Coronavirus-Pandemic: FAQ

In the coming months I had planned to embark on my research fellowship in Germany. Will this now be possible?

Since the beginning of the pandemic, many international travel restrictions have been introduced that may change at any time.

The Foundation appeals to all sponsorship recipients to carefully check the information available for their home country or country of residence, to monitor developments and potential regulations regarding behaviour after arriving in Germany (keyword: quarantine). Information is available from the German embassies and consulates in your home country or country of residence. The website of the Federal Foreign Office provides information on the regulations that are generally in force (https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service). Unfortunately, the Foundation cannot make statements on whether an individual will be allowed to enter the country. The information issued by the German authorities prevails.

You have the following options:

I. Begin of the Research Fellowship as planned:
If in spite of the current restrictions your entry to Germany is possible and your scientific research can commence, then you can start your research stay as planned. If necessary, you can begin the research fellowship working from your residence in Germany and make adjustments to your research project as needed. Please consult with your host to clarify these matters.

II. Research Fellowship begin at current place of residence:
If you are unable to enter Germany, or if other pandemic-related reasons speak against entering the country, we encourage you to begin your research fellowship in the framework of pandemic-related special regulations in your country of residence.
Conditions:
-    you do not pursue any additional full-time work,
-    you can conduct your research from home in the country in which you are residing,
-    your host is in agreement with remote cooperation and is able to involve you appropriately in joint research at the host institute.
 
Please note that the fellowship payments will be made without the additional benefits. Additional earnings will be deducted from the monthly fellowship payment.

III. Postponement of the research fellowship:
If you are unable to conduct your research at the host institute, as planned, for an extended period, then the beginning of your fellowship can with the agreement of your host be postponed to a later date. Especially shorter research stays can, where possible and useful, be postponed. In view of the budgetary planning we ask, however, that the research fellowship begin, if at all possible, in the same year.

Please inform your contact person at the Foundation about your plans at the earliest opportunity. You will then receive further information on how to proceed in your particular case.

You had a renewed research stay in the context of the alumni sponsorship of the Foundation planned? You can find information regarding the foundation’s provisions in the section „Ich habe Fragen zur Alumniförderung der Stiftung“.

The Foundation advises all fellows whose research has been impacted by the current situation to make full use of the opportunities for extending the research fellowship described in the “Guidelines and Information for Research Fellows” (Chapters A.1.4 and A.3.6.3).

Unfortunately, an additional extension beyond this is usually not possible.

During the sponsorship period so called "downtime costs" caused by the coronavirus pandemic can be claimed. In this case we ask you to explain and document these costs in the report on the use of funds for 2022.

Should there be additional funding needs towards the end of the research or cooperation project due to the coronavirus pandemic, you can apply for additional funds to complete your research or cooperation project at the end of the funding period.

Please reach out to your personal contact person at the Foundation if you have specific questions regarding your sponsorship in the current situation.

Fellows who cannot leave the country due to travel restrictions or other official rulings at home or abroad and who are therefore forced to remain in Germany until further notice can count on support from the Foundation. If this happens to you, please turn to your contact person at the Foundation.

The Foundation advises all fellows whose projects have been impacted by the current situation to make full use of the opportunities for extending the International Climate Protection Fellowship described in the “Guidelines and Information for International Climate Protection Fellows ” (Chapters A.1.3 and A.3.5.3.2).

Unfortunately, an additional extension beyond this is usually not possible.

Your Climate Protection Fellowship will begin on 1 March 2023 in Bonn in Germany. The preparatory German course takes place in January and February as an online course in your home country. You will find further information on the schedule and necessary adjustments to programme events in the award documents and the fellowship guidelines.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, many international travel restrictions have been introduced that may change at any time.

We ask you to carefully check the information available for your home country or country of residence, and to monitor developments and potential regulations regarding behaviour after arriving in Germany (keyword: quarantine). Information is available from the German embassies and consulates in your home country or country of residence. The website of the Federal Foreign Office provides information on the regulations that are generally in force (https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service). Unfortunately, the Foundation cannot make statements on whether an individual will be allowed to enter the country. The information issued by the German authorities prevails.

Should you not be able to enter Germany in March 2023 due to travel restrictions or should other pandemic-related reasons speak against entering the country, you may initially begin your International Climate Protection Fellowship in your home country or country of residence in the framework of pandemic-related special regulations, provided that you do not pursue any additional full-time work, that you can start your project remotely in the country in which you are staying, and that your host is in agreement with remote cooperation and is able to involve you appropriately in joint research or activities at the host institute. In order to utilise the special regulations to start your International Climate Protection Fellowship in your home country or country of residence, you may send an informal application to the Foundation.

Please get in touch with your contact person at the Foundation.