Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdocs and experienced researchers
The Humboldt Research Fellowship for researchers of all nationalities and research areas: We support you with your research in Germany.
The programme is part of the Global Minds Initiative Germany of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.
Through the Humboldt Research Fellowship, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation sponsors researchers with above-average qualifications from across the globe. As a fellow, you will benefit from individual support from the Humboldt Foundation and our diverse sponsorship portfolio.
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation aims to achieve a good balance between genders and a high level of diversity among its fellows in all areas. We therefore expressly invite female scientists and members of underrepresented groups to apply. We welcome all applications, regardless of ethnic, cultural or social background, gender identity, age, religion, worldview, disability or sexual orientation.
The number of applications received in the Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme has increased significantly since 2024. In order to ensure that applications continue to be processed in a timely manner, the Humboldt Foundation is adjusting its application procedure: corresponding to the three selection rounds per year, there will be three calls for applications annually, each opening eight months before the respective selection meeting. Once a call has reached the maximum number of currently 800 applications, the application round will be closed. Applicants who have already started their application at that time will be able to save and continue working on it but will not be able to submit until the next application round opens.
Calls schedule for 2026:
| Call opens … | For selection meeting … | Earliest possible start of fellowship … |
| … on 15 March 2026 | … in November 2026 | … in February 2027 |
| … on 15 July 2026 | … in March 2027 | … in May 2027 |
| … on 15 November 2026 | … in July 2027 | … in September 2027 |
This new procedure will increase transparency and predictability for applicants and their hosts and allow reviewers and members of the selection committee to more accurately anticipate their workloads.
Applications that fail to include important documents or information, or that diverge substantially from our specifications e.g. for creating a list of publications, will be formally rejected without further review.
Ambiguities that require the applicant to be contacted for clarification will usually result in the decision being postponed to the following selection meeting. You are therefore requested to check your documents carefully to ensure that they are complete, accurate and fully compliant with our specifications before submitting your application.
Looking ahead to the upcoming meetings of the selection committee, we expect that 20 – 25% of the applications received will be approved. Detailed information regarding the selection process and the timeline can be found under „Selection Procedure”.
- Programme information (PDF, 88 KB)
- Information for hosts
- Information for expert reviewers
- Information for independent peer reviewers
- Recently selected fellows
For researchers from Brazil we offer the CAPES-Humboldt Research Fellowship. If not eligible there, you may apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme.
What we offer
The Humboldt Research Fellowship enables you to conduct your own research at various stages of your career in collaboration with a host at a German research institution of your choice. Hosts may apply for a subsidy towards research costs.
Postdocs
Benefit from research sponsorship in Germany at the beginning of your academic career. The Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdocs enables you to conduct research in Germany. The monthly fellowship amount is €3,000 plus addtional benefits. Fellowships may last from 6 to 24 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years.
Experienced researchers
You can still apply for research sponsorship in Germany even if you are already well advanced in your academic career. The Humboldt Research Fellowship for experienced researchers enables you to conduct research in Germany. The fellowship amount is €3,600 plus additional benefits. Fellowships may last from 6 to 18 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years.
General conditions
In addition to the fellowship amount plus additional benefits, you will also receive personal support throughout your sponsorship. You are flexible in determining when you would like to start your fellowship. Prior to your research fellowship, you and your partner will be able to attend an intensive language course.
Further financial support, including family benefits for children and partners, subsidies for private full health insurance and allowances for travel expenses, is also available.
Alumni programmes
We stay in contact even after your research stay has come to an end. Our alumni sponsorship measures flexibly support every Humboldtian’s individual journey through life, in both their careers and their future research collaborations. A return fellowship or later visits to Germany are also possible.
You must meet the following criteria
The Humboldt Research Fellowship addresses post-doctoral researchers with above-average qualifications from across the globe – regardless of their field.
Postdocs
Did you complete your doctorate – or equivalent academic qualification – during the last four years? Or will you be completing your doctorate before the envisaged selection meeting and can already provide a written summary of your findings? Have you been published in academic journals and by publishing houses that are reviewed according to international standards? If so, and if you fulfil the criteria under the “What is required of you” section, apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdocs.
Experienced researchers
Did you complete your doctorate – or equivalent academic qualification – during the last twelve years? Is your academic profile substantiated by an extensive list of publications including important papers in which you acted as thematic lead? And do you also hold a leadership role commensurate with your career level in a corresponding position (eg. assistant professor, lecturer, head of an independent research group or higher-level position)? If so, and if you fulfil the criteria under the “What is required of you” section, apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship for experienced researchers.
If a doctorate in your field or country of origin is not possible or uncommon, you can still apply up to 16 years after completing your master’s or other postgraduate degree provided that you have a publication record commensurate with your career level.
What is required of you
You must fulfil the following criteria to successfully apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship.
Nationality
Stay
Confirmation that research facilities are available/host’s statement
Expert reviews
Language skills
Is the Humboldt Research Fellowship not the most suitable fellowship for you? Use our Programme Search to find the sponsorship that fits your personal career or contact us for individual advice.
You must abide by the rules of good scientific practice (PDF) and the principles of scientific ethics. The foundation provides information on dealing with generative AI in the selection area.
You may not apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship if you have already received sponsorship directly from the Humboldt Foundation (research fellowship or award). In such cases, our alumni programmes are open to you.
How to apply
If you would like to apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship, please submit the necessary documents to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation online only.
If you have any doubts or questions, please contact us (info[at]avh.de) before submitting your application. We are happy to help.
