Georg Forster Research Fellowship

For whom
postdoctoral and experienced researchers contributing to sustainable development
From where
developing or transition countries in accordance with OECD (excluding PR China and India)
For what
6–24-month research stay in Germany
Gloria Ugwuja and Andreas Taubert

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Georg Forster Research Fellowship for Sustainable Development

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation grants the Georg Forster Research Fellowship to researchers in all disciplines from developing and emerging countries (see list of countries, PDF) who have above-average qualifications. We particularly welcome applications from female scientists.

With this fellowship the Humboldt Foundation acknowledges the important role of researchers from these countries in achieving the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals and thus provides them with sponsorship that is equivalent to the Humboldt Research Fellowship.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation aims to achieve a good balance between genders and a high level of diversity among its fellows in all areas. As the Georg Forster programme is intended to actively contribute to achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 (gender equality), we particularly encourage women to apply. We also expressly welcome applications from Least Developed Countries (LDC) as defined by the UN. We generally welcome all applications regardless of ethnic, cultural or social background, gender identity, age, religion, worldview, disability or sexual orientation.

Georg Forster-Forschungsstipendiatin Dr. Gloria Ugwuja mit Gastgeber Professor Andreas Taubert
A global challenge – many local solutions: For years, Andreas Taubert has been cooperating with colleagues from Nigeria on water treatment methods. Currently, Gloria Ugwuja is working in Potsdam on a Georg Forster Fellowship.
Porträt der Humboldtianerin und Professorin für Molekularbiologie Carmen Gloria Feijoo
Against the flow: Professor of Molecular Biology, Carmen Gloria Feijoo, wants to make the academic world more diverse and spark the interest of Chilean women in a fellowship in Germany.
Foto von Ezinne Ezepue vor einer Kinoleinwand
Ezinne Ezepue has been a Georg Forster Research Fellow, conducting research on African storytelling at the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln.
Foto von Alejandra Omarini
Georg Forster Fellow and biochemist Alejandra Omarini (Argentina) conducts research on the industrial utilisation of lemon peels.
Potrait von Walter Ludovico Koppmann
The Argentinian historian Walter Ludovico Koppmann is working at the Lateinamerika-Institut in Berlin on the Jewish working class in Buenos Aires.
Electrical engineer Wilfred Fritz conducted research as a Georg Forster Fellow at the Institute for Power Transmission and High Voltage Technology at the University of Stuttgart.
Hint

Researchers from developing and transition countries, whose research has little or no direct relevance for the sustainable development of their region of origin, should apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship. Should your programme search yield both Fellowships, please use the Programme Compass for further guidance. It the best possible support when selecting the programme that corresponds most closely to your profile. Researchers from Brazil can only apply for a Capes-Humboldt Research Fellowship.

The Humboldt Foundation also grants the Georg Forster Research Award to internationally recognised scientists from developing and transition countries.

What we offer

The Georg Forster Research Fellowship enables you to conduct your own research at various stages of your career in collaboration with a host at a German research institution of your choice. Hosts may apply for a subsidy for research costs.

Postdocs

Benefit from research sponsorship in Germany at the beginning of your academic career. The Georg Forster Research Fellowship for postdocs enables you to conduct research in Germany. The monthly fellowship amount is €2,700 plus additional benefits. Fellowships may last from 6 to 24 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years.

Experienced researchers

You can still apply for research sponsorship in Germany even if you are already well advanced in your academic career. The Georg Forster Research Fellowship for experienced researchers enables you to conduct research in Germany. The monthly fellowship amount is €3,200 plus additional benefits. Fellowships may last from 6 to 18 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years.

General conditions

In addition to the fellowship amount and additional benefits, you will also receive personal support throughout your sponsorship. You are flexible in determining when you would like to start your fellowship. Prior to your research fellowship, you and your partner will be able to attend an intensive German language course.

Further financial support, including family benefits for children and  partners, subsidies for private full health insurance and allowances for travel expenses, is also available.

Alumni programmes

We stay in contact even after your research stay has come to an end. Our alumni sponsorship measures flexibly support every Humboldtian’s individual journey through life, in both their careers and their future collaborations. A return fellowship or later visits to Germany are also possible.

