Getting Started Acquiring External Funding
As a doctoral student, postdoc or habilitation candidate, you are planning or working on a research project to achieve academic qualifications. You can finance your research externally through a scholarship or third-party project funds; in addition, you may also pursue the option to prepare a research stay abroad. If doctoral students have questions about funding their doctoral studies, please visit the website of the Graduate School of the University of Bayreuth/Servicestelle WiN-UBT, contact person is Dr. Alina Jahn.
Postdoctoral scholarship
You can apply for a scholarship from a variety of foundations. You can find the application documents and information on how to apply including the deadlines for submission on the relevant webpages of the foundation. See the offers below under "Mobility". Normally, you can prepare and submit the application yourself. If your application is approved, you will receive a scholarship and have to take care of your own health insurance. The Service Office WiN-UBT provides information about further funding opportunities at the University of Bayreuth.
Project funding
Applications for third-party project funds can only be submitted by academics who already hold a doctorate. In a third-party-funded project, you can apply for staff (including for your own position), materials, and travel expenses. Project applications can be submitted to the German Research Council, federal and state ministries, various foundations such as the Volkswagen Foundation or the Fritz Thyssen Foundation. As an academic staff member employed by the university, you are covered with health and social insurance.
Going abroad
European and national research funding organisations aim to strengthen the excellence of young researchers in Europe. Various funding bodies offer one to two-year research stays abroad for particularly qualified young academics who have completed their doctorate.
National and international funding programs for Early Career Researchers
Here we present an overview of funding programmes for junior researchers. If you have any questions regarding these or subject-specific programs, please contact the Research Support Office.
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DFG: Individual Research Grants with Temporary Position for Principal Investigator
Duration: max. 3 years
Funding amount: follows governmental salary scales for public service (TV-L)
Closing date: anytimeEligibility
- Qualified researchers (as a rule, those holding a doctorate) from all disciplines working at German research institutions
- Research project of high scientific quality and originality, carried out at an international level
- Applications only in conjunction with Individual Research Grant (Sachbeihilfe)
DFG: Walter Benjamin Programme
Duration: up to 2 years
Funding amount: follows governmental salary scales for public service (TV-L), plus allowance for direct project costs
Closing date: anytimeEligibility:
- Postdoctoral researchers at an early career stage, ideal for recently graduated PhDs
- Mobility is expected, i.e. candidates should not plan to stay at institute of doctoral studies
DFG: Heisenberg Programme (Heisenberg Position or Heisenberg Professorship)
Duration: 5 years (3+2)
Funding amount: follows governmental salary scales for public service (TV-L) or for professors (W-Besoldung)
Closing date: anytimeEligibility:
- Researcher has to meet all requirements for appointment to a professorship
- High scientific quality and originality of the research project at international level and suitability for further qualification as a university teacher
Volkswagen Foundation: Open Up – New Research Spaces for the Humanities and Cultural Studies
Duration: max. 18 months
Funding amount: up to €250.000 (two PIs) / €350.000 (three PIs)
Closing date: please refer to webpage or contact usEligibility:
- All career levels after the PhD
- Scientists working in the humanities or cultural studies as well as scientists working in theoretical social sciences
- Researchers have to be employed at a scientific institution in Germany
- Researchers from foreign institutions are welcome to apply as co-applicants
Fritz Thyssen Foundation: Own Position in a Research Project
Duration: max. 3 years (2 years as a rule)
Funding amount: follows governmental salary scales for public service (TV-L)
Closing date: 1 February and 1 September of each yearEligibility:
- All career levels after the PhD
- Project needs to fit one of the Foundation’s research areas
- Planned project staff cannot submit applications. Junior scholars with doctoral degrees can apply for their own post within the framework of a project proposed by a project leader or principal investigator (as a rule a professor)
- Qualified researchers (as a rule, those holding a doctorate) from all disciplines working at German research institutions
- RESEARCH GROUP LEADERHide
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European Commission: ERC Starting Grant (2-7 years after PhD)
Duration: max. 5 years
Funding amount: up to €1.5 Mio.
