Coronavirus-Pandemic: FAQ

In the coming months I had planned to embark on my research fellowship in Germany. Will this now be possible?

Since the beginning of the pandemic, many international travel restrictions have been introduced that may change at any time.

The Foundation appeals to all sponsorship recipients to carefully check the information available for their home country or country of residence, to monitor developments and potential regulations regarding behaviour after arriving in Germany (keyword: quarantine). Information is available from the German embassies and consulates in your home country or country of residence. The website of the Federal Foreign Office provides information on the regulations that are generally in force (www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/EinreiseUndAufenthalt). Unfortunately, the Foundation cannot make statements on whether an individual will be allowed to enter the country. The information issued by the German authorities prevails.

You have the following options:

I. Begin of the Research Fellowship as planned:
If in spite of the current restrictions your entry to Germany is possible and your scientific research can commence, then you can start your research stay as planned. If necessary, you can begin the research fellowship working from your residence in Germany and make adjustments to your research project as needed. Please consult with your host to clarify these matters.

II. Research Fellowship begin at current place of residence:
If you are unable to enter Germany, or if other pandemic-related reasons speak against entering the country, we encourage you to begin your research fellowship in the framework of pandemic-related special regulations in your country of residence.
Conditions:
-    you do not pursue any additional full-time work,
-    you can conduct your research from home in the country in which you are residing,
-    your host is in agreement with remote cooperation and is able to involve you appropriately in joint research at the host institute.
 
Please note that the fellowship payments will be made without the additional benefits. Additional earnings will be deducted from the monthly fellowship payment.

III. Postponement of the research fellowship:
If you are unable to conduct your research at the host institute, as planned, for an extended period, then the beginning of your fellowship can with the agreement of your host be postponed to a later date. Especially shorter research stays can, where possible and useful, be postponed. In view of the budgetary planning we ask, however, that the research fellowship begin, if at all possible, in the same year.

Please inform your contact person at the Foundation about your plans at the earliest opportunity. You will then receive further information on how to proceed in your particular case.

You had a renewed research stay in the context of the alumni sponsorship of the Foundation planned? You can find information regarding the foundation’s provisions in the section „Ich habe Fragen zur Alumniförderung der Stiftung“.

Only a limited number of language institutes are currently offering courses in person. As a rule courses are being given online. You can, therefore, participate in your language course virtually.

If you are unable to enter Germany, or if other pandemic-related reasons speak against entering the country, then you can participate in an online language course in your country of residence. Please note that in such a case the Humboldt Foundation can only cover the course fee.

Alternatively, you can begin the research fellowship earlier, if necessary working from your  country of residence , and participate in a less intensive language course during the research fellowship.

The Foundation’s fellowship payments are not in danger. You will continue to receive your monthly fellowship amount even if your host university has shut down or other restrictions have been placed on your research by official rulings. In this case, the Foundation encourages all fellows to continue their research from home.

Please reach out to your contact person if your circumstances should change.

The Foundation advises all fellows whose research has been impacted by the current situation to make full use of the opportunities for extending the research fellowship described in the “Guidelines and Information for Research Fellows” (Chapters A.1.4 and A.3.6.3).

Unfortunately, an additional extension beyond this is usually not possible.

Fellows who cannot leave the country due to travel restrictions or other official rulings at home or abroad and who are therefore forced to remain in Germany until further notice can count on support from the Foundation. If this should be the case for you, please turn to your contact person at the Foundation.

Should you have to end your research stay prematurely, then you can continue your research fellowship in your country of residence (if necessary, from home), until a return to the host institution in Germany is possible again.
Conditions:
-    you do not pursue any additional full-time work,
-    you can conduct your research from home in the country in which you are residing,
-    your host is in agreement with remote cooperation and is able to involve you appropriately in joint research at the host institute.
Please note that the fellowship payments will be made without the additional benefits. Additional earnings will be deducted from the monthly fellowship payment.

If you are unable to conduct your research at the host institute, as planned, for an extended period, then your fellowship can be interrupted with the agreement of your host .
In view of the budgetary planning, however, the research fellowship should be resumed, if possible, in the same year.

Please inform your contact person at the foundation as early as possible regarding your plans. You will then receive further information on how to proceed in your individual case.

In the current situation, the Foundation requests that all fellows plan their stay carefully and factor in the possibility of changes in the general conditions when making reservations. If you are forced to postpone your stay due to the pandemic the Foundation expects you to take action as soon as possible in order to avoid cancellation fees. If you do incur unavoidable cancellation fees, which cannot be recouped from any other source, the Foundation will examine each case individually to assess whether it can cover part of the fees.