You must meet the following criteria

The Georg Forster Research Fellowship is exclusively for postdocs with above-average qualifications from developing or transition countries. Your research must address questions relevant to the sustainable development of your region of origin, regardless of your field.

Postdocs

Did you complete your doctorate – or equivalent academic qualification – during the last four years? Or are you within six months of completing your doctorate and can already provide a written summary of your findings? Have you been published in academic journals and by publishing houses that are reviewed according to international standards? If so, and if you fulfil the criteria under the “What is required of you” section, apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship for postdocs.

Experienced researchers

Did you complete your doctorate – or equivalent qualification – during the last twelve years? Is your academic profile substantiated by an extensive list of publications in academic journals and by publishing houses that are reviewed according to international standards? If so, and if you fulfil the criteria under the “What is required of you” section, apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship for experienced researchers.

If a doctorate in your field or country of origin is not possible or uncommon, you can still apply up to 16 years after completing your master’s or other postgraduate degree provided that you have a publication record commensurate with your career level.

What is required of you

To successfully apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship, your research should make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of your region of origin. You must also fulfil the following criteria:

You must be a citizen of a developing or transition country – excluding PR China and India (see list of countries).

You must have lived and worked in a developing or transition country for at least 12 months within the last 18 months (excluding PR China and India). 

If you obtained your university entrance qualification and university degree or your university degree and your doctorate in Germany, you can apply if you have lived and worked in one of the developing or transition countries from the list for at least five years and you intend to do so long-term.

Please note: For your application to be successful, you may not have lived in Germany for longer than a total of six months within the 18-month period prior to submitting your application.

Only experienced researchers: If you are not living in a country from the list of countries at the time of application, you must additionally have a permanent job in one of the developing or transition countries on the list.

A researcher from an academic institution of your choice in Germany will provide you with a mentoring agreement and written confirmation that research facilities are available, and will compile a detailed review for you.

You can provide two expert reviews.

Postdocs: Your doctoral supervisor and one other researcher – outside of your institute, if possible – should provide well-grounded information on your qualifications.

Experienced researchers: The reviews should be provided by important collaborative partners and/or researchers at your own institute as well as other institutes – outside your country of origin, if possible.

Natural sciences and engineering: You must have a good knowledge of German or English.

Humanities, social sciences and medicine: You must have a good knowledge of German if this is necessary for conducting your research successfully. Otherwise, good knowledge of English will suffice.

You must abide by the rules of good scientific practice (PDF) and the principles of scientific ethics. The foundation provides information on dealing with generative AI in the selection area.

You may not apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship if you have already received sponsorship from the Humboldt Foundation. In such cases, our alumni programmes are open to you.

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship, please submit the necessary documents to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation online only.

If you have any doubts or questions, please contact us (info[at]avh.de) before submitting your application. We are happy to help.

What we need from you

Please note that you may only submit your application once you have uploaded the following documents to the application form:

  • curriculum vitae (two pages max)
  • research outline (five pages max)
  • complete list of your publications (cf. sample list, PDF)
  • list of key publications (cf. sample list, PDF)
  • key publications
  • doctoral certificate or proof that your doctorate has been completed successfully, or confirmation that this will be the case within the next six months
  • German language certificate, if required
  • if required: acceptance form and/or publisher’s acknowledgement of receipt and summaries/translations of key publications that are not available in German or English
     
  • In addition: host’s statement and confirmation that research facilities are available, as well as two expert reviews. Please note that these documents can only be uploaded in a protected area by the host(s) and expert reviewers personally. You can only submit your application once these documents have been uploaded. Further information and explanations can be found on the application form.

As soon as we have received your online application, we will send you written confirmation by email. After reviewing your documents, we will notify you of the expected selection date.

Deadlines

The Selection Committee responsible for reviewing applications to this programme meets every February, June and October. Please send your completed application form, including any additional documents required, well in advance of the desired selection date. Applications are usually processed within four to eight months. Incomplete or inaccurate applications take longer to process and often have to be postponed to a later Selection Committee meeting.

The deadline for meeting certain formal conditions – in particular those relating to limitations on career stages and previous stays outside of eligible countries – is the date on which we receive your application.

If your application is successful, you may begin your fellowship between two and twelve months after being selected.