Closing date: please refer to webpage or contact usEligibility:
- 2-7 years of postdoctoral experience since completion of PhD
- Research must be conducted in a public or private research organisation (known as a Host Institution/HI) in any of the EU Member States or Associated Countries
- Applications for an ERC grant must be submitted by a single Principal Investigator (PI) in conjunction with their Host Institution, called the Applicant Legal Entity
European Commission: ERC Consolidator Grant
Duration: 5 years
Funding amount: up to € 2 Mio
Closing date: please refer to webpage or contact usEligibility:
- 7-12 years of postdoctoral experience since completion of PhD
- Scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal
- Research must be conducted in a public or private research organisation (known as a Host Institution/HI) in any of the EU Member States or Associated Countries
- Applications for an ERC grant must be submitted by a single Principal Investigator (PI) in conjunction with their Host Institution, called the Applicant Legal Entity
DFG: Emmy Noether-Programme (Independent Junior Research Group Leader)
Duration: max. 6 years (3 +3)
Funding amount: follows governmental salary scales for public service (TV-L) plus allowance for direct project costs
Closing date: anytimeEligibility:
- Up to 4 years after completion of the doctorate (normally at least two years postdoctoral experience)
- Excellent research project and
- Substantial international research experience
- Assessed on the basis of previous research work, ambitious publications in internationally respected journals or a comparable format
Boehringer Ingelheim Stiftung: Plus3 Perspectives Programme for Independent Junior Research Group Leaders
Duration: 3 years
Funding amount: up to € 900.000 over every funding period of 3 years
Closing date: 15 March and 15 September of each yearEligibility:
- PhD less than 12 years prior to the application deadline
- 2-5 years of experience as an independent research group leader in a German institution, gained through a competitive process
- Candidates from the fields of medicine, chemistry, or biology (excl. zoological research and research on systematic botany)
- Substantial international experience
- Outstanding publishing record
- Hosting institution confirms to offer permanent position after 6 years, and must contribute to research facilities and equipment
Elitenetzwerk Bayern (ENB): Junior Research Group (Nachwuchsforschungsgruppe)
Duration: 5 Years
Funding amount: follows governmental salary scales for public service (TV-L) plus allowance for direct project costs
Closing date: please refer to webpage or contact usEligibility:
- 2-5 years after PhD
- for two years prior to the application applicants must have carried out research at an institution other than the hosting institution
- Outstanding scientific track record
- Original research proposal
- Theme of research group has to match either one of the elite graduate programmes or the international doctoral programmes of the ENB
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Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions: European Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF)
Duration: 12-24 months
Funding amount: fixed monthly sum (depending on host country), plus mobility allowance and (if applicable) family allowance, please refer to webpage for current rates
Closing date: please refer to webpage or contact usEligibility:
- Up to 8 years after PhD
- Mobility rule: researchers of all nationalities who have not spent more than 12 months during the last three years in the country of their future host organisation
- Host Institution need to be located in a EU Member State or Associated Country
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions: Global Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF)
Duration: 12-24 month (+12 months return phase)
Funding amount: fixed monthly sum (depending on host country), plus mobility allowance and (if applicable) family allowance, please refer to webpage for current rates
Closing date: please refer to webpage or contact usEligibility:
- Researchers from EU Member State (MS) or Associated Country (AC) holding a PhD for up to 8 years. Global PF are also open for nationals of third countries if they are long term residents, meaning a period of at least 5 consecutive years spent in a MS or AC prior to the deadline
- Mobility rule: researchers may not have spent more than 12 months during the last three years in the country of their future host organisation
- Host Institution need to be located in a Third Country (e.g. USA, Canada, Japan). The Global PF include a mandatory return phase of 12 months to Europe
Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation: Feodor Lynen-Research Fellowship for Researchers (research stay outside Germany)Duration: 6-24 months (Postdoctoral Fellowship), 6-18 months (Experienced Researcher Fellowship) abroad
Funding amount: fixed monthly sum, generous family allowance, return fellowships upon application, please refer to webpage for current rates
Closing date: anytime, selection meetings take place in February, June and October of each yearEligibility:
- Up to 4 years after PhD (Postdoctoral Fellowship) or up to 12 years after PhD (Experienced Researcher Fellowship)
- Excellent average academic history and academic record
- Host confirmation of research facilities (host must be member of foundation’s alumni network, see related information on the link below)
