Current Calls for all Career Stages

Foto eines Kalenders, in dem ein Termin rot umkreist ist
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Scholarships, Fellowships, Research Grants

On this page, we refer to a selection of current calls for applications for scholarships, prizes, research grants, or fellowships. Despite great care, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided.

Research Information Service (FIT)

As a member of the UDE, you can subscribe to the Research Information Service (FIT) free of charge. FIT is an e-mail service that provides you with tailored information on research funding. This service is only available in German.

January 2026

Call Deadline Career stage Subject group(s)
NRW-Rückkehrprogramm 2025: Junior research groups in the biological sciences (Information mostly in German) 09.01.2026 Postdoc (Advanced) Biological Science
The Branco Weiss Fellowship: Society in Science 15.01.2026 Postdoc all

Feburary 2026

Call Deadline Career stage Subject group(s)
Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) - Foundation basic research in biomedicine: PhD fellowships 01.02.2026 PhD natural sciences, biomedicine

March 2026

Call Deadline Career stage Subject group(s)
Körber Stiftung: German Thesis Award 01.03.2026 Postdoc all
German Chemical Industry Association (VCI): Kekulé Scholarship  01.03.2026 PhD (start) (EU nationality) chemistry and chemistry-related subjects 
VolkswagenStiftung: Scoping Workshops 17.03.2026 Postdoc, Junior Faculty all
Joachim Herz Stiftung: Add-on fellowships for Interdisciplinary Science and Transfer 22.03.2026 PhD, Postdocs, Junior Faculty (without tenure) business administration, economics, life sciences and materials science
Wübben Science Foundation: Sandpit - Big Data in the natural sciences 31.03.2026 Postdoc (with at least 1 year employment contract) big data in the natural sciences

April 2026

Call Deadline Career stage Subject group(s)
German Society for Biomedical Engineering in the VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (VDE DGBMT) and Klee Family Foundation: Prize for Innovation in Biomedical Technology 30.04.2026 all medical issues solved through technical transfer

June 2026

Call Deadline Career stage Subject group(s)
Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) - Foundation basic research in biomedicine: PhD fellowships 01.06.2026 PhD natural sciences, biomedicine
Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation: Heinrich Wieland Prize 01.06.2026 all (if outstanding research) biologically active molecules and systems in the areas of chemistry, biochemistry, and physiology as well as their clinical importance

July 2026

Call Deadline Career stage Subject group(s)
German Chemical Industry Association (VCI): Kekulé Scholarship 01.07.2026 PhD (start) (EU nationality) chemistry and chemistry-related subjects
Foamed Plastics and Polyurethanes Association (FSK): Innovation Award for Foamed Plastics and Polyurethanes 15.07.2026 all all disciplines related to foam plastics and polyurethanes

September 2026

Call Deadline Career stage Subject group(s)
Hans Böckler Foundation: Maria Weber Grant 2027 – Teaching Substitution for Junior Professors and Postdoctoral Researchers  15.09.2026 Junior Faculty all

October 2026

Call Deadline Career stage Subject group(