If your application is unsuccessful, we may provide you with reasons for our decision. Please request this information informally by email. You and your host will receive a letter with the outcome of your application approximately five weeks after the decision is made. Decisions cannot be appealed. You can, however, re-apply if you significantly improve crucial aspects of your rejected application. In the case of unanimously rejected applications, you must unfortunately wait a minimum of 18 months before re-applying.

The selection procedure

Icon Applicants
Applicants
Icon Foundation
Foundation
Icon Notification
Notification
Application Processing 4-6 weeks Review process approx. 4 months Selection Feb./Mar., June/July, Oct./Nov.
  • Online application
  • Host's statement
  • References
  • Receipt of application
    • acknowledgement of receipt
  • Check eligibility
    • if not eligible: formal rejection to applicant and host
  • Check completeness
    • notification about the expected date of decision
    • reminder about missing items, if applicable
  • Request for independent peer reviews (usually two)
    • allowing for potential impartiality issues
  • Reviewed applications forwarded to selection committee members
  • Selection committee meeting (3 times a year)
    • information about decision to applicant and host (1—3 working days after selection meeting)
  • Approval of application
    • delivery of award documents (approx. 4 weeks after selection meeting)
  • Rejection of application
    • upon request: information on factors that led to rejection to applicant and host (approx. 5 weeks after selection meeting)
  • Start of fellowship (if applicable: preceding language course) min 2 to max 12 months after selection meeting

The decision to award research fellowships is taken by a selection committee consisting of 15–20 researchers from various fields. The committee’s decision is usually based on two independent peer reviews that evaluate your personal academic credentials. The assessment is based on the following selection criteria, depending on your career level:

  • academic career and academic record to date (mobility, determination, thematic scope, academic productivity)
  • quality of the key publications named in the application (originality, innovativeness, evaluation of your own contributions to publications involving several authors)
  • originality and innovative potential of your proposed research (significance for the further development of the subject area, convincing selection of scientific methods, potential for scientific development, clear focus and feasibility within the requested sponsorship period, viability at the host institute) as well as the relevance of your research for the sustainable development of your country and/or region of origin
  • your future potential (academic potential, personal development, career prospects, e.g. professorial appointment)
  • your independent research profile (for experienced researchers)

The assessment also considers the individual life journey and educational background, also and especially in terms of equal opportunities and accessibility.

In past years, an average of 20 to 25 percent of applicants received fellowships.

All the best for your application!

Questions & answers

No, an English language certificate is not required.

You may apply if you will complete your doctorate within the next six months. If selected, you must complete your doctorate before commencing the research fellowship. Please note that your application will be rejected for formal reasons if your dissertation has not been published and you do not have any further academic publications at the time of application.

 

You can apply if you can prove that your academic performance is equivalent to a Ph.D., e.g. by academic publications in internationally reviewed journals and publishing houses. Should this be the case, you may apply to the programme for experienced researchers, however, only until up to 16 years after you obtained your first university degree (Master's degree, Diploma, etc.). It is, furthermore, possible to apply to the programme for experienced researchers if you hold an academic position that is equivalent to or higher than Associate Professor / Senior Lecturer / Reader etc., regardless of the date of your first university degree, within the first twelve years of working in this position. Please send us your CV and a list of your publications before you apply so we can advise you (info[at]avh.de).

 

The relevant date is that of completing the final academic part of the doctoral process (e.g., defence of thesis, doctoral viva). This date will usually be included on your doctoral certificate alongside the date of issue. The key date for calculating the period following your doctorate is the date on which your application is received by the Humboldt Foundation.

 

In the case of multiple doctorates, the effective date is that of the first doctoral degree (PhD/CSc.).

 

Yes. You should, however, already have a clearly recognisable own research profile and, as a rule, be working at the level of at least assistant professor or junior research group leader, or have a record of several years of independent scientific work.

 

We cannot consider your application for a fellowship for postdocs if your doctorate was completed more than four years ago. In case you already have a clearly recognisable own research profile and, as a rule, are working at the level of at least assistant professor or junior research group leader, or have a record of several years of independent scientific work, you can apply for a fellowship for experienced researchers. If you have passed the deadline, an exception may be made in well-founded cases (e.g. recognition of parental leave). Please send us your CV and a list of your publications before you apply so we can advise you (info[at]avh.de).

 

We cannot consider your application if you obtained your doctorate more than twelve years ago. If you have missed the deadline, an exception may be made in well-founded cases (e.g. recognition of parental leave). Please send us your CV and a list of your publications before you apply so we can advise you (info[at]avh.de).

