FAQ for Climate Protection Fellows

Our guidelines (PDF) offer a checklist with all the important steps.
We should also like to draw your attention to the web portal EURAXESS Germany. Under Daily life you will find general information regarding your stay in Germany.

Our guidelines (PDF) offer a checklist with all the important steps.

Finding accommodation in Germany is often difficult and time-consuming. The housing situation varies considerably according to region and the availability of accommodation is very limited in some areas. Thus the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation strongly recommends fellows to address the question of accommodation, preferably in writing, with host institutions in Germany and the Foreign Students’ Advisory Offices, International Offices or Welcome Centres directly, well before arrival. The appropriate form (DOC) is available on the Foundation's website.
Fellows must state clearly how many family members will accompany them to Germany and during which period of time. Fellows should take into account that up to 40% of the monthly fellowship goes toward renting accommodation in Germany. To make it easier for Fellows to find accommodation, particularly during the initial period of the stay in Germany, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation strongly recommends that fellows who wish to come to Germany with their families should first travel alone and only send for their families when they have found adequate accommodation.
Please also see the information under Accommodation in the web portal EURAXESS Germany.

You will find the respective information under Childcare and schools in the web portal EURAXESS Germany.

You will find the respective information under Childcare and schools in the web portal EURAXESS Germany.
Please note that children are not permitted to participate in the language course in Bonn or the introductory seminar. Costs for appropriate childcare and accommodation must be borne by the fellows themselves. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation recommends fellows to wait until after the language course and the introductory seminar before bringing their children to Germany at the beginning of their stay at the host institute. If at all possible, accommodation near the host institution should be found before the family enters Germany.

From the very first day, International Climate Protection fellows and accompanying family members must be covered by medical insurance providing adequate coverage in Germany for the entire duration of their stay in Germany. For detailed information, please refer to our guidelines (B.10.) (PDF) and to the information on our website.
Please also see the information under Health insurance in the the web portal EURAXESS Germany.

The amount of the fellowship is €2,150, €2,450 or €2,750 per month. The fellowship amount includes a mobility allowance (cf. guidelines A.2.4. (PDF)) and a subsidy towards the cost of medical and liability insurance (cf. guidelines A.2.7. (PDF)). Depending on the funds available, the size of the monthly fellowship reflects, in particular, the fellow's academic and professional qualification and status as well as the professional experience. Decisions on the amount are made by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

The fellowship amount includes a mobility allowance (cf. guidelines A.2.4. (PDF)) and a subsidy towards the cost of medical and liability insurance (cf. guidelines A.2.7. (PDF)).

During the fellowship (not during the language course) fellows receive a mobility allowance of €100 per month with each fellowship payment. The mobility allowance constitutes a supplement for expenses in connection with necessary conference attendance and/or research travel, archive and library visits, etc. in Germany and abroad. Additional travel and/or conference allowances cannot be granted. For further information, please refer to our guidelines A.2.4. (PDF).

Fellows are obliged to inform the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of any additional earnings (salary or income from employment or self-employment in Germany, German or foreign fellowships). Any additional earnings exceeding the upper limit for "marginal" part-time employees (the so-called "Verdienstgrenze für geringfügig Beschäftigte") will be offset against the instalment of the fellowship. For the determination of the additional earnings, the respective valid upper limit for "marginal" part-time employees applies, which can be set on a monthly basis (currently €520 gross) or on an annual basis (currently up to €6,240 gross) according to the funding period. Any type of employment yielding additional earnings which exceed the so-called "Verdienstgrenze für geringfügig Beschäftigte" must be approved in advance by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation which will examine whether this additional employment endangers the objective of the fellowship (cf. A.1. and A.1.9. in our guidelines (PDF)); in such cases the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation reserves the right to terminate or suspend the fellowship. Utilisation of other fellowships financed by German public funding is not allowed.

Since International Climate Protection fellows are not employees, carrying out the project is not classified as gainful employment under the terms of German Income Tax Law. Consequently, the monthly fellowship payments are not considered as earned income and are not subject to social insurance deductions. International Climate Protection fellows are exempt from taxation under Article 3, No. 44 of the German Income Tax Law. The laws in the fellows’ own countries may include special regulations on taxing fellowships. If in doubt, you should consult a tax accountant in your own country (cf. guidelines B.11. (PDF)).

During the stay in Germany, fellows carry out their projects in cooperation with hosts they have chosen themselves. They are neither employees of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation nor of their host institution. However, since they make regular use of the facilities made available by their hosts and host institutions, they must comply with the rules and regulations generally applicable at the respective institutions. In Germany, too, university institutes and other institutions often have staffing and financial problems. To avoid misunderstandings, we urge you to clarify with your host the practical aspects of your cooperation with the research and support staff of the institution as well as the possibility of using equipment, PC, telephone, fax, etc. at the earliest opportunity. Host institutions are obliged to ensure the same levels of safety and occupational health for fellows as they do for other staff working at the institution (cf. guidelines B.8. (PDF)).

Those intending to engage in regular employment need a work permit (exceptions: EU citizens from Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, Great Britain and Cyprus, as well as EEA citizens (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) and Swiss). Spouses of fellows who wish to take up employment must inform the German consulate of this prior to departure for Germany and apply for the respective residence permit (indicating ”employment permitted”). The actual work permit must be applied for at the Employment Office.
We would like to draw your attention to the site Dual Career in the web portal EURAXESS Germany.
Please also see the Information for women academics and families for further information.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation can grant, provided that the budget situation allows, allowances and/or a subsidy towards health and personal liability insurance for spouses and minor children who accompany the fellow during the sponsorship period for at least three months (without interruption). For further conditions and details please see the application form and further information on our respective website.
Please also see the Information for women academics and families for further information.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to postpone the International Climate Protection Fellowship.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation requires fellows to pursue work in Germany for the period of the fellowship and not to be absent from their host institution for periods exceeding 14 days (continuous or accumulative) in total. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation must be given immediate written notification of any circumstances demanding a longer period of absence from the host institution (also due to illness). Prolonged periods of absence from the host institution require the approval of both the host and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. For further details, please refer to our guidelines A.1.9. (PDF).

If the envisaged project cannot be completed within the time available, extensions of the fellowship (usually immediately succeeding the fellowship) for up to three months are possible on application. Decisions on extensions are taken by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation on the basis of professional necessity and the funds at the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s disposal. Extensions can neither be granted for work on a new project nor for work on a new theme which has developed from the original project. Applications for extension should be submitted to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation 3 to 4 months prior to the end of the fellowship. For further details, please refer to our guidelines A.1.3. and our website.

The International Climate Protection Fellowship is awarded in order to carry out a project which has been chosen by the fellow and agreed upon with the host. On principle, it is not possible to make changes to the project proposal on the basis of which the Selection Committee has made its decision.

Budget allowing, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is able to grant a subsidy towards research costs (cf. guidelines A.2.8. (PDF)) to hosts of foreign fellows in Germany. The subsidy is intended as a contribution to covering project-related costs, including administrative costs directly ensuing from the project. During the sponsorship period, the subsidy amounts to €500 (for projects in the humanities and social sciences) or €800 monthly (for projects in natural sciences and engineering). Before the sponsorship period begins, hosts will receive a form for the purpose of informing the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of the host institution's relevant bank account.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation considers it important that research results achieved under the auspices of the International Climate Protection Fellowship be published. Please refer to our guidelines A.3. (PDF) for further information.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation campaigns for equal opportunities for men and women in research, particularly with regard to young families. We have compiled our FAQs concerning this subject under Equal opportunities for researchers and Information for women academics and families.