, and experienced researchers up to twelve years after completing their doctorates. Recognized career breaks may correspondingly extend these maximum timeframes during which the submission of applications is possible. The extension is limited to 6 years.
Please contact info[at]avh.de if you have any questions.
Are child-rearing periods taken into account in the assessment of academic achievements?
Yes, because the assessment of academic achievements is always made on an individual basis at the Humboldt Foundation. Therefore, when filling in the application form, please specify all periods in which you partially or completely interrupted your academic activities after finishing your doctorate in order to rear children.
The voluntary disclosure of private circumstances may help increase equal opportunities during the selection process. The consideration of your personal circumstances allows for a fairer assessment of your academic achievements.
Please contact info[at]avh.de if you have any questions.
Are other career breaks taken into account in the assessment of academic achievements?
Yes, because the assessment of academic achievements is always made on an individual basis at the Humboldt Foundation. Therefore, when filling in the application form, please specify all periods in which you partially or completely interrupted your academic activities after finishing your doctorate in order to perform military or alternative service, to care for close relatives, due to long-term illness, or, for example, to care for children or due to the closure of institutes during a lockdown imposed to control an epidemic.
Job hunting, unemployment and non-academic employment do not count as career breaks.
The voluntary disclosure of private circumstances may help increase equal opportunities during the selection process. The consideration of your personal circumstances allows for a fairer assessment of your academic achievements.
Please contact info[at]avh.de if you have any questions.
I am from a developing/transition country. Should I apply for a Humboldt or Georg Forster Research Fellowship?
If your primary life focus (nationality and permanent residence) is in a developing or transition country (see list of countries ) and your research is of relevance for that country’s (or region’s) further development (see examples below), we recommend that you apply for a George Forster Research Fellowship. A persuasive presentation of your work’s relevance for development in your region is one of the key criteria used when your application is evaluated. For projects that would be classified as basic research, we recommend applying for a Humboldt Research Fellowship.
Examples of applications with relevance to development:
Example 1: Food security among children in Nigeria
Foodstuffs that are contaminated with mycotoxins, the toxic metabolic substances produced by fungi, present a challenge for the people of Nigeria. As part of a Georg Forster Research Fellowship, one Humboldtian examined with the help of biomonitoring the degree to which Nigerian children and adolescents are exposed to mycotoxins in foodstuffs. In this way she is striving to improve the food safety of the Nigerian people.
Example 2: Climate change and stressed plants
Plants emit a number of volatile organic compounds in response to heat and drought stress. During her guest visit in Germany, a Latin American Humboldtian studied the impact these emissions have on air quality and changes in the climate. Her findings were used to develop sustainable adaptation and mitigation strategies tailored to the region she comes from. These findings offer political stakeholders a scientifically proven basis for making decisions.
Example 3: Improved tax enforcement through international co-operation
Audits are a tried and tested tool in the fight against tax evasion. In the case of transnational audits, joint tax audits can be conducted by international teams. During her Georg Forster research stay in Germany, one Humboldtian examined the advantages of joint tax audits with the aim of formulating recommendations for action to develop and improve international tax law. By doing so, the Moldavian hopes to make a contribution to her country’s integration into international tax law structures.
Example 4: Water reservoirs
Siltation of water reservoirs is a major problem for Iran’s water supply. One Iranian Humboldtian dedicated his stay in Germany to working on methods to reduce sedimentation in water bodies which he can now transfer to his country of origin thanks to his existing contacts and good local connections.
Example 5: Resource use
A Burmese Humboldtian focused on the extraction of mineral resources in Myanmar. Thanks to his Georg Forster Fellowship he was able to expand his raw materials expertise as one of the only few excellent Burmese economic geologists. He is now making valuable contributions to the geoscience community in his country of origin and is advancing sustainable resource development and use there.
The following examples were not accepted by the Georg Forster Fellowship Programme because they have little relevance to development:
Example 1: Researching neurodegenerative diseases
Worldwide neurodegenerative diseases pose an enormous problem for people suffering from them. Studying and designing possible treatment methods for such diseases requires costly equipment. One applicant planned to increase his knowledge of this type of technology and how to use it. It was not, however, apparent from his application how the skills he aimed to acquire in Germany could be put to practical use without having corresponding infrastructure in his native country.
Example 2: Further development of cosmological models
One applicant sought to further develop cosmological models (theoretical physics) with her research project. She convincingly demonstrated that the project would offer added value for the further development of her field. However, the review of her application did not identify any relevance for the social, economic and/or political development of her native country / region.
Do I need to know German in order to apply?
English or German is my native language. Do I have to submit a language certificate proving my proficiency?
No, a language certificate is not required.
I'm a physician (MD / Dr. med.). Are there any special admission requirements?
You are eligible to apply if you hold a research doctorate or a comparable academic degree.
In addition, please read our Admission Questionnaire for Physicians (MD / Dr. med.) for detailed information.
If you have several research doctorates, the above mentioned FAQ on the subject of "several doctorates" applies.
Which (virtual) mobility rules apply with regard to Germany?
The aim of the programme is to enable highly qualified academics from abroad to come to Germany to conduct a research stay here. Applicants should therefore be living and/or working outside Germany at the time of application.
Eligible applicants must have lived outside Germany for a minimum of 12 months in total in the 18-month period prior to submission of the application. Any time spent in Germany within those 18 months is taken in to account, regardless of duration or reason.