 

Periods in which you interrupted your academic activities after completing your doctorate in order to rear children may be taken into account as career breaks after examination. The proportionate offsetting of such periods is also possible. Please always indicate child-rearing periods when filling in our application form.

Mothers can claim two extra years for each child born after their PhD plus any further verifiable parenting periods. Fathers and other persons responsible for raising children are only credited with verifiable parenting periods.

In general, postdocs may apply up to four years, and experienced researchers up to twelve years after completing their doctorates. Recognized child-rearing periods may correspondingly extend these maximum timeframes during which the submission of applications is possible. The extension is limited to 6 years.

Please contact info[at]avh.de if you have any questions.

 

Periods 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 may be taken into account as career breaks after examination. The proportionate offsetting of such career breaks is also possible. Please always indicate career breaks when filling in our application form.

Job hunting, unemployment and non-academic employment do not count as career breaks.

In general, postdocs may apply up to four years, and experienced researchers up to twelve years after completing their doctorates. Recognized career breaks may correspondingly extend these maximum timeframes during which the submission of applications is possible. The extension is limited to 6 years.

Please contact info[at]avh.de if you have any questions.

 

Yes, because the assessment of academic achievements is always made on an individual basis at the Humboldt Foundation. Therefore, when filling in the application form, please specify all periods in which you partially or completely interrupted your academic activities after finishing your doctorate in order to rear children.

The voluntary disclosure of private circumstances may help increase equal opportunities during the selection process. The consideration of your personal circumstances allows for a fairer assessment of your academic achievements.

Please contact info[at]avh.de if you have any questions.

 

Yes, because the assessment of academic achievements is always made on an individual basis at the Humboldt Foundation. Therefore, when filling in the application form, please specify all periods in which you partially or completely interrupted your academic activities after finishing 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.

Job hunting, unemployment and non-academic employment do not count as career breaks.

The voluntary disclosure of private circumstances may help increase equal opportunities during the selection process. The consideration of your personal circumstances allows for a fairer assessment of your academic achievements.

Please contact info[at]avh.de if you have any questions.

 

Equal opportunities and diversity are important pillars of the Humboldt Foundation’s funding policies. If your career path has been impacted by personal limitations or structural issues, e.g. difficult research conditions, gender-specific discrimination or cultural barriers to mobility, please include this information so that such circumstances can be taken into consideration in your favour.

You can find the Humboldt Foundation’s statement on equal opportunities as well as information on the support we provide under Equal opportunities for researchers.

If your primary life focus (nationality and permanent residence) is in a developing or transition country (see list of countries) and your research is of relevance for that country’s (or region’s) further development (see examples below), we recommend that you apply for a George Forster Research Fellowship. A persuasive presentation of your work’s relevance for development in your region is one of the key criteria used when your application is evaluated. For projects that would be classified as basic research, we recommend applying for a Humboldt Research Fellowship. Should your programme search yield both the Humboldt Research Fellowship and the Georg Forster Research Fellowship, please use the Programme Compass for further guidance.

Examples of applications with relevance to development:

Example 1: Food security among children in Nigeria

Foodstuffs that are contaminated with mycotoxins, the toxic metabolic substances produced by fungi, present a challenge for the people of Nigeria. As part of a Georg Forster Research Fellowship, one Humboldtian examined with the help of biomonitoring the degree to which Nigerian children and adolescents are exposed to mycotoxins in foodstuffs. In this way she is striving to improve the food safety of the Nigerian people.

Example 2: Climate change and stressed plants

Plants emit a number of volatile organic compounds in response to heat and drought stress. During her guest visit in Germany, a Latin American Humboldtian studied the impact these emissions have on air quality and changes in the climate. Her findings were used to develop sustainable adaptation and mitigation strategies tailored to the region she comes from. These findings offer political stakeholders a scientifically proven basis for making decisions.

Example 3: Improved tax enforcement through international co-operation

Audits are a tried and tested tool in the fight against tax evasion. In the case of transnational audits, joint tax audits can be conducted by international teams. During her Georg Forster research stay in Germany, one Humboldtian examined the advantages of joint tax audits with the aim of formulating recommendations for action to develop and improve international tax law. By doing so, the Moldavian hopes to make a contribution to her country’s integration into international tax law structures.