All fellows are kindly asked to demonstrate solidarity with regard to this offer and only apply for cancellation fees if they are in financial difficulties. In this context, the Foundation is thinking particularly of fellows from developing countries and emerging economies as well as postdocs who do not yet have a job with a regular income. If this applies to you, please turn to your contact person at the Foundation.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, many travel restrictions have been introduced that may change at any time:
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/covid-19/2296762

The Foundation appeals to all fellows to carefully check the information available for their host country. The information issued by the German authorities and authorities in the host countries prevails. Unfortunately, the Foundation cannot make statements on whether an individual will be allowed to enter the country.

You have the following options:

I. Begin of the Research Fellowship as planned:
If in spite of the current restrictions, entry to your host country is possible and you can commence your research there, then you can start your research stay as planned. If necessary, you can also begin the research fellowship working from home in the host country, making adjustments to your research project as needed. Please consult with your host to clarify these matters.

II. Research Fellowship Begin at current place of residence:
If you are unable to enter your host country, or if other pandemic-related reasons speak against entering the country, you can initially begin your research fellowship in the framework of pandemic-related special regulations in Germany or your country of residence.
Conditions:
- you do not pursue any additional full-time work,
- you can conduct your scientific research from home in your country of residence,
- your host is in agreement with beginning with remote cooperation and is able to involve you appropriately in joint research at the host institute.
Please note that fellowship payments in such a case will not include the foreign allowance (Auslandszuschlag). Additional earnings will be deducted from the monthly fellowship payment.

III. Postponement of the research fellowship:
If you are unable to conduct your research at the host institute, as planned, for an extended period, the beginning of your fellowship can with the agreement of your host be postponed so that you can start at a later date. In view of the budgetary planning, however, the research fellowship should begin, if possible, in the same year.

Please inform your contact person at the Foundation about your plans at the earliest opportunity. You will then receive further information on how to proceed in your particular case.

The Foundation’s fellowship payments are not in danger. You will continue to receive your monthly fellowship amount even if your host university has shut down or other restrictions have been placed on your research by official rulings. The Foundation explicitly encourages all fellows in regions with a high occurrence of infections to continue their scientific research from home.

Fellows who wish to interrupt their stay abroad due to the pandemic and return to Germany may continue their research (from home, if necessary) until such time as it is possible to return to the host institute abroad.
Please note that fellowship payments in such a case will not include the foreign allowance (Auslandszuschlag). Additional earnings will be deducted from the monthly fellowship payment.

The Foundation advises all fellows whose research has been impacted by the current situation to make full use of the opportunities for extending the research fellowship described in the “Guidelines and Information for Feodor Lynen Research Fellows” (Chapters A.1.4 and A.3.3).

Unfortunately, an additional extension beyond this is usually not possible.

Fellows who are unable to leave their host country at the end of their fellowship due to limited travel options or official rulings in the context of the pandemic are requested to turn to their contact person in the Foundation as early as possible.

In the current situation, the Foundation requests that all fellows plan their stay carefully and factor in the possibility of changes in the general conditions when making reservations. If you are forced to postpone or interrupt your stay due to the pandemic the Foundation expects you to take action as soon as possible in order to avoid cancellation fees. If you do incur unavoidable cancellation fees, which cannot be recouped from any other source, the Foundation will examine each case individually to assess whether it can cover part of the fees.

All fellows are kindly asked to demonstrate solidarity with regard to this offer and only apply for cancellation fees if they are in financial difficulties. In this context, the Foundation is thinking particularly of postdocs who do not yet have a job with a regular income.

If this applies to you, please turn to your contact person at the Foundation.

Before you leave the country, please find out about any mandatory vaccinations in your host country.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has no influence on whether you will be considered for an individual or occupational vaccination at your host institution abroad. If you require official confirmation of your research stay, please turn to your contact at the Foundation.

German nationals who are relocating to particularly high-risk areas are recommended to contact the public health authorities to receive priority vaccination. You do not, however, have a legal right based on federal vaccination regulations.

Your research award was granted to you in recognition of your academic achievements. The Foundation is realising payments of personal award money as planned. The instalments can be adjusted upon request, regardless of whether you continue to stay in Germany as an award winner or prefer to interrupt your stay and return to your home country.

If you have any questions regarding your award money or your stay, please turn to your contact person at the Foundation. This applies, in particular, in the event that you are unable to leave the country as planned due to travel restrictions or other official decisions in Germany or abroad or if you encounter other difficulties in the current situation.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, many international travel restrictions have been introduced that may change at any time.

The Foundation appeals to all sponsorship recipients to carefully check the information available for their home country or country of residence, to monitor developments and potential regulations regarding behaviour after arriving in Germany (keyword: quarantine). Information is available from the German embassies and consulates in your home country or country of residence. The website of the Federal Foreign Office provides information on the regulations that are generally in force (www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/EinreiseUndAufenthalt). Unfortunately, the Foundation cannot make statements on whether an individual will be allowed to enter the country. The information issued by the German authorities prevails.

If you can enter Germany, you may start on your research stay as planned. If you are unable to enter Germany, or if other pandemic-related reasons speak against entering the country, the Foundation recommends that you postpone your stay.