What we need from you
Please note that you may only submit your application once you have uploaded the following documents in the application form:
- curriculum vitae (two pages max)
- research outline ( five pages max)
- complete list of your publications (cf. sample list, PDF)
- list of selected key publications (cf. sample list, PDF)
- key publications
- doctoral certificate or proof that your doctorate has been completed successfully, or confirmation that you will complete your doctorate before the envisaged selection meeting
- German language certificate, if required
- if required: publisher’s acceptance notifications and/or acknowledgement of receipt and summaries/translations of key publications that are not available in German or in English
- two expert reviews: please note that these documents can only be uploaded in a protected area by the expert reviewers personally. You can only submit your application once these documents have been uploaded if the portal is open at that time.
- a detailed statement of your host in Germany as well as a confirmation of research facilities. Once you have submitted your application, your host will receive a link allowing insight into your application documents as well as the upload of any relevant documents. Please note that your application will only be forwarded to the Humboldt Foundation once your host has uploaded all the necessary documents for your application. You can check the status of your application in the corresponding field in the application form.
Deadlines
Corresponding to the three selection rounds per year, there will be three calls for applications annually, each opening approximately eight months before the respective selection meeting. Once a call has reached the maximum number of currently 800 applications, the application round will be closed. Applicants who have already started their application at that time will be able to save and continue working on it but will not be able to submit until the next call opens.
Calls schedule:
| Call opens … | For selection meeting … | Earliest possible start of fellowship … |
| … on 15 March | … in November | … in February of the following year |
| … on 15 July | … in March of the following year | … in May of the following year |
| … on 15 November | … in July of the following year | … in September of the following year |
Incomplete or inaccurate applications take longer to process and often have to be postponed to a later Selection Committee meeting.
The deadline for meeting certain formal conditions – in particular those relating to limitations on career stages and previous stays in Germany – is the date on which we receive your application. If you are unable to submit your application before the closure of the application portal, your application will be considered to have been received on the date on which the portal closed, provided that you submit it no more than 14 days after the next call opens.
If your application is unsuccessful, we may provide you with the reasons for our decision. Please request this information informally by email. You and your host will receive a letter with the outcome of your application approximately five weeks after the decision is made. Decisions cannot be appealed. You can, however, re-apply if you significantly improve crucial aspects of the rejected application. In the case of unanimously rejected applications, you must unfortunately wait a minimum of 18 months before re-applying.
The selection procedure
ApplicantsHostFoundationNotification
| Application process | Verification 4-8 weeks | Review approx. 3-6 months | Selection Feb./Mar., June/July, Oct./Nov. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application submission:Applicant submits completed application formApplication automatically forwarded to hosts:Hosts upload their documents required for the applicationOnly once all documents have been submitted:Application received by the Alexander von Humboldt FoundationConfirmation of receipt | Formal eligibility checkFormal rejection sent to applicants and hosts, if applicableCompleteness checkApplicants notified of selection dateFurther information requested from applicants and hosts, if necessary | Requests for peer reviews (usually two)allowing for potential impartiality issuesReviewed applications sent to specialist committee membersApplications presented to selection committeeDecision | After selection meeting:Applicants and hosts informed promptly of selection resultsIf application is approved:Grant documents are provided (approx. 4 weeks after selection meeting)Start of fellowshipno less than two and no more than twelve months after selection meeting (preceded by language course if required)If application is rejected:On request: information of applicants and hosts of factors leading to rejection |
In March 2022, the Humboldt Foundation launched the pilot phase of a new, digital, interactive review process. Whilst the previous procedure usually involved the submission of two independent specialist reviews for each application, the peer-circle process now being tested is based on a group of reviewers comparing and discussing several applications on a protected platform.
The peer circle process was concurrently evaluated by an independent researcher in 2022 and has since been gradually expanded to further disciplines.The results of the evaluation can be found here.
The decision to award research fellowships is taken by a selection committee consisting of 60–70 researchers from various fields. Applications are academically evaluated by means of a peer review process based on the following selection criteria, in each case dependent on your career level:
- academic career and academic record to date (mobility, determination, thematic scope, academic productivity)
- quality of the key publications named in the application (originality, innovativeness, evaluation of your own contributions to publications involving several authors)
- originality and innovative potential of your proposed research (significance for the further development of the subject area, convincing selection of scientific methods, potential for scientific development, clear focus and feasibility within the requested sponsorship period, viability at the host institute)
- your future potential (academic potential, personal development, career prospects, e.g. professorial appointment)
- your independent research profile (for experienced researchers)
The assessment also considers the individual life journey and educational background, also and especially in terms of equal opportunities and accessibility.
All the best for your application!
Questions & answers
Application requirements
Academic host
Preparation/Planning
Application documents
Selection procedure
Selection
This programme is financed by
Collaborative programmes
On this research fellowship programme, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation cooperates with various private partners. Together, we aim to recruit highly qualified researchers for a research stay in Germany. The application, selection and sponsorship processes in programmes that involve private collaborative partners are conducted in accordance with the established procedure and guidelines of the Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme. In many cases, the privately co-financed fellowships include additional offers, such as visits to the collaborative partners, invitations to events or facilitating contacts.
If you are interested in such fellowships, please sign the corresponding declaration of consent in the application form. You will be informed as to whether the Humboldt Foundation has been able to admit you to one of the collaborative programmes in the award letter.
Collaborative partners:
- Bayer Foundation
- Carl Friedrich von Siemens Foundation