Example 4: Water reservoirs

Siltation of water reservoirs is a major problem for Iran’s water supply. One Iranian Humboldtian dedicated his stay in Germany to working on methods to reduce sedimentation in water bodies which he can now transfer to his country of origin thanks to his existing contacts and good local connections.

Example 5:  Resource use

A Burmese Humboldtian focused on the extraction of mineral resources in Myanmar. Thanks to his Georg Forster Fellowship he was able to expand his raw materials expertise as one of the only few excellent Burmese economic geologists. He is now making valuable contributions to the geoscience community in his country of origin and is advancing sustainable resource development and use there. 

The following examples were not accepted by the Georg Forster Fellowship Programme because they have little relevance to development:

Example 1: Researching neurodegenerative diseases

Worldwide neurodegenerative diseases pose an enormous problem for people suffering from them. Studying and designing possible treatment methods for such diseases requires costly equipment. One applicant planned to increase his knowledge of this type of technology and how to use it. It was not, however, apparent from his application how the skills he aimed to acquire in Germany could be put to practical use without having corresponding infrastructure in his native country.

Example 2: Further development of cosmological models

One applicant sought to further develop cosmological models (theoretical physics) with her research project. She convincingly demonstrated that the project would offer added value for the further development of her field. However, the review of her application did not identify any relevance for the social, economic and/or political development of her native country / region.

The aim of the programme is to enable highly qualified academics from developing and emerging countries to come to Germany to conduct a research stay here. Applicants should therefore be living and working in a developing or emerging country (list of countries, PDF) at the time of application.  It is expected that applicants plan to return to an eligible country. 

Eligible applicants must have lived in a developing or emerging country for a minimum of 12 months in the 18-month period prior to submission of their application. Any time spent outside an eligible country within those 18 months is taken into account, regardless of duration or reason.
Individuals who, regardless of their country of origin,  have supported themselves  through funding  from a German institution for more than six out of the last 18 months or who  have worked on a doctoral project at an institution in Germany in the last 18 months  are not eligible to apply.
If you are applying for a Fellowship for Experienced Researchers (more than 4 years after the PhD) and you are not resident in an eligible country (including Germany), at the time of application, you must additionally have a permanent  employment in one of the eligible countries.

If in doubt, please contact us before you submit your application so we can advise you (info[at]avh.de).

If you completed your schooling and a university degree, or a university degree and a doctorate, in Germany, you are a so-called educational resident and are eligible to apply provided that your uninterrupted, permanent place of residence and work has been in a developing or transition country for more than 5 years.
Educational residents are generally ineligible to apply if they have been in Germany within the last 18 months prior to receipt of their application or are already in Germany at the time of applying.

If in doubt, send us a seamless CV and list of your publications so that we can then advise you (info[at]avh.de).

 

  1. Natural scientists and engineers: good knowledge of German or English is sufficient.
  2. Scholars in the humanities and social sciences: should have knowledge of German if it is necessary to carry out their research successfully. In this case, a German language certificate confirming proficiency must be submitted. Otherwise, a good knowledge of English is sufficient.
  3. Physicians: If the research involves work with patients, the candidate must have a good knowledge of German (language certificate required). Otherwise, a good knowledge of English is sufficient.

No, a language certificate is not required.

 

You are eligible to apply if you hold a research doctorate or a comparable academic degree.

In addition, please read our Admission Questionnaire for Physicians (MD / Dr. med.) for detailed information.

If you have several research doctorates, the above mentioned FAQ on the subject of "several doctorates" applies.

 

Any researcher working at a university or research institution in Germany who offers to make research facilities available for the research stay may act as your host.

If you have already worked in Germany for a longer period of time (12 months or more) you should look for a new academic environment for another guest stay in Germany. Applications that involve returning to the supervisor of the doctoral thesis or to the mentor of a longer postdoctoral stay are generally rejected by the Selection Committee on the basis of a lack of further independent academic development.

Individuals with whom you are in a close personal (marriage or civil partnership) or familial (parents, siblings, children) relationship cannot be selected as hosts.

You are free to choose your own academic host. The Humboldt Foundation does not provide any direct support in finding a host.

