๐ฉ๐ช Research Fellowship in Germany ๐ฌ Humboldt Research Fellowship 2026 ๐ Postdoc & Experienced Researchers ๐ฉ๐ช
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is offering its prestigious Humboldt Research Fellowship to postdoctoral and experienced researchers of all nationalities and research fields for a research stay in Germany. This highly competitive fellowship โ part of the Global Minds Initiative Germany of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space โ provides monthly funding of โฌ3,000 (postdocs) or โฌ3,600 (experienced researchers), plus extensive additional benefits, for a research period of 6 to 24 months at a German institution of the applicant’s choice. Applications are accepted from researchers worldwide, excluding those already based in Germany.
๐ Did You Know? The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has sponsored more than 30,000 researchers from over 140 countries since its founding. Among its alumni are over 55 Nobel Prize winners โ making the Humboldt network one of the most distinguished communities of researchers in the history of science. The Foundation is named after Alexander von Humboldt, the 19th-century explorer and naturalist who is widely regarded as one of the founding figures of modern geography and ecology.
What Does the Fellowship Offer?
๐ถ Postdoc Fellowship Amount: โฌ3,000 per month for a research stay of 6 to 24 months โ divisible into up to three separate stays within three years.
๐ถ Experienced Researcher Fellowship Amount: โฌ3,600 per month for a research stay of 6 to 18 months โ also divisible into up to three stays within three years.
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ง Family Benefits: Additional financial support available for children and partners accompanying the fellow during the stay in Germany.
๐ฅ Health Insurance: Subsidies for private full health insurance are provided.
โ๏ธ Travel Allowances: Travel expense allowances are included as part of the fellowship package.
๐ฉ๐ช German Language Course: Prior to the research fellowship, both the fellow and their partner may attend an intensive German language course โ fully supported by the Foundation.
๐ฌ Research Cost Subsidy: Host institutions may apply for a subsidy towards research costs connected to the fellowship.
๐ Alumni Support: Ongoing alumni sponsorship even after the fellowship ends โ including return fellowships, later visits to Germany, and continued support for research collaborations and career development.
๐ Did You Know? Germany is home to the world’s largest network of publicly funded research organisations, including the Max Planck Society, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Helmholtz Association, and the Leibniz Association โ collectively employing over 100,000 researchers. A Humboldt Fellowship gives recipients access to this extraordinary ecosystem, at an institution of their own choosing, with the full backing of one of the world’s most respected research funding foundations.
Eligibility & Requirements
๐ Nationality: Open to researchers of all nationalities, excluding those currently based in Germany. Researchers from Brazil should first check eligibility for the CAPES-Humboldt Research Fellowship.
๐ For Postdocs: Must have completed a doctorate within the last four years โ or be completing it before the envisaged selection meeting with a written summary of findings available. Must have an international publication record.
๐ For Experienced Researchers: Must have completed a doctorate within the last twelve years. Must hold a leadership role commensurate with career level (e.g. assistant professor, lecturer, head of independent research group or higher). Must have an extensive publication record including thematic lead publications.
๐๏ธ Host Institution: Applicants must secure a host at a German research institution of their choice before applying. The host provides a detailed statement and confirmation of available research facilities.
๐ Research Fields: Open to researchers from all academic disciplines โ the fellowship is not restricted to any particular field.
๐ Scientific Ethics: Applicants must abide by the rules of good scientific practice and the principles of scientific ethics.
โ Not Eligible: Researchers who have already received sponsorship directly from the Humboldt Foundation (research fellowship or award) are not eligible โ alumni programmes are available for them instead.
Required Documents
๐ Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages)
๐ Research Outline (maximum 5 pages)
๐ Complete List of Publications (following the Humboldt Foundation’s sample format)
๐ List of Selected Key Publications + the key publications themselves
๐ Doctoral Certificate or confirmation of successful completion / imminent completion
๐ฉ๐ช German Language Certificate (if required for your proposed research)
๐ฉโ๐ฌ Two Expert Reviews โ uploaded directly by the reviewers via a protected portal area
๐๏ธ Host Statement โ detailed statement and confirmation of research facilities, uploaded by your German host after application submission
Key Information
Application Link
๐ Apply here: www.humboldt-foundation.de โ Humboldt Research Fellowship
๐ป Applications must be submitted online only via the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s official portal.
๐ง For questions before applying: info@avh.de
๐
2026 Call Schedule: 15 March 2026 (open now) โ Selection November 2026 | 15 July 2026 โ Selection March 2027 | 15 November 2026 โ Selection July 2027
โ ๏ธ Important Notice
1๏ธโฃ Source of Information
This announcement has been prepared based on the information provided by the opportunity organiser.
2๏ธโฃ Responsibility for Content
The organiser is solely responsible for the accuracy, details, and updates of the opportunity content.
3๏ธโฃ Right to Modify or Withdraw
Organisations reserve the right to make changes after publication โ including eligibility criteria, conditions, or deadlines โ or to withdraw the announcement entirely.
4๏ธโฃ Disclaimer of Liability
YouthWorks Hub is not responsible for any such changes, updates, or cancellations made by the organiser.
๐ก Final Note:
All listings are shared for informational purposes only. Please always verify details directly through the official organiser or programme website before applying.
๐ณ๐ต Summer School in Nepal ๐ ACES Political Economy Summer School 2026 ๐ PhD Workshop, Kathmandu ๐ณ๐ต
๐จ๐ฟ Erasmus+ Training Course in Czechia ๐ค AI Unlocked ๐ Artificial Intelligence and Digital Literacy in Youth Work, Kolรญn ๐จ๐ฟ
๐ญ๐ท Erasmus+ Internship in Croatia ๐ต Music Composition Intern ๐ฎ Video Game Audio, Osijek ๐ญ๐ท
๐ท๐ด ESC Volunteering in Romania โ๏ธ Short Term Summer Fun Vol.5 ๐๏ธ Summer Camps for Disadvantaged Children, Cristuru Secuiesc ๐ท๐ด
