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Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral and Experienced Researchers

AvHS and Germany

What is the Humboldt Research Fellowship?

Humboldt Research Fellowships for Postdoctoral and Experienced Researchers. Postdocs are awarded for a period of up to 24 months and support post-doctoral research visits of junior researchers to laboratories in Germany. Experienced Researchers are awarded for a period of 6-18 months (can be split into up to three shorter visits) and support research visits of experienced researchers – Assistant Professors or Junior Research Group Leaders – to laboratories in Germany. For more details see HF 2025 Postdocs and Experienced Researchers summary  .

Who can apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship

  • Non-German Junior researchers & postdocs up to 4 years since completing a PhD.
  • Non-German experienced researcher – Assistant Professor, Junior Research Group Leader (up to 12 years since completing a PhD.

Why apply for the Humboldt Fellowship for Research Fellowship?

  • You can spend up to 24 months as in Germany and undertake your research project as postdocs.
  • You can spend 6-18 months (in one go or in up to 3 shorter research visits) on research visit in Germany and realise your research project as Experienced Researchers.
  • You can get a fellowship of 2700 € per month/ for postdocs, 3200 € per month/ for Experienced Researchers, family allowances for marital partners and children, a host institution allowance of 800 € per month, a lump sum for travel expenses.
  • You can attend an intensive language course lasting 2–4 months that takes place immediately prior to the start of the fellowship.
  • You can ask for an additional extension of the fellowship for up to 12 months if you are accompanied by children under the age of 12.
  • You can request a subsidy towards the cost of medical and liability insurance (70 € if travel health insurance used, 50% of insurance premium up to maximum premium rates if comprehensive health insurance used).
  • Europe allowance for a research stay at a research institute in another European country (though not the research fellow’s own country); for a designated period in the course of the fellowship if necessary to ensure the success of the research.
  • Extensive alumni sponsorship once a successful research stay has come to an end.
  • After successful completion of the Humboldt Fellowship, fellows can apply for a return fellowship to sponsor reintegration into an institute abroad in developing/threshold countries or countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

When to apply for the Humboldt Fellowship for Postdocs?

The Humboldt application system is open throughout the year, but there are three selection meetings every year (March, July and November). Evaluation results are announced within 4 weeks from the selection meeting. It is recommended to apply at least 4-8 months before each selection meeting.

  Please inform the Project Office about your intention to apply.  
  Do not hesitate to contact us anytime for consulting, discussion or help.  

How to apply for the Humboldt Fellowship for Postdocs?

  1. Find and read programme guidelines:
  2. Establish or use your Humboldt account.
  3. Negotiate an outstanding host for your postdoc in Germany, discuss your potential research project with him/her and ask him/her for institutional support. An academic host is any researcher working at a university or research institution in Germany who offers to make research facilities available for the research stay. The host is expected to write a confirmation that research facilities are available for your research, a mentoring agreement and a detailed expert’s statement.
    • HF 2025 List of questions host  
    • HF 2025 Confirmation of research facilities  
    • Negotiate the arrangements for your short stay research visit with your IOCB supervisor and request authorisation to submit the proposal via the internal electronic IOCB Project Proposal Approval System (PPAS). You must be either connected to the IOCB network or via the IOCB Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access this system.
    • Contact two referees and ask them for references and recommendations. Your Ph.D. supervisor and one other researcher – outside of your institute, if possible – should provide well-grounded information on your qualifications.
    • Activate the referees and the host institute via the Humboldt account as soon as possible. It is your responsibility to check that the referees and the host institute have received the request and have submitted the references and the appropriate forms.
    • Complete your online application form in your Humboldt account.
    • Finalise your application.
      • Online Application in your Humboldt account (applicant)
      • CV (max 2 pages; applicant)
      • List of publications (applicant; see HF 2025 Sample list of Key publications  )
      • List of selected 1–3 key publications that are published or accepted (applicant; see HF 2025 Sample list of Key publications  )
      • Key publications (applicant)
      • Ph.D. certificate or confirmation that your doctorate will be completed within 6 months (applicant)
      • Research outline: clear description of (i) the current state of research supported by 5 relevant publications from the research area; (ii) the research questions to be examined, their originality and significance for the advancement of the research field; (iii) the academic methods to be used to achieve the goals, documented by references (max 5 pages; applicant & host institution)
      • Two supporting expert reviews from academics (one must be from the Ph.D. supervisor) (referees)
      • Confirmation that research facilities are available and mentoring agreement and a detailed expert’s statement by an academic host at a research institution in Germany (host institution)
    • Submit your application online whenever throughout the year, there are no deadlines. It is recommended to submit application at least 4–8 months before the selection meeting (March, July, November).

Final evaluation results will be announced to applicants within 4 weeks from the selection meeting. You can expect the results in April, August or December. Successful applicants have to start the fellowship within 2–12 months from the selection meeting, see HF 2025 Timeline  .

Humboldt Foundation contact: ☎ +49 228 833 0, info@avh.de


Other funding programmes of the Humboldt Foundation

  • Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers (outgoing to Germany; see more details)
  • Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers (incoming from Germany; see more details)
  • Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers (incoming from Germany; see more details)
  • Sofja Kovalevskaja Award (outgoing to Germany; see more details)
  • Humboldt Research Award (outgoing to Germany; see more details)


IOCB

IOCB participation (10) in Humboldt Fellowships