Postdoc fellowships Germany
Postdoc fellowships & funding grants
academics has put together a list of the largest funding programmes and scholarships for postdocs © sanjeri / iStock
Which scholarships and funding programmes for postdocs are available in Germany? And under what circumstances are they granted? An overview.
Published: 2023-09-11
By: DACHA Media
Contents
Postdoc fellowships and funding grants in Germany – overview
There is a large number of opportunities for postdocs in Germany, especially with respect to subject-specific scholarships and universities offering their own fellowship programmes. These postdoc programmes are particularly attractive for researchers who do not wish to work in the private sector after completing their doctorate and instead prefer to continue pursuing an academic career. Researchers generally use this phase of their career to deepen their professional and methodological qualifications as well as the necessary organisational skills such as planning and implementation of independent research projects and applying for the necessary funding grants.
After earning their doctorate, many academics choose to focus on pure research for a few years. One option is to take a position as a research assistant, which often comes with a salary sufficient to cover living expenses. Another is to apply for a fellowship or grant. In contrast to research assistants, fellows don’t have to take orders and have no obligations to the university or institution. They can focus exclusively on their own research and qualifications.
Pros:
- provides early research independence
- allows scholars to focus on developing their research profile
- can be completed at an institution of the applicant‘s choosing
- provides (partial) financial independence
Cons:
- provides more limited integration possibilities into institutional processes at the scholar‘s university
- often no or limited health insurance or other social insurance coverage
- most fellowships and associated funding are of limited duration
These fellowships and research grants remain highly attractive to many applicants. And there is a large and varied number of different fellowship programs available to academics and researchers from abroad who are interested in doing their postdoc work in Germany. The following is a list compiled by academics.com of some of the largest programmes and those that provide funding across various disciplines.
Although in no way definitive, the list provides a good starting point for exploring the myriad options available. In some instances, institutions are included even though their programmes might not be a perfect match for the topic because of their overarching importance in the German research and science landscape.
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Postdoc fellowships and grants at a glance
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is a renowned address for funding international research cooperation projects.
The Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdocs: The Research Fellowship for Postdocs programme is aimed at young scholars from all disciplines and nationalities who are at the start of their research careers (applicants should have completed their doctorates within the last four years). Successful applicants will have the opportunity to carry out their own research project (six to 24 months) in collaboration with a research institute of their own choosing in Germany. The monthly fellowship stipend is 2,670 euros.
The Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers: Experienced researchers may apply if they completed their doctorates no more than 12 years ago. Applicants are expected to have pursued an academic career. Successful candidates will often have served as assistant professors, gained experience leading a junior research group or spent several years conducting their own research. The fellowship, which is primarily directed at foreign nationals, lasts between six and 18 months and can be flexibly divided into a maximum of three stays with research hosts within a period of three years. The fellowship is remunerated with a monthly stipend of 3,000 euros, plus additional benefits.
Georg Forster Research Fellowship: This fellowship is aimed at outstanding international researchers from developing and transition countries (with the exception of China and India; a full list of eligible countries is available here) in recognition of their academic record to date. The award amount totals 60,000 euros. The stay in Germany is for a total of between six months and year, which can be split into multiple stints.
Alexander von Humboldt Professorship: Internationally renowned researchers can apply for one of the numerous Alexander von Humboldt professorships the foundation endows each year. The placement is associated with pioneering research opportunities and is open to applicants from all countries (except Germany). The award funds can run up to 5 million euros for the funding of the first five years of a professorship. Since 2008, ten Humboldt Professorships have been granted each year, but that number grew with the addition of the foundation’s artificial intelligence-focused grant in 2020, with 30 additional professorships planned through 2024. [HC1]
Philipp Schwartz Initiative for Researchers at Risk: The Philipp Schwartz Initiative provides a full fellowship for universities and research institutions in Germany to host researchers at risk. The sponsorship covers a fixed-amount fellowship or contractual employment for a period of up to 24 months, with the possibility of a 12-month extension within the framework of a co-financing model. Researchers who are demonstrably at risk – irrespective of discipline or country of origin – can apply. At-risk status can be verified by a residence status in the context of an asylum-granting procedure within the EU that confirms a recognised threat or through a credible threat assessment issued by a third party. Candidates must have received a doctorate or comparable degree and cannot have been a resident outside their country for more than five years at the time of application.
A list of other funding programmes provided by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is available here.
German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft – DFG)
The German Research Foundation has a large range of funding programmes to support researchers in the sciences and the humanities at all stages of their academic careers.
