DAAD Research Grants – Doctoral Programmes in Germany & Short-term Research Stays for PhD holders

DAAD research grants provide young foreign academics and scientists with an opportunity to carry out research and continue their education in Germany. For further funding opportunities by the DAAD see here.

1. Doctoral Funding

The aim of this grant programme is to support doctoral projects in Germany.

Who can apply?

Excellently-qualified young academics and scientists who have completed a Master's degree or Diplom, or in exceptional cases a Bachelor's degree at the latest by the time they begin their grant-supported research.

What can be funded?

Doctoral programmes at a state or state-recognised institution of higher education or a non-university research institute in Germany:

• individual projects under the supervision of a university teacher or academic adviser
• participation in a structured doctoral study programme

Duration of the funding

• a maximum of four years; the length of the grant is decided by a selection committee and depends on the project in question and the applicant's work schedule.
• Grants are initially awarded for a maximum of one year. Extensions depend on whether the selection committee considers the previous award period to have been successfully completed.
• For doctoral projects in Germany that require several years of research, research phases outside Germany can be supported if these are critical for the successful completion of the doctoral degree. Planned stays must be specified in the application in the work and time schedule and should not exceed a quarter of the anticipated total funding period.

Value

• Depending on academic level, monthly payments of: euros 850.- for graduates, euros 1,200.- for doctoral candidates
• Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover
• Travel allowance, unless these expenses are covered by the home country or another source of funding
• One-off research allowance

Under certain circumstances, grant holders completing an uninterrupted stay of over 6 months may receive the following additional benefits:

• monthly rent subsidy
• monthly allowance for accompanying family members

To enable grant holders to improve their language skills in preparation for their stay in Germany, DAAD offers the following services:

• Payment of course fees for the online language course "Deutsch-Uni Online (DUO)" (www.deutsch-uni.com) for six months after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter
• if necessary: Language course (2, 4 or 6 months) before the start of the research stay; the DAAD decides whether to fund the grant holder's participation and for how long depending on language skills and project. If a language course scholarship is granted and the working language at the host institute is German, participation is compulsory.
• Allowance for a personally chosen German language course during the grant period
• Reimbursement of the fees for the TestDaF test which has either been taken in the home country after receipt of the Scholarship Award Letter or in Germany before the end of the funding period
• As an alternative to the TestDaF for scholarship holders who have taken a language course beforehand: the fee for a DSH examination taken during the scholarship period may be reimbursed.

Selection

An independent selection committee consisting of specialist scientists reviews applications.

The most important selection criteria:

• a convincing and well-planned research project or course of continuing education
• academic achievements

Additional documents that prove academic suitability or provide information about extracurricular activities will also be considered in the assessment.

2. Research Stays for University Academics and Scientists

The aim of this particular programme is to support short-term research stays and thus promote the exchange of experience and networking amongst colleagues.

Who can apply?

University teachers and established academics and scientists who have usually completed a doctoral degree and work at a university or research institute in their home country.

Note:

Former holders of fellowships from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation are requested to contact first the Humboldt Foundation.

What can be funded?

• Research stays at state or state-recognised institutions of higher education or non-university research institutes in Germany. A research stay can also take place at several host institutions.
• Funding may only be claimed once within three years.
• Lecture tours or visits to congresses are not funded.

Duration of the funding

• One to three months; the length of the grant is decided by a selection committee and depends on the project in question and the applicant's work schedule.
• The grant is non-renewable.

Value

• Monthly payments of

  2,000 euros for assistant teachers, assistant professors and lecturers,

  2,150 euros for professors

• Travel allowance, unless these expenses are covered by the home country or another source of funding
• Other payments cannot be made.

Selection

An independent selection committee reviews applications.

The most important selection criteria are:

• academic achievements and recent publications which must be documented in the curriculum vitae and a list of publications
• a convincing and well-planned research project