1. First academic degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent), completed less than 12 years prior to the start of the fellowship (1 September 2011);
2. A further academic or professional qualification (Master’s, PhD, LL.M., MBA etc.) or extensive professional experience in a leadership role (at least 48 months at the time of application) in the field of climate protection and resource conservation;  
3. Initial practical experience (at least 12 months at the time of application) through involvement in projects related to climate protection and resource conservation (possibly already during studies); 
4. Leadership potential demonstrated by initial experience in leadership positions and/or appropriate references (see no. 8);
5. A detailed statement by a host in Germany, including a confirmation of support; details of the proposed project must be discussed with the prospective host prior to application; 
6. Citizenship of a non-European threshold or developing country (see list of countries) which is also the fellow’s habitual abode and place of work;
7. Very good knowledge of English and/or German, documented by appropriate language certificates;
8. Three expert references by individuals qualified to comment on the candidate’s professional, personal and, if applicable, academic eligibility and his / her leadership potential.

Potential applicants who have spent more than six months in Germany or more than 12 months in a country that is not on the list of countries at the time of or shortly before application should contact the Humboldt Foundation (info(at)avh.de) before submitting an application as they may be ineligible on formal grounds.

Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung, Selection Department,
Jean-Paul-Str. 12, 53173 Bonn, Germany

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all the necessary documents have been submitted. The confidential statement from the proposed host in Germany should be sent by him or her to the Humboldt Foundation directly by the closing date at the latest. Upon receipt of the application package, applicants will be sent a confirmation. Applications can only be processed if they are complete and arrive by the closing date. It may not be possible to include late submissions or incomplete applications in the selection procedure.

In order to ensure the fastest communication, an email address should be provided that is checked by the applicant regularly.

The applications will be reviewed and probably until the beginning of April, an independent selection committee will select candidates, who will be invited to participate in a selection meeting in Germany lasting several days. This selection meeting will probably take place in mid-May, and applicants will then be given the opportunity to outline their project to the selection committee and the other applicants as well as to attend individual interviews held by the selection committee. At the end of the meeting the selection results will be announced. Further information on the selection procedure can be found in the FAQs on the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation's website.

• Complete application package (DOC/PDF/RTF)

Specifically

• Programme information (PDF)
• Application form and guidelines (DOC)
• Research area index (PDF)
• List of questions for the host's statement and confirmation that project facilities are available (DOC)
• List of questions for expert reviewers (PDF)
• German and English language certificate (RTF)

One of our hallmarks is the degree of support we seek to provide for every single fellow. This is why we offer you extra benefits in addition to the monthly research fellowship: from invitations to events, via language courses to family allowances.

Further information

• Support during research stay 
• Climate Protection Fellows 2010/2011 in portrait (PDF)

Once an Humboldtian, always an Humboldtian: We maintain close contacts to our fellows after their stay in Germany has come to an end. Plans are under way for integrating the alumni of the International Climate Protection Fellowship Programme into the world-wide Humboldt Network.