Emmy Noether Programme: The Emmy Noether Programme is undoubtedly the best known of DFG's postdoctoral funding programmes. The award aims to promote academic independence by supporting young researchers in conducting their own research projects and in leading a team of junior researchers. Postdocs normally must have completed their doctorate within the past four years and have between two and four years of prior research experience and relevant international experience to be eligible to apply. Funding duration is six years, and applicants from abroad are expected to continue their research careers in Germany once funding has ended. Grantees are paid a salary based on the relevant pay scale criteria.
Heisenberg Programme: The Heisenberg Programme can be described as a continuation of the Emmy Noether Programme and is directed at junior faculty. The programme aims to help grantees qualify for a tenured professorship. Non-German nationals can also apply if they are interested in a long-term academic career in Germany. The programme has various models, including professorships, which provide a salary in line with the normal pay for researchers in Germany as well as additional funding for research. A fellowship model pays a stipend of 4,450 euros a month.
A full list of DFG's funding programmes, including the Initiation of International Collaboration, which provides funding for project-related travel and meetings, can be found here.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA, European Commission)
The European Commission provides support in the form of the Marie Curie fellowships for scientists from the EU who want to carry out research outside their home country. The fellowships are also available to international researchers who want to carry out research at universities and institutions in Germany and elsewhere in the EU.
Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships: The program is open to applicants from any discipline and is therefore divided into separate funding schemes. Early career researchers can also apply for a Marie Curie Fellowship to support their own individually researched projects.
European Postdoctoral Fellowships: This program is aimed at researchers of any nationality who wish to do research in Europe, including Germany, or Europeans who want to do scientific work in another European country. The standard duration of these fellowships is between 12 and 24 months.
European Research Council (established by the European Commission)
Set up by the EU in 2007, the ERC is the premier European funding organisation for excellent frontier research.
Starting Grants: Set up for early career scientists, the program aims to support young researchers in establishing their own independent research teams in any field of research. Postdocs of any nationality with two to seven years of experience following PhD completion and a scientific track record with great promise and an excellent research proposal can apply. Funding can be granted for a maximum of five years for up to 1.5 million euros per grant. An additional €1 million can be made available to cover eligible "start-up" costs for researchers moving from a third country to the EU.
Consolidator Grants: Grants are available in any field of research to scientists seeking to consolidate their independence by establishing a research team and establish their career in Europe. They are available to researchers of any nationality with seven to 12 years of experience since completion of their PhD. Grants of up to 2 million euros can be awarded for a period of five years. An additional 1 million euros are available in some cases for "start-up" costs for researchers moving from a third country to the EU.
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers a wide range of scholarships for foreign scientists who want to carry out research in Germany. To help researchers find the most appropriate programme, the DAAD has created a database that allows scientists to enter details about their scientific status, their country of origin and their subject of interest.
Short-Term Research Grants: This programme, funded by Germany's Federal Foreign Office, is aimed at promoting research projects within the context of doctoral programmes. The funding goes toward a research project or course of continuing scientific education at a state or state-recognised institution of higher education or non-university research institute in Germany and must be carried out in coordination with an academic adviser in the country. Funding is provided for one month to a maximum of six months. A stipend of 1,200 euros is provided as well as a travel allowance and payments toward health, accident and personal liability insurance. Applicants must have completed their PhD within the last four years.
Research Stays for University Academics and Scientists: This programme offers funding for between one and three months for research stays at universities or recognised research institutes in Germany for applicants, including university teachers and established academics and scientists, who have generally completed a doctoral degree and work at a university or research institute in their home country. Funding for this non-renewable grant is provided for one to three months, with monthly payments of 2,000 euros for teaching assistants, assistant professors and lecturers, and 2,150 euros for professors.
Bilateral Exchange of Academics: Funded by the Education and Research Ministry in Berlin, the objective of this grant is to improve international relations and bilateral research cooperation between German and foreign universities by supporting the exchange of scientists and academics. It funds research stays at state or state-recognised universities or non-university research institutions in Germany. Stays typically have a duration of 14 days to a maximum of three months, with a monthly stipend of 2,000 euros for teaching assistants, assistant professors and lecturers, and 2,150 euros for professors. (The program is only open to select countries, which are listed on the DAAD website.)
DLR-DAAD Research Fellowship Programme: DAAD also offers a research fellowship in conjunction with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) for highly qualified graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral students as well as senior scientists in the fields of aeronautics, space, transportation, energy, digitalisation and security. DLR has over 10,000 people working for it, including 550 visiting scientists, at its 55 institutes and facilities at 30 locations across Germany. Postdocs can apply for placements of a duration of six to 24 months and are paid a monthly stipend of 2,400 euros for the duration.