Any person who, regardless of their country of residence, has supported themselves for more than six out of the last 18 months with financing from a German institution or who has worked on a doctoral project at an institution in Germany in the last 18 months is not eligible to apply.
If you have arrived in Germany recently you should submit your application as soon as possible, as we can only assess your eligibility and formally accept your application after it has been submitted.
German citizens and/or educational residents* (see following FAQ) are generally ineligible to apply if they have been in Germany within the last 18 months prior to receipt of their application or are already in Germany at the time of applying.
If in doubt, please contact us before submitting your application so we can advise you (info[at]avh.de ).
* Educational residents are individuals who have completed their school education and a university degree, or a university degree and their doctorate in Germany.
Can I apply from abroad as a German citizen/educational resident?
The aim of the programme is to enable highly qualified academics from abroad to come to Germany to conduct a research stay here. German citizens/educational residents* are thus not the target group of this funding programme. You are however eligible to apply if you are permanently working abroad and intend to return abroad immediately following the requested research stay.
We consider you to be permanently established in a foreign country if you have unquestionably been living and working abroad
German citizens and/or educational residents* are generally ineligible to apply if they have been in Germany within the last 18 months prior to receipt of their application or are already in Germany at the time of applying.
If you intend to apply in order to prepare your permanent return to Germany, we recommend that you instead apply to the “Temporary Positions” programme of the DFG.
If in doubt, we would ask to send us only your complete CV and a list of your publications, so that we can advise you. Please state which criterion applies to you (info[at]avh.de ).
* Educational residents are individuals who have completed their school education and a university degree, or a university degree and their doctorate in Germany.
Academic host
Who can be my academic host?
Any researcher working at a university or research institution in Germany who offers to make research facilities available for the research stay may act as your host.
If you have already worked in Germany for a longer period of time (12 months or more) you should look for a new academic environment for another guest stay in Germany. Applications that involve returning to the supervisor of the doctoral thesis or to the mentor of a longer postdoctoral stay are generally rejected by the Selection Committee on the basis of a lack of further independent academic development.
Individuals with whom you are in a close personal (marriage or civil partnership) or familial (parents, siblings, children) relationship cannot be selected as hosts.
How can I find an academic host?
You are free to choose your own academic host. The Humboldt Foundation does not provide any direct support in finding a host.
We would like to draw your attention to the following search engines for hosts and research institutes:
- Institutes at German universities and other research institutions
Searchable Portal (GERiT) of the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) - Research facilities, disciplines and research in Germany (only in German)
Research portal of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) - Research Map
Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK) - Research facilities, researchers and projects of the DFG in Germany and worldwide
GEPRIS - Database of the German Research Foundation - Research facilities, disciplines and researchers in Germany and worldwide
World of Learning - KISSWIN
Communication and information platform on career paths and funding opportunities for junior academics
We would also like to draw your attention to the open access part of the Network Online . This database features a large proportion of the Foundation's more than 25,000 academics sponsored worldwide. Here you can search for names, disciplines and keywords.
Can I conduct my research with two academic hosts?
Yes. If the hosts work at different research institutes, they must each provide a host's statement and confirmation that research facilities can be made available.
Will my host institute receive any additional funds for the costs it incurs in connection with my research stay?
In general the host institute will receive an allowance for research costs of €800 per month for research in the field of natural sciences and engineering, and €500 for research in the field of humanities or social sciences.
Please see the respective FAQ of the Department Sponsorship and Network.
Preparation/Planning
Are there deadlines for submitting applications?
There is no closing date for submitting applications. Applications are processed as part of an ongoing procedure. As soon as we have received your complete application we shall forward it to independent peer reviewers. Their written evaluations will then be presented to the selection committee at the next selection meeting at which a decision will be made.
Please note that you can submit your application only after your host and your expert reviewers have uploaded all necessary documents. The date used to determine whether the applicant meets certain formal requirements, such as career stage limitations and stays in Germany, is the date on which the Humboldt Foundation receives the respective application.
Selection committee meetings take place three times a year, in March, July and November. Applications should be submitted at least four to seven months ahead of the prospective selection meeting.
A graphic display of the complete application process can be found above on this page.
Can I apply to several Humboldt Foundation fellowship programmes at the same time, or can I apply for a Humboldt Fellowship and the Sofja Kovalevskaja Award at the same time if I fulfil the formal requirements?
No, it is not possible to apply to several fellowship programmes or the Sofja Kovalevskaja Award programme concurrently. Should you be rejected by any of them, you may, however, apply to any other programme as long as you fulfil the formal requirements.
Can I apply for a fellowship from another institution at the same time I submit my application to the Humboldt Foundation?
On principle, it is possible to file parallel applications. You must, however, indicate this on the application form and inform us immediately of any other applications you submit and any other sponsorship decisions that occur while we are considering your application.
Can I do part of my research work abroad?
If it is necessary for the success of the project, fellows may conduct research at research institutions in other parts of Europe during the fellowship period (excepting their country of origin). As a rule, the total length of your Europe Research Stay may not exceed 25 per cent of the projected total duration of sponsorship. Furthermore, if the fellowship is divided up into several stays (experienced researchers), the duration of the Europe Research Stay may on principle not exceed half the duration of the respective fellowship period. Plans for research stays may already be included in your research
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