Leibniz-DAAD Research Fellowships in Germany

The Leibniz-DAAD Research Fellowship Programme has been suspended. There will be no new call for applications in the foreseeable future.

The Leibniz – DAAD Research Fellowship programme is jointly carried out by the Leibniz Association (Leibniz-Gemeinschaft e.V.) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

What can be funded?

Leibniz-DAAD fellowships offer highly-qualified, international postdoctoral researchers, who have recently completed their doctoral studies, the opportunity to conduct research at one Leibniz institute of their choice in Germany. Leibniz-DAAD research fellows can undertake their research at the Leibniz institutes listed in the following links:

  • Section A: Humanities and Educational Research/Geisteswissenschaften und Bildungsforschung
  • Section B: Economics, Social Sciences and Spatial Research/Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, Raumwissenschaften
  • Section C: Life Sciences/Lebenswissenschaften
  • Section D: Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Engineering/Mathematik, Natur- und Ingenieurwissenschaften
  • Section E: Environmental Sciences/Umweltwissenschaften

Please note:

  • Only Leibniz Institutes listed under the above links can accept fellows this year.
  • Projects that do not relate to the activities of the selected institute cannot be considered.

Duration of the funding

Fellowships can be awarded for 12 months.

The fellowship period must commence between September 1, 2018 and January 1, 2019.

Value

Fellowships include:

  • a monthly instalment of €2,000,
  • a combined health, accident and personal liability insurance as well as long-term care insurance in Germany,
  • a research allowance of €460 per annum and
  • a two-months German language course in Germany (if desired).

Family-related allowances or support for travel costs are not provided.

Selection

15 fellowships are awarded each year. The selection process will be completed in June 2018. We will communicate results to all applicants via the DAAD portal.

What requirements must be met?

At the time of the application deadline, applicants for a Leibniz-DAAD Research Fellowship must neither hold German nationality nor have resided in Germany more than the last six months prior to the application deadline.

Applicants should

  • be able to prove their outstanding academic or research achievements,
  • have completed their PhD or equivalent qualification in 2016 or later (Applications may be submitted before completion of the PhD. However, the PhD must be completed before the start of the funding period.),
  • pursue a project for which the respective Leibniz Institute can offer an adequate infrastructure and scientific environment and
  • have excellent knowledge of English (knowledge of German is welcome)

Application documents

The application procedure occurs online through the DAAD portal. You are also requested to send some of the documents by post to the application address.

1. Documents to be uploaded to the DAAD online portal:

  • Online application form (available in the portal);
  • Confirmation of Supervision;
  • Curriculum vitae;
  • List of publications;
  • Abstract of the research project, incl. the title of the project (max. 1 page);
  • Description of the research project, incl. the title of the project (5-10 pages);
  • Detailed work plan and timeline (max. 1 page);
  • Abstract of the doctoral thesis, incl. the title of the thesis (max. 1 page);
  • Master degree certificate;
  • PhD diploma;
  • University certificates on all annual examinations with individual grade(s) of the Master and the PhD studies (transcripts of records), incl. explanation of grading system (if available).

Please note: All documents have to be uploaded in English or German (if the original is not in English or German, please upload the original and a certified translation).

2. Documents to be sent to the DAAD application address by post:

Two letters of recommendation, which should be written by senior academics of the applicant´s own choice: The form of the letter of recommendation has to be generated in the DAAD portal in the section "Request reference" after registration and downloaded. Please send the form by e-mail to your referees and ask for the completed reference form to be sent to the application address in Bonn in a sealed envelope. References are confidential and must not be read by the applicant.

Please note: The letters of recommendation cannot be accepted in digital form and must be sent by regular mail.

The letters of recommendation must arrive in Bonn by March 22, 2018 at the latest, at the address:

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Section ST43
Mr. Oliver Reinken
Kennedyallee 50
53175 Bonn
Germany

Application deadline

March 8, 2018 (Applications received after March 8, 2018 will not be considered. The DAAD portal closes at 24.00 hrs. Central European Time (CET) on the last application day.)

Please submit your application online via the DAAD online portal (from January 8, 2018). Please be aware that only complete applications will be accepted. Applicants are responsible for their applications completeness.

Institution
Application date
Duration
12 months
Discipline
Humanities
Social sciences
Other