Please keep your contact person at the Foundation updated on your plans.

Should you have planned a research stay in the context of an invitation for a renewed research stay, please see the information regarding alumni sponsorship.

In the current situation, the Foundation requests all fellows to plan their stay carefully and factor in the possibility of changes in the general conditions when making reservations. If you are forced to postpone your stay due to the pandemic the Foundation expects you to take action as soon as possible in order to avoid cancellation fees. If you do incur unavoidable cancellation fees, which cannot be recouped from any other source, the Foundation will examine each case individually to assess whether it can cover part of the fees.

All award winners are kindly asked to demonstrate solidarity with regard to this offer and only apply for cancellation fees if they are in financial difficulties. In this context, the Foundation is thinking particularly of award winners from developing countries and emerging economies. If this applies to you, please turn to your contact person at the Foundation.

During the sponsorship period so called "downtime costs" caused by the coronavirus pandemic can be claimed. In this case we ask you to explain and document these costs in the report on the use of funds for 2022.

Should there be additional funding needs towards the end of the research or cooperation project due to the coronavirus pandemic, you can apply for additional funds to complete your research or cooperation project at the end of the funding period.

Please reach out to your personal contact person at the Foundation if you have specific questions regarding your sponsorship in the current situation.

Information on current rules and regulations on entry into Germany is available from the German embassies and consulates in your home country or country of residence. The website of the Federal Foreign Office provides information on the regulations that are generally in force, among others testing and quarantine obligations.
For fellows of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, entry to Germany is usually possible regardless of their vaccination status, as the fellowship generally meets the conditions of urgent need for entry. Note that the Foundation cannot make statements on whether an individual will be allowed to enter the country. The information issued and decisions taken by the German authorities prevails.
We recommend that you enter Germany as soon as possible in order to take part in the language course in Bonn. The dates and further information can be found in the award documents and the fellowship guidelines.
If you are unable to enter Germany, you can participate in an online German class and if necessary start your fellowship later as described in section A.1.2 of the fellowship guidelines (distribution of fellowship months).

In the framework of pandemic-related special regulations, you may even begin your fellowship remotely in your country of residence. Conditions:
-    you do not pursue any additional full-time work,
-    you can conduct your research from home in the country in which you are residing,
-    your host is in agreement with remote cooperation and is able to involve you appropriately in joint research at the host institute.
Please note that in case of a remote start the fellowship payments will be made without the additional benefits. Additional earnings will be deducted from the monthly fellowship payment.
Please inform your contact person at the Foundation about your plans. You will then receive further information on how to proceed in your particular case.

You can submit an application to extend your fellowship for up to four months under pandemic-related special regulations, until end of January 2022 at the latest. Please use the  application form  and proceed as described in Section A.1.3. of the “Guidelines and Information for German Chancellor Fellowships”.

In addition, the regular options of parenting support for fellows with children apply, as described in Section 3.5.3. of the " Guidelines and Information for German Chancellor Fellowships".

Fellows who cannot leave the country due to travel restrictions or other official rulings at home or abroad and who are therefore forced to remain in Germany until further notice can count on support from the Foundation. If this happens to you, please turn to your contact person at the Foundation.

The Foundation advises all fellows whose projects have been impacted by the current situation to make full use of the opportunities for extending the International Climate Protection Fellowship described in the “Guidelines and Information for International Climate Protection Fellows ” (Chapters A.1.3 and A.3.5.3.2).

Unfortunately, an additional extension beyond this is usually not possible.

Your Climate Protection Fellowship will begin on 1 March 2023 in Bonn in Germany. The preparatory German course takes place in January and February as an online course in your home country. You will find further information on the schedule and necessary adjustments to programme events in the award documents and the fellowship guidelines.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, many international travel restrictions have been introduced that may change at any time.

We ask you to carefully check the information available for your home country or country of residence, and to monitor developments and potential regulations regarding behaviour after arriving in Germany (keyword: quarantine). Information is available from the German embassies and consulates in your home country or country of residence. The website of the Federal Foreign Office provides information on the regulations that are generally in force (www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/EinreiseUndAufenthalt). Unfortunately, the Foundation cannot make statements on whether an individual will be allowed to enter the country. The information issued by the German authorities prevails.

Should you not be able to enter Germany in March 2023 due to travel restrictions or should other pandemic-related reasons speak against entering the country, you may initially begin your International Climate Protection Fellowship in your home country or country of residence in the framework of pandemic-related special regulations, provided that you do not pursue any additional full-time work, that you can start your project remotely in the country in which you are staying, and that your host is in agreement with remote cooperation and is able to involve you appropriately in joint research or activities at the host institute. In order to utilise the special regulations to start your International Climate Protection Fellowship in your home country or country of residence, you may send an informal application to the Foundation.

Please get in touch with your contact person at the Foundation.