- Experienced researchers require their own academic profile and professional experience at least at the level of assistant professor or junior research group leader or several years of independent scientific employment
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation: Humboldt Research Fellowship for Researchers (research stay in Germany)
Duration: 6-24 months (Postdoctoral Fellowship), 6-18 months (Experienced Researcher Fellowship) in Germany
Funding amount: fixed monthly sum + additional benefits + family allowance, please refer to webpage for current rates
Closing date: anytime, selection meetings take place in March, July and November of each yearEligibility:
- PhD completed less than 4 years prior to application (Postdoctoral Fellowship) or less than 12 years prior to application (Experienced Researcher Fellowship)
- Excellent academic record and academic performance
- Originality and innovation potential of the suggested research outline
- Host confirmation of research facilities
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation: Georg Forster Research Fellowship for Researchers from Developing or Transition Countries (research stay in Germany)
Duration: 6-24 months (Postdoctoral Fellowship), 6-18 months (Experienced Researcher Fellowship) in Germany
Funding amount: fixed monthly sum + additional benefits + family allowance, please refer to webpage for current rates
Closing date: anytime, selection meetings take place in February, June and October of each yearEligibility:
- Researchers from developing or transition countries (excluding PR China and India)
- Research question needs to be relevant to the further development of applicant’s region of origin, regardless of research field
- PhD completed less than 4 years prior to application (Postdoctoral Fellowship) or less than 12 years prior to application (Experienced Researcher Fellowship)
- Academic record and academic performance following international standards
- Host confirmation of research facilities
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation: International Climate Protection FellowshipDuration: 12-24 month project in Germany
Funding amount: fixed monthly sum + additional benefits + family allowance, please refer to webpage for current rates
Closing date: please refer to webpage or contact usEligibility:
- Applicants are prospective leaders and postdocs with research-based climate expertise from a non-European developing and transition country
- Academic or practical work in climate protection or climate-relevant resource conservation in home country
- Very good knowledge of English and/or German
- Confirmation of support from host in Germany
DFG: Walter Benjamin-Programme abroad (International Funding Line-Fellowship)
Duration: up to 2 years.
Funding amount: Use the award calculator
Closing date: anytimeEligibility:
- Postdoctoral researchers at an early career stage, ideal for recently graduated PhDs
- Funding can only be provided if researchers are integrated into Germany’s academic research system. This is the case if, immediately prior to submitting a proposal, they have worked as a researcher in Germany for a continuous period of at least three years during their doctoral and/or postdoctoral phase
- If researchers are already based abroad, funding can be provided abroad if they have completed the majority of their schooling and higher education in Germany and, as of proposal time, have not spent more than three years abroad for research purposes after completing their doctorate in Germany or abroad
- Furthermore, they must not have worked longer than one year at the host institution selected for the Walter Benjamin fellowship as of proposal time
DAAD: Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience (PRIME)
Duration: 12 months abroad + 6 months mandatory reintegration in Germany
Funding amount: follows governmental salary scales for public service (TV-L), plus allowance for direct project costs
Closing date: please refer to webpage or contact usEligibility:
- PhD completed
- German host university must confirm in writing that the postdoc will be employed for the whole funding period, should the application be successful
- Applicants must comply with the programme’s mobility rule, i.e. they are free to choose any country (except Germany) as destination for their research stay abroad, provided they have not resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in that country for more than 12 months in total during the three years preceding the application deadline
- Applicants must accept that the research stay abroad and the return phase to Germany are both mandatory parts of the programme
DAAD: Research Fellowship at the Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme (MSH) Paris for the Humanities and Social Science
Duration: 6 months in France
Funding amount: monthly sum + additional benefits, please refer to webpage for current rates
Closing date: please refer to webpage or contact usEligibility:
- PhD completed less than 4 years ago, with at least ‘cum laude’
- Very good language skills in French
- Project subject has to differ from the PhD thesis
Leopoldina Research Fellowship
Duration: 1-2 years abroad
Funding amount: salary follows DFG funding guidelines (+ additional benefits)
Closing date: anytime, decisions are being made four times a yearEligibility:
- Up to seven years after PhD completion
- Post-doctoral researchers from the fields of natural science, medicine or history of sciences
- Independent research profile
- Outstanding scientific track record