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Germany

Humboldt Research Fellowship (Germany)

Germany's most prestigious postdoc fellowship, with no deadlines and no quotas — they fund every application that meets the bar. You choose any German host professor, design the project together, and the Humboldt network stays with you for the rest of your career.

No application feeHost professor requiredApply year-round

Fact sheet

Funding
≈ €2,700/month (tax-free) + allowances + German course
Typical deadline window
Rolling — apply any time (selection committee meets ~3×/year)
Application fee
None
Language test
None (English is fine in most fields)
Where you study
Germany

What it covers

  • Monthly fellowship for 6–24 months at any German host institution
  • Mobility and family allowances
  • Intensive German course for you (and language support for your spouse)
  • Lifelong alumni benefits: return visits, equipment grants, conference funding

Can you apply?

  • PhD completed less than 4 years ago (postdoc track) or 4–12 years (experienced-researcher track)
  • A German host professor must agree to host you before you apply
  • Publications in international peer-reviewed journals are expected

Insider tips

  1. 01Secure the host first — their detailed statement about you and the project is decisive, so co-write the proposal with them.
  2. 02No deadline means no excuse to rush: a polished application in three months beats a rushed one this week.
  3. 03If rejected, you may reapply once with substantive improvements — many fellows won on the second attempt.
Official page ↗Track this applicationDocument checklist

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Stipend amounts and deadlines shown are recent figures and change between intakes — always confirm on the official page above before planning.