1. First academic degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent), completed less than 12 years prior to the start of the fellowship (1. September 2012);
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. Two to 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.

Online application

Applications must be completed online. The completed application form including all the additional documents required must be submitted online by the closing date (15 December 2011). Click on the tab "Application package" to find additional information on all the documentation required and be able to access the online application procedure. Confirmation that your documents have been received will be sent to you as soon as you have submitted them.

Time schedule (application procedure and fellowship)

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that he or she has submitted all the necessary documents. Incomplete applications may be excluded from the selection procedure.

Your proposed host in Germany should send his/her confidential statement directly to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation by the closing date at the latest.

The applications will be reviewed and probably until Mid-March, an independent selection committee will select the candidates who will be invited to participate in a three-day selection meeting in Germany. This selection meeting is supposed to take place in the end of April, 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.

Online application

Application documents

• Guidelines for a complete application (PDF)
• Programme information (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)
• Application package as zip file (DOC/PDF/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

• Guidelines and information for International Climate Protection Fellows (PDF)
• Support during research stay 
• Climate Protection Fellows 2011/2012 in portrait (PDF)
• Climate Protection Fellows 2010/2011 in portrait (PDF)
• Interviews with Humboldtians during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-16) in Cancún, Mexico

Once a Humboldtian, always a 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.