[Germany] Humboldt Research Fellowships - The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables highly qualified, early-stage researchers from abroad, who hold doctorates, to carry out research projects of their own choice in Germany . Applications may be submitted for long-term research stays of at least 6 and at most 12 months; an extension of up to 24 months is possible. Researchers of all nationalities and disciplines may apply to the AvH directly at any time. There are no quotas for individual countries and disciplines.
Funding is not available for short-term study visits, participation in conferences, or training courses.
Research fellowships are offered world-wide on a competitive basis. The most important criteria for selection are the applicant’s (international) publications to date and the quality and feasibility of the research proposal. Applicants choose their own research projects and their own German hosts. Details of the research project and the time-schedule must be agreed upon with the prospective host in advance. Applications to continue a research stay which has already begun may be considered in exceptional cases. (Further information can be found in the FAQs).
Selection procedure
Applications may be submitted to the AvH at any time. Selection committee meetings take place three times a year, in March, July and November.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that he or she has submitted all the necessary documents. If applications are incomplete it can be assumed they will take longer to process.
In addition to the application documents, a confidential statement must be submitted by the proposed host. Your host may send it directly to the Humboldt Fundation. The applications are then forwarded for evaluation to peer reviewer.
Finally, a selection committee assesses the applications received in the current international competition, without quotas for countries or disciplines, on the basis of the documents submitted and the independent experts’ opinions.
Altogether, the selection committee is composed of about 50 specialists from all disciplines. It decides on all the proposals independently on the basis of the applicants’ academic qualifications.
The points of particular significance for the committee’s decision are current relevance and originality of the research proposal as well as the quality of previous academic work (documented by references, publications etc.).
Processing applications for a selection committee meeting takes about three to six months. Applicants will be informed about the final decision immediately after the selection meeting.
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