ERA Fellowships – Green Hydrogen 2023: Green hydrogen is an important component in the EU's transition to climate neutrality in the mid-21st century. This fellowship is available to postdocs working in the field of GH2 from universities in the extended European Research Area who want to actively participate in one of the four working groups, also after the fellowship ends. The fellowship is funded for between one and 24 months, with no possibility of extension, and is endowed with 2,800 euros per months along with some benefits. Applicants must have completed their PhDs longer than two years prior to submitting their application. You may not apply if you have been a resident of Germany for longer than 15 months at application deadline.
Good to know
Additional online resources for international funding programmes available to scholars and scientists in Germany:
- DAAD's free scholarship database provides a good overview of international funding programs.
- Euraxess Germany's database is directed at young researchers in Europe. The portal contains practical information regarding professional life and daily life and offers a large database with job and funding opportunities.
- Research in Germany: This website helps researchers who come directly to Germany after completing their doctorates. The site contains useful information on funding for postdocs at universities, research institutes and in German industry.
Fraunhofer Institute
Based in Germany, Fraunhofer is the world's leading applied research organisation. It has around 30,800 employees, predominantly scientists and engineers, at 76 institutes and research units across Germany. Have a look at vacant jobs.
Fraunhofer Attract Research Grant: The excellence stipend of Fraunhofer, the Fraunhofer Attract programme, invites outstanding researchers to develop their ideas at Fraunhofer’s numerous institutes. Successful applicants are offered a budget of 2.5 million euros over five years to lead a group of three to five researchers. The program is open to excellent scientists with innovative ideas (at least doctoral level or equivalent; additional postdoc experience recommended).
Helmholtz Association
The Helmholtz Association conducts research on pressing questions from science, industry and society. Helmholtz's work is divided into six fields of research: energy, earth and environment, health, information, aeronautics, space and transport and matter. Around 44,000 employees work at the associations' 18 research centres.
Helmholtz Visiting Researcher Grant: The Helmholtz Visiting Researcher Grant offers postdocs the opportunity to do a fully funded short-term stay at one of the Helmholtz centres across Germany. Research stays of one to three months can be organised, with a stipend of 2,860 euros a month plus allowances. The programme is open to all nationalities.
Helmholtz Young Investigator Groups: This programme is aimed at the best international and nationally recognised researchers for a first leadership position in science. It allows grantees to establish their own independent research group at a Helmholtz Centre in cooperation with a partner university. Funding is provided for nine HYI groups working in association's fields of research, with a maximum of 150,000 euros in funding per year, with the funding provided by Helmholtz and the partner university if applicable. The group leader position is paid according to the standard salary scale. Applicants should have completed their doctorate within six years of application.
Max Planck Society
The Max Planck Society is one of Germany's leading institutes for basic research in the natural sciences, life sciences and humanities. It counts 30 Nobel laureates among its ranks. Most postdoc programs at the Max Planck Society institutes are in the form of fixed-term employment contracts. You can find more information and a listing of vacant jobs at MPS here.
The Leibniz Association
The Leibniz Association connects 97 independent research institutions focusing on the natural sciences, engineering, environmental sciences, economics, society and space, and the humanities. The association addresses issues of social, economic and ecological relevance. The organisation's postdoc opportunities are mostly in the form of salaried research positions.
Junior Research Groups funding programme: This programme is aimed at postdoctoral researchers with excellent track records who would like to take on a professorship or similar academic role. As leaders of a Leibniz Junior Research Group, successful applicants are given the opportunity to pursue their own research projects and establish themselves in their respective fields. Researchers from anywhere in the world who completed their doctorate no more than five years ago are eligible to apply.
There are also a number of opportunities available from the private sector:
Daimler and Benz Foundation
Postdoctoral Scholarship Program: Each year, the Daimler and Benz Foundation awards 12 scholarships (two in cooperation with the Reinhard Frank Foundation) to selected postdoc researchers, junior professors and heads of junior research groups. The foundation provides €40,000 per scholarship for a period of two years.
Fritz Thyssen Stiftung
Support of Projects: The Fritz Thyssen Foundation supports young scholars in the fields of "history, language and culture"; "state, economy and society"; and "medicine and the natural sciences." The foundation awards funding to scholars with a PhD for the pursuit of specific projects and offers scholarships to young scholars (within two years of completion of their doctorate). Funding is provided for the first two years of the project and it is possible to apply for a one-year extension.
Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF)
BIF awards travel grants of up to three months to postdoctoral researchers from all over the world who are conducting experimental projects in basic biomedical research and want to pursue short-term research stays or attend practical courses relevant to their projects in Europe or overseas. Grants are available to graduates who want to pursue a postdoctoral project in Europe. Applicants must have completed their PhD no longer than 13 years (156 months) prior to the planned visit. Research visits are limited to three months.
