Germany Humboldt Research Fellowships 2027 With €3,600 Monthly Stipend Next Call Opens
Researchers planning a funded research stay in Germany in 2027 should prepare early for the next Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship call. The programme supports international postdoctoral and experienced researchers from virtually every academic discipline with monthly funding of up to €3,600, additional family and travel benefits, and the freedom to conduct research with a suitable host institution in Germany.
There is one important development for applicants: the current application round has already reached its maximum capacity and is closed to new submissions. The next call opens on 15 November 2026.
How Much Does the Humboldt Research Fellowship Pay?
Postdoctoral researchers receive €3,000 per month, while experienced researchers receive €3,600 per month, plus additional benefits.
The funding period depends on career stage:
| Applicant category | Monthly fellowship | Research period |
|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral researchers | €3,000 | 6–24 months |
| Experienced researchers | €3,600 | 6–18 months |
The fellowship can also be divided into as many as three research stays within a three-year period.
The financial package can extend beyond the monthly payment. Additional support may include family benefits for partners and children, subsidies towards private full health insurance and travel allowances. Fellows and their partners may also be able to attend an intensive German-language course before the research period begins.
Who Can Apply?
Researchers of all nationalities except Germany and from all research fields can potentially apply.
For the postdoctoral track, applicants normally need to have completed their doctorate or equivalent academic qualification within the previous four years. Researchers who will complete their doctorate before the relevant selection meeting may also qualify if they can already provide the required evidence of their research findings.
Applicants should also have publications in internationally reviewed academic journals or publishing houses.
The experienced-researcher route generally targets candidates who completed their doctorate within the previous 12 years and already have a substantial publication record and an academic leadership role appropriate to their career stage.
Where completing a doctorate is uncommon or impossible in an applicant’s field or country, researchers may potentially apply within 16 years of completing their master’s or another postgraduate qualification if their publication record is appropriate for their career level.
You Need a Research Host in Germany
This fellowship is not simply an application for money followed by choosing a university later.
Applicants need to develop their proposed research in cooperation with a host at a German research institution. The host must provide a detailed statement and confirmation that the necessary research facilities will be available.
After the applicant submits the online application, the host receives access to upload the required supporting documents. The Humboldt Foundation does not consider the application formally received until the necessary host documents have also been submitted.
For prospective applicants, this makes finding and contacting a suitable German researcher one of the most important preparation steps before November.
What Documents Should You Prepare?
The application is completed online and requires a substantial research dossier and the applicants should prepare:
- A CV of no more than two pages
- A research outline of no more than five pages
- Complete publication list
- Selected key-publications list
- Copies of key publications
- Doctoral certificate or qualifying completion evidence
- German-language certificate where required
- Two expert reviews
- Host statement and confirmation of research facilities
The Foundation specifically warns that applications missing important documents or substantially failing to follow its formatting specifications can be formally rejected without academic review.
How Competitive Is the Fellowship in 2027?
The Humboldt Foundation currently expects approximately 20–25% of submitted applications to receive approval. Selection considers the applicant’s academic career, publication quality, originality and feasibility of the proposed project, future academic potential and, for experienced researchers, evidence of an independent research profile.
This makes the research proposal and host relationship particularly important; academic credentials alone will not guarantee selection.
When Does the Next Humboldt Fellowship Call Open?
The next Humboldt Research Fellowship application call opens on 15 November 2026. That round is linked to the July 2027 selection meeting, with the earliest possible fellowship start expected in September 2027.
Applicants should not treat this like a conventional scholarship with a distant fixed deadline. Each Humboldt call can accept a maximum of 800 applications and closes once that limit is reached.
For researchers targeting Germany in 2027, the practical strategy is therefore to identify a host, refine the research proposal, organize expert reviewers and prepare the required documents before the portal reopens on 15 November rather than beginning the process after applications start.