We would like to draw your attention to the following search engines for hosts and research institutes:

We would also like to draw your attention to the open access part of the Network Online. This database features a large proportion of the Foundation's more than 30,000 academics sponsored worldwide. Here you can search for names, disciplines and keywords.

Yes. If the hosts work at different research institutes, they must each provide a host's statement and confirmation that research facilities can be made available.

 

In general the host institute will receive an allowance for research costs of €800 per month for research in the field of natural sciences and engineering, and €500 for research in the field of humanities or social sciences.
Please see the respective FAQ of the Department Sponsorship and Network.

 

There is no closing date for submitting applications. Applications are processed as part of an ongoing procedure. As soon as we have received your complete application we shall forward it to independent peer reviewers. Their written evaluations will then be presented to the Selection Committee at the next selection meeting at which a decision will be made.

Please note that you can submit your application only after your host and your expert reviewers have uploaded all necessary documents. The date used to determine whether the applicant meets certain formal requirements, such as career stage limitations and stays in Germany, is the date on which the Humboldt Foundation receives the respective application.

Selection committee meetings take place three times a year, in February, June and October. Applications should be submitted at least four to seven months ahead of the prospective selection meeting.

A graphic display of the complete application process can be found under selection procedure.

There are three Selection Committee Meetings each year: in February, June and October.

 

No, it is not possible to apply to several fellowship programmes concurrently. Should you be rejected by any of them, you may, however, apply to any other programme as long as you fulfil the formal requirements.

 

On principle, it is possible to file parallel applications. You must, however, indicate this on the application form and inform us immediately of any other applications you submit and any other sponsorship decisions that occur while we are considering your application.

 

Under certain circumstances, research fellows may conduct research outside Germany during the sponsorship period if this is necessary to successfully carry out the research project (e.g. for field research, archive visits, experiments at specific facilities or with other research institutions) or for personal or organisational reasons (e.g. family obligations, health issues).

Fellows are only eligible to conduct research stays outside Germany if their research project is carried out at the host institute in Germany for a duration of at least six months, and the total duration of their research stays outside Germany should usually not exceed 25 per cent of the expected total funding period.

Conducting research stays outside Germany at the very beginning or the end of the funding periodis only permitted in exceptional cases as stays at these times could put the fellow’s integration and successful completion of the research project at the host institute at risk.

Additional earnings from freelance work or employment or from fellowships in the country where the research stay outside Germany takes place must be reported and will usually be deducted from the fellowship amount.

Applicants must apply for a stay of at least six months, which can, however, be divided up into two blocks of three months.

 

The research stay or language course can usually begin 12 months after the selection decision at the latest. Under certain circumstances, the start may be postponed for up to 12 months.

 

Details of the fellowship grant and information on potential additional benefits can be found in the current programme information.

 

No, the fellowship cannot be paid retroactively.

 

A two- to four-month language course takes place immediately prior to the start of the research fellowship. The language fellowship is not part of the research fellowship. (In other words, if you apply for a two-month language course in connection with a 12-month research stay in Germany, your stay will last a total of 14 months).

 

The intensive German language course can only be taken immediately prior to the start of the research fellowship. If this is not possible, you may apply for funds to attend evening classes during the research fellowship.

 

There is no obligation to take a language course. However, the Humboldt Foundation strongly encourages all its fellows and their partners to learn German during their research stay so that they can fully participate in social and cultural life in Germany.

 

If the fellow's own institution does not cover travel expenses, the Humboldt Foundation will pay a single lump sum for return travel. The Humboldt Foundation will only pay travel expenses for family members in exceptional circumstances.

 

The Humboldt Foundation welcomes the idea that fellows' partners and children should accompany them and encourages this by paying family allowances in addition to the fellowship, provided that the family members accompany the fellow for more than three months. You can find further information on support for single parents and families in the FAQ for women academics and families.

 

If you are coming from abroad, the earliest you may begin the fellowship period is usually two months (three months if you need a visa) after your application has been approved by the Selection Committee. If you are already in Germany, you can start at the beginning of the following month at the earliest.

 

Your host(s) and expert reviewer(s) upload the required documents in a secure area themselves, adding them to your application form. You can find the links to this area in the application form. Please send these links on a timely basis to your designated scientists/academics. Once all the documents have been uploaded, you will automatically be notified by email and will then be able to submit your application. You are responsible for ensuring that your documents are complete.
Expert reviews should not be more than 12 months old at the time of application.

