Financial Aid for Post-Doctorates

Do you want to continue adding to your qualifications after obtaining your doctorate? Seeking a professorship? There is a whole series of financial aid possibilities open to you. An interesting selection of the major programs is provided below: It also pays to check our grants/scholarship page.

Financing your own research at DFG

Post doctorate positions can be created and funded in the context of a project in Germany. Detailed information and application forms can be downloaded from the DFG homepage.

DFG Junior researcher grants 

DFG has set up an extensive grant program for junior researchers. A variety of funding possibilities for various scientific career qualifications are available. For a good overview, see the interactive DFG Gepris database. 

• Postdoc qualification at home: DFG offers a choice of funding opportunities for your post doctorate qualification. Under the terms of this research project, you can work individually or as a team member.  The support programs for post-docs include staff assignments, junior researcher teams, and the facilitation of scientific events. More information.

• Postdoc qualification abroad: A qualified research visit abroad lets you establish new contacts and participate in important collaborative projects and, in this way, achieve another step towards a successful career in research. DFG supports you along the way with research grants. More information.
  
  

Alexander v. Humboldt Foundation

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation grants approximately 150 scholarships annually to highly qualified post-doctoral and experienced young German researchers (under 38 years of age) for long term research visits abroad.

• Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship for long term research projects abroad for up to 24 months.
• Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship for short term study visits abroad for at least 3 and not more than 6 consecutive months, with a total duration of up to 18 months.

Volkswagen Foundation

Besides the organizational and individual grants, the Volkswagen Foundation also offers support initiatives for special focus research topics, for example, pressing social concerns or internationally relevant issues. See the current list of funding initiatives.

On the path to a permanent professorship, the Lichtenberg Professorship program is an interesting option. The offer is primarily directed at highly qualified young scholars with two to three years of experience. The offer is also open to other scientists, especially applicants wishing to return from abroad, who obtained their Ph. D. several years ago and established internationally recognized researchers are potential candidates for a Lichtenberg Professorship.

Fritz Thyssen Foundation

The aim of the Fritz Thyssen Foundation is to provide direct support for the advancement of science and research at universities and research institutes, primarily in Germany. Special emphasis is given to junior researchers. The foundation supports scientific research projects in the context their specifically defined types and areas of support.

However, the foundation is unable to provide support to a whole series of requests which are received time and time again. To avoid rejection of your application, the foundation has prepared a list which shows the topics that are not eligible for support.