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General
On the webpage of the respective sponsorship programme you will find both specific programme information and a link to register. Once you have registered you will be able to access the online application form which contains information on completing the form and various samples.
In order for us to be able to advise you on this point, please send your CV, including a publication list, either to one of the above colleagues responsible for the programme you are interested in or to info[at]avh.de. Please include information on the points listed under “Personalised advice” (below).
No, it is not possible to apply for several of the Humboldt Foundation’s sponsorship programmes at the same time. If you have received a rejection you may, however, apply for another programme provided that you fulfil the formal requirements for that programme.
The Humboldt Foundation explicitly welcomes and supports fellows who are accompanied by their marital partners and children. You will find more information under the respective programmes and under our information for women researchers.
If you have taken time out for childcare purposes, we will take this into account both with regard to your career stage and the evaluation of your academic record. Please note the information on the respective programme pages. If you have any other questions, please feel free to approach the contacts listed on the advisory page or send an email to info@avh.de.
You are free to choose any academic host you like, but if you apply you will need to find a suitable host yourself. Please take note of the information on the relevant programme pages. You will also find additional information in the FAQs corresponding to the specific programme.
Yes. The Philipp Schwartz Initiative enables universities and research institutions in Germany to host researchers at risk. Turn to the programme page for the Philipp Schwartz Initiative for further information. If you have a question, you can also contact schwartz-initiative[at]avh.de directly.
You can, moreover, also search for funding opportunities for researchers at risk through the Germany Section of the Scholars at Risk Network.
The Humboldt Foundation does not offer any sponsorship opportunities for studying or doing a doctorate – neither in Germany nor abroad.
For information on Studying in Germany you should contact the German Academic Exchange Service or Study in Germany. You will find relevant funding opportunities on the DAAD scholarship database. Information for students with disability can be found here.
On the topic of doing a doctorate in Germany, extensive information in English is available through Research in Germany. At PhDGermany you will find a database with doctoral positions in Germany.
You can also discover things worth knowing about Studying abroad through the German Academic Exchange Service. The DAAD scholarship database contains appropriate funding opportunities.
Unfortunately, we can only grant language fellowships to fellows who are already being sponsored by the Humboldt Foundation.
If you look on the EURAXESS Germany internet portal under language courses, you will, however, find plenty of information on where you can learn German in this country.
Unfortunately, we ourselves do not have anything to offer you. Instead, please follow up the following opportunities:
At EURAXESS Germany there is a worldwide job search option for academics who are looking for a position.
Information on work experience in Germany can be found on the relevant website of the German Academic Exchange Service, Study in Germany, the European Youth Portal and the Freie Universität Berlin Career Service.
Useful information on work experience abroad is summarised on the relevant webpages of the German Academic Exchange Service. The website weltwärts provides information on voluntary service.
Additional information for researchers going abroad
Usually, applicants need to hold German nationality. Exceptions are possible in certain cases, for example if you have been living in Germany for an extended period or you hold a permanent residence permit. You will find the precise regulations on the programme pages of the relevant programme (Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship Programme, JSPS Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers to Japan, NSTC (Taiwan) Research Fellowship). Please address any further questions to Ms Andrea Berg: andrea.berg[at]avh.de.
All members of the Humboldt Network who are permanently established abroad can act as hosts in the Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship Programme. They include
• all researchers sponsored by the Humboldt Foundation,
• all hosts who have already mentored a researcher sponsored by the Humboldt Foundation,
• all (former) members of the Humboldt Foundation’s selection committees,
• all participants in the Humboldt Foundation’s Frontiers of Research symposia,
• any recipient of the academic awards listed here who is based abroad.
Information on hosting in the JSPS and NSTC Research Fellowship Programmes can be found on the respective programme pages.
Hosts
Applicants choose their hosts themselves (exception: Henriette Herz Scouting Programme).
You are, however, most welcome to encourage interested researchers to apply for one of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s fellowships.
You will find additional information on the respective programme pages under “Information for hosts” and in our brochure for hosts (PDF, in German only).
Yes, provided you can confirm that research positions will be made available. The applications will be reviewed separately.
You can host German fellows abroad in the context of the Feodor Lynen Fellowship if you are a member of the Humboldt Network. This refers to
• all researchers sponsored by the Humboldt Foundation,
• all hosts who have already mentored a researcher sponsored by the Humboldt Foundation,
• all (former) members of the Humboldt Foundation’s selection committees,
• all participants in the Humboldt Foundation’s Frontiers of Research symposia,
• any recipient of the academic awards listed here who is based abroad.
The Philipp Schwartz Initiative enables universities and research institutions in Germany to host researchers at risk. Turn to the programme page for the Philipp Schwartz Initiative for further information. If you have a question, you can also contact schwartz-initiative@avh.de directly.
Personalised advice
In order for us to be able to offer you the best possible advice, it would be helpful if you could send us a full CV including the following information:
- date of birth
- nationality
- gender
- full name
- your academic field according to the Humboldt Foundation’s Research Area Index (PDF) (the code is sufficient)
- if you hold a doctorate: the exact date (dd/mm/yyyy) of your doctorate (the date of the final academic step required to complete your doctorate, e.g. defence of thesis, final oral examination, should be given)
- additional academic and professional degrees (Bachelor’s, Master’s, LLM, MBA etc.), stating the precise starting and completion dates (dd/mm/yyyy)
- periods spent abroad (including periods spent in Germany), stating the precise starting and completion dates (dd/mm/yyyy)
- previous employment, stating the precise starting and completion dates (dd/mm/yyyy)
- current employment and position, stating the precise starting and completion dates (dd/mm/yyyy)
- if existent: your list of publications (in line with our "publication list template" (PDF))
- If you have children, inform us of their dates of birth; if you have interrupted your academic career for childcare purposes, state the precise periods, including starting and completion dates (dd/mm/yyyy); if you have worked part-time, state the percentage of working time.
- Please indicate all periods (dd/mm/yyyy) 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. The proportionate offsetting of such career breaks is also possible.