Sponsorship of Renewed Research Stays in Germany

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The budget cuts announced for 2024 will have a significant impact on the alumni sponsorship programmes of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. We ask for your understanding that not all applications can be approved. A renewed research stay is generally possible three years after completion of the initial funding at the earliest. When making its decision, the Foundation also takes particular account of any alumni sponsorships granted to date and the applicant's career phase.

The cuts will have no effect on applications from crisis regions.

Alumni are eligible to apply for support for a renewed research stay in Germany after they have completed their initial research stay in Germany and returned abroad.

Short visit of up to 30 days

     

Short visits of up to 30 days can be used for taking an active part (lecture, posters, leading a working group) in international congresses in Germany, for lecture tours or informative visits, for making and nurturing academic contacts, or for short working visits to research institutes in Germany. A combination of these individual activities would be welcomed. Applications should include the following documents:

  • completed application form,
  • curriculum vitae,
  • list of publications during the last 5 years,
  • short description of activities planned,
  • invitations from academic colleagues from the institutes to be visited,
  • details of financial contributions from third parties, if applicable.

If participation in a congress is planned, a programme of the congress announcing the applicant’s own contribution (lecture/posters etc.) should also be included as well as information on conference fees.

Short visits are sponsored by providing a daily allowance and, in cases of active participation, reimbursement of conference fees. Travel expenses cannot be paid. Once all the relevant documents have been received, processing takes about a month. Retrospective approval is not possible.

Online application

If you are a Humboldtian and would like to submit an application, please log in first. You will be given access to an online form which has been partially filled in with your personal details. You can then complete and submit this form.

Research stay of up to three months

A research stay of up to 3 months can be used either to continue or complete work which was started during the first research stay in Germany or to initiate new joint research outlines with specialist colleagues in Germany. Fellows are free to choose the academic host; competence should be the determining factor. Applications for a renewed research stay should include the following documents:

Applications should include the following documents:

  • completed application form,
  • curriculum vitae,
  • list of publications during the last five years,
  • research outline,
  • details of financial contributions from third parties, if applicable.

It is the responsibility of the alumni to ensure that the academic host provides a confidential statement as well as a confirmation of research facilities.

Once all the relevant documents have been received, the Humboldt Foundation will decide on the application, usually within 3 months. The decision on the application will be made on the basis of an assessment of the applicant’s academic qualifications and activities, the academic quality and relevance of the proposed research, as well as the significance of a further stay both academically and in foreign policy terms. The scale of sponsorship already granted, as well as the period of time elapsed since the last Humboldt Foundation sponsorship, will be taken into account.

A monthly research fellowship sum will be granted. Travel expenses for the journey to and from abroad are not usually reimbursed.

Online application

If you are a Humboldtian and would like to submit an application, please log in first. You will be given access to an online form which has been partially filled in with your personal details. You can then complete and submit this form. In your personal area "My Humboldt" you can access and continue processing saved online applications at any time.

Further important details

  • Make sure that your application is submitted well ahead of your planned arrival. If you require a visa for your stay in Germany, make sure you obtain a visa in good time – also for your family – from the German Embassy.
  • Please discuss all details, including dates of your planned stay first with your academic host in Germany and send him/her your research plan and list of publications. After approval, your stay in Germany can be rescheduled only in exceptional cases.
  • Please compile your list of publications as follows:
    A) books, B) journals and contributions to books, C) published contributions to conferences, D) patents
  • If family members accompany fellows to Germany for at least three months, applications may be submitted to the Humboldt Foundation for benefits for families and for health insurance allowances.