Information on Fellowships and Awards
from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

You are from New Zealand and you are interested in a reasearch project in Germany? Or, you are from Germany and you would like to come to New Zealand to do a research project here? In either case you might find some interesting information on possible research fellowships and awards from the Alexander von Humboldt foundation below.

• Humboldt Research Fellowship for Foreign Scholars
• Humboldt Research Awards for Foreign Scholars
• Max Planck Research Awards for Foreign and German Scholars
• Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship for German Scholars
• Follow-up Program for former Humboldt Scholars

Further information on these and other fellowships and awards can be found here.

Humboldt Research Fellowship for Foreign Scholars

Up to 500 research fellowships are granted annually to highly qualified scholars which hold a doctorate degree and have not yet reached the age of 40. The fellowship enables them to carry out research projects of their own choice at research institutes in Germany. Applications may be submitted at any time by scholars from all nations and academic disciplines (no quotas). Selection meetings are held every March, June/July and November.

The fellowship is granted initially for 6 to 12 months with the possiblity of extension to up to 24 months on application. Up to six months of the overall period may be spent at research institutes across Europe.
The fellowship is worth 2,250 EUR per month plus additional benefits like allowance for research costs, travel expenses, family allowances, language courses etc.

Applications requirements are:

1. Doctorate or comparable academic degree (Ph.D., C.Sc. or equivalent), completed less than four years prior to the date of application.
2. Academic publications reviewed according to international standards and printed in journals and/or by publishing houses.
3. Confirmation that research facilities are available and a detailed expert's report by an academic host at a research institution in Germany.
4. Expert references from the doctoral supervisor and other academics qualified to comment on the applicant's eligibility, preferably including reviewers not working at the applicant's own institute.
5. Good knowledge of German, if this is necessary to carry out the research project successfully; otherwise a good knowledge of English

Humboldt Research Awards for Foreign Scholars

Up to 100 Humboldt Research Awards are granted annually to internationally recognized foreign scholars whose research has had a significant impact on their discipline.

Nominations for awards may be made at any time by established academics in Germany. Direct applications are not accepted. There is no age limit. Selection meetings are held twice a year, usually in March and October (science), once a year in May/June (humanities).

Award winners are invited to spend a period of up to one year at research institutes in Germany. The award is valued 60,000 EUR.

Max Planck Research Awards for Foreign and German Scholars

Annually, two Max Planck Research Awards are granted to internationally acknowledged scientists and scholars of all nationalities - one to a researcher working in Germany, one to a researcher working abroad.

Nominations must be made by the heads of German universities or research institutions. Direct applications are not accepted. Each award is valued 750,000 EUR and may be used over a period of three to a maximum of five years to fund research chosen by the award winner.

Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship for German Scholars

Up to 150 Feodor Lynen Research Fellowships are granted annually to highly qualified German scholars holding a doctorate degree and aged up to 38. The fellowship enables them to carry out research projects of their choice at research institutes of former Humboldt guest-researchers abroad.

Applications can be submitted at any time, for all disciplines and countries. Selection meetings are held three times a year. The fellowship is granted for a period of 6 to 24 months. The monthly rate for the fellowship varies according to host country and family status. Additional assistance for travel expenses, material costs, reintegration assistance upon repatriation to Germany may also be granted.

Application requirements are:

1. Doctorate degree
2. Formal invitation by a former Humboldt Fellow or Award winner
3. Academic publications
4. A specific research plan
5. Good knowledge of the English language or the language of the host country

Furthermore 30 research fellowships are granted annually by the Japan society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and the Science and Technology Agency (STA).

Follow-up Program for former Humboldt Scholars

From 1953 to 1996, more than 18,000 foreign scholars from 124 nations were sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt foundation. The foundation maintains contact with these scholars by inviting them to spend further short periods conducting research in Germany, by donation of academic literature and scientific equipment (the latter only to countries with low foreign exchange reserves) and by grants towards the cost of attending academic conferences in Germany and towards printing costs.