Benefits for research fellows with disability or chronic illness

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation provides the following benefits to support research fellows with disabilities or chronic illness:

Extension due to disability

Upon written request, the research fellowship can be extended by up to 12 months to complete the research project if you can prove that you have a disability that has delayed the implementation of your research.

If the research fellowship was approved for a sponsorship period of less than 12 months, you can request an extension by up to the length of the originally approved period.

Please submit your application at least three months in advance and expect a processing time of several weeks.

Please use the application form and submit the completed form by email to your contact at the Foundation.

Please submit the following documents together with the application form:

• Evidence of your disability;
• Confirmation of research facilities and mentoring agreement from your academic host in Germany for the extension period;
• A written statement from your host on the status of your research project.

• Application for an extension of the fellowship due to disability (PDF, 163 KB)

Subsidy for disability or chronic illness

If you incur additional costs during your research fellowship of more than €100 a month due to a disability or a mobility-limiting disability or chronic illness and these costs are not covered by your health insurance or other funding providers, you may apply for a subsidy of up to €15,000 per six-month period.

This subsidy requires evidence of comprehensive health insurance for the entire sponsorship period in Germany.

The costs must be demonstrated by submitting original invoices and copies of proofs of payment. We cannot reimburse you until we have received these documents.

Please submit your application at least three months in advance and expect a processing time of several weeks.

Please use the application form and submit the completed form by email to your contact at the Foundation.

Please submit the following documents together with the application form:

• Evidence of your disability or chronic illness;
• A description of the additional costs arising therefrom;
• Proof that these costs cannot be covered by your health insurance or other funding providers.

• Application for a subsidy for fellows for disability or chronic illness (PDF, 145 KB)