 

The expert review should assess your development as a researcher, your potential, and your academic accomplishments to date. It is, therefore, important that expert reviewers are well acquainted with your academic work to date. You must submit two expert reviews. Postdocs must submit expert reviews from their doctoral supervisor and one other academic, preferably from outside their own institute. Experienced researchers must submit expert reviews from important collaborative partners and/or academics from their own institute and further institutes, if possible, from abroad. Please note: The host's statement does not count as an expert review!
You are responsible for requesting all expert reviews and the host’s statement.

 

Your application must contain up to five key publications (postdocs: one to three; experienced researchers: three to five). Other publications will not be accepted (exception: you may optionally submit published reviews of your key publications by other authors).
If you wish to cite your dissertation or habilitation as a key publication but have not yet submitted it for printing, please upload the original manuscript of your doctoral or habilitation thesis.

Before uploading, please check the accuracy of the information provided in your publication lists (complete list, list of key publications), in particular with regard to the order and completeness of the information on the authors, the titles of the publications and the publication venues. Inaccurate information could lead to the rejection of your application on formal grounds.

No. Please only cite publications that are already in print, have been accepted for publication or have at least been submitted to a publishing house. Please cite submitted publications without naming the journal or publishing house on your publication list. In the latter case you must include the acknowledgement of receipt from the publisher; in the case of publications that have been accepted, please include the letter of acceptance from the publisher. Any other works cited on the list will be deleted.
Exception: Your dissertation or habilitation may be cited as a key publication even if you have not yet submitted it to a publisher. If you wish to cite your dissertation or habilitation as a key publication but have not yet submitted it for printing, please upload the original manuscript of your doctoral or habilitation thesis.

 

Yes. As soon as you complete your doctorate, we need at least official confirmation from your university. You will not be able to start the fellowship without this confirmation.

 

You yourself should choose the key publications from your publications. You should choose works which present your most important academic results. In cases of multiple authorship you should select those to which you have made a major contribution. When choosing key publications we recommend including works that reflect your more recent publication activity.
Please note that you cannot amend your selection of key publications once the selection process has begun.

 

If you are applying for a fellowship for postdocs, one key publication is sufficient. You may cite a maximum of three.
If you are applying for a fellowship for experienced researchers you must choose at least three key publications. You may cite a maximum of five. Surplus key publications will be removed from the list without notifying the applicant.

 

Please address the particular academic relevance of the results contained in the key publication and briefly explain the significance of the publication for your academic profile (cf. sample key publications). In cases of multiple authorship please also indicate your own personal contribution to the publication.

 

Yes. Please cite all your publications in the complete list of publications, including your key publications. An unpublished dissertation or habilitation, however, may not be listed in the complete list of publications. In this list the key publications should be cited without explanations (cf. sample publication list). Please note that the order of the authors on the publication list corresponds to the order of the authors on the submitted publication. Changing the order is against the Rules of Good Scientific Practice and may result in penalties (cf. Rules of Good Scientific Practice).
Please note that it is not possible to amend the list of publications submitted to the Humboldt Foundation once the selection process has begun.

 

As soon as we receive your application, we will notify you by email.

 

Your application will be checked upon receipt to ensure that it is complete and meets the formal requirements for eligibility. We shall only be able to inform you about the expected decision date when we have received all the required documents. Once the review process by independent reviewers has been initiated, it is not possible to submit or exchange any documentation. If any papers or books that have only been submitted for publication at the time of application should subsequently be accepted, you should send us a copy of the acceptance letter immediately by email. This information can be fed into the process prior to the selection meeting. It is not possible to add to the publication list once the procedure has started.

 

When all the documents have been received we shall notify you about the proposed date of the selection meeting. Should the peer review process of your application take longer than expected you will also be informed if it becomes unavoidable to postpone the date of the decision.

 

Your application will be reviewed by independent peer reviewers.

 

The final decision on all applications is made by the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee consists of researchers of all disciplines who decide on all applications by majority vote. The Humboldt Foundation has no vote on the Selection Committee.

 

If your application is not approved, you may send an informal email requesting feedback to be sent to you and your host on the reasons for the rejection. This will usually follow approximately four to six weeks after the selection committee meeting. Please note that we cannot provide any personalised information before this juncture so as not to delay the notification process.

