Georg Forster Research Fellowship for researchers from developing and transition countries

Attention, researchers from developing and transition countries! The Georg Forster Research Fellowship supports you – postdoctoral and experienced researchers – with your research in Germany.

Through the Georg Forster Research Fellowship, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation sponsors researchers with above-average qualifications and from all fields. These researches must come from developing and transition countries – excluding PR China and India (see list of countries, PDF). As a fellow, you will benefit from individual support from the Humboldt Foundation and our diverse sponsorship portfolio.

• Programme information for postdocs (PDF, 40 KB)
• Programme information for experienced researchers (PDF, 41 KB)
• Information for hosts
• Information for expert reviewers
• Information for independent peer reviewers

What we offer

The Georg Forster 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 for research costs.

• Information on sponsorship during the research stay
• Information on sponsorship for alumni abroad

Postdocs

Benefit from research sponsorship in Germany at the beginning of your academic career. The Georg Forster Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers enables you to conduct research in Germany. The monthly fellowship amount is €2,670. Fellowships may last from 6 to 24 months.

Experienced researchers

You can still apply for research sponsorship in Germany even if you are already well advanced in your academic career. The Georg Forster Research Fellowship for experienced researchers enables you to conduct research in Germany. The monthly fellowship amount is €3,170. 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, 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 marital partner will be able to attend an intensive German language course.

Further financial support, including family benefits for children and marital 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 collaborations. A return fellowship or later visits to Germany are also possible.

You must meet the following criteria

The Georg Forster Research Fellowship is exclusively for post-doctoral researchers with above-average qualifications from developing or transition countries. Your research must address questions relevant to the further development of your region of origin, regardless of your field.

Postdocs

Did you complete your doctorate – or equivalent academic qualification – during the last four years? Or are you within six months of submitting your doctoral thesis 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 Georg Forster Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers.

Experienced researchers

Did you complete your doctorate – or equivalent qualification – during the last twelve years? Is your academic profile substantiated by an extensive list of publications 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 Georg Forster 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

To successfully apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship, your research should make a significant contribution to the further development of your region of origin. You must also fulfil the following criteria:

You must abide by the rules of good scientific practice (PDF) and the principles of scientific ethics.

You may not apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship if you have already received sponsorship from the Humboldt Foundation. In such cases, our alumni programmes are open to you.

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the Georg Forster 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 to the application form:

• • curriculum vitae (two pages max)
  • research outline (five pages max)
  • complete list of your publications (cf. sample list, PDF)
  • list of key publications (cf. sample list, PDF)
  • key publications
  • doctoral certificate or proof that your doctorate has been completed successfully, or confirmation that this will be the case within the next six months
  • German language certificate, if required
  • if required: acceptance form and/or publisher’s acknowledgement of receipt and summaries/translations of key publications that are not available in English
  • In addition: host’s statement and confirmation that research facilities are available, as well as two expert reviews. Please note that these documents can only be uploaded in a protected area by the host(s) and expert reviewers personally. You can only submit your application once these documents have been uploaded. Further information and explanations can be found on the application form.

As soon as we have received your online application, we will send you written confirmation by email. After reviewing your documents, we will notify you of the expected selection date.

Deadlines

The Selection Committee responsible for reviewing applications to this programme meets every February, June and October. Please send your completed application form, including any additional documents required, well in advance of the desired selection date. Applications are usually processed within four to eight months. 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 your application is successful, you may begin your fellowship between two and twelve months after being selected.

If your application is unsuccessful, we may provide you with 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 your rejected application. In the case of unanimously rejected applications, you must unfortunately wait a minimum of 18 months before re-applying.

• Georg Forster Research Fellows in portrait
• Members of the Selection Committee