 

We will notify you and your institutional host of the selection committee's decision by e-mail in the days following the selection meeting. When the meeting has to decide on a larger number of applications, it may take a few days longer to notify all applicants and hosts.

 

In recent years, approx. 25% of all applications have been successful.

 

The essential aspect of the application is the individual applicant's academic qualification. Please refer to the relevant programme information for more details on the selection criteria.

 

It is possible to re-apply. The new application should, however, differ significantly from the original, rejected application. Generally, it makes sense to re-apply after developing one's academic profile, e.g. after academical publications have been accepted by internationally reviewed journals and publishing houses. Our experience shows that applicants should wait about two years before re-applying. Submitting a new application that differs little or not at all from the rejected original may result in a formal rejection of the new application.

 

Insufficient publication record:

In particular, applicants who apply upon completion of their doctoral thesis should ensure that the key findings of the doctoral thesis (key publications) are already published or have been accepted for publication. In case of doubt, it is a good idea to wait for several months before submitting the application until evidence can be provided that the key publications have been accepted.


Lack of academic development:

The chosen research project should not be a direct continuation of the doctoral thesis or of the academic work carried out to date. Returning to the same academic environment, e.g. returning to the supervisor of the doctoral thesis or the mentor of longer postdoctoral research (more than 12 months), or returning to a host institute where a longer research stay has already taken place, generally results in the rejection of applications on the basis of a lack of further independent academic development.


Lack of originality:

In the qualitative assessment of the key publications and of the research outline, the independent peer reviewers focus in particular on the originality of the work and the associated impetus for further development in this research area. If these aspects are not immediately apparent, if the research concerns more routine work or if the aims of the planned research and its significance for the continued development of the subject area are not clearly presented, applications are generally rejected.


Lack of personal academic profile, academic establishment:

In the experienced academics’ programme segment, the personal academic profile is of major importance for the assessment of applications by the independent peer reviewers and committee members. Therefore, applications are frequently rejected if

  • no or insufficient publications are available in sole authorship or as a corresponding author;
  • the applicants’ topics are too narrowly focused;
  • no clear continued academic development is apparent;
  • the research project is not clearly aligned with the research interests of the applicant;
  • after several postdoctoral positions, another "traditional" postdoctoral position is applied for without the applicant becoming independently established academically in the meantime.

For experienced academics whose doctorate was completed more than eight years ago, rejection often results if a position as an independent academic (assistant professor, lecturer, junior research group leader, etc.) has still not been obtained, or if the prospect of a professorial appointment upon completion of the proposed stay is not apparent from the documentation submitted, especially the publication profile.

 

Lack of relevance for development in your region:

Please refer to the FAQ: I am from a developing/transition country. Should I apply for a Humboldt or Georg Forster Research Fellowship?

This programme is financed by

Collaborative programmes

On this research fellowship programme, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation cooperates with various private partners. Together, we aim to recruit highly qualified researchers for a research stay in Germany. The application, selection and sponsorship processes in programmes that involve private collaborative partners are conducted in accordance with the established procedure and guidelines of the Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme. In many cases, the privately co-financed fellowships include additional offers, such as visits to the collaborative partners, invitations to events or facilitating contacts. 

If you are interested in such fellowships, please sign the corresponding declaration of consent in the application form. You will be informed as to whether the Humboldt Foundation has been able to admit you to one of the collaborative programmes in the award letter.

Collaborative partner:

María Laura Böhm

“At my host institute I had access to the latest specialised literature and to recognised experts in my field – this enriched my research work enormously.”

María Laura Böhm
Jurist and Sociologist from Argentina

Georg Forster Research Fellows in portrait

Read the text in Humboldt Kosmos 109/2018

Some people put orange peel in their dishwasher because it saves on rinse aid. Others put lemon peel in their wardrobes to fend off moths. There are lots of uses for citrus fruit waste in the home. But Alejandra Omarini thinks on different scales: she wants to make such waste industrially viable.

Foto von Alejandra Omarini

Read the text in Humboldt Kosmos 108/2018

For people like him, scientific careers were not what the apartheid regime had in mind. But Wilfred Fritz managed to carve his path through racial barriers and restrictions and become one of the first non-whites to study at Stellenbosch University. Today, his research could help to revolutionise energy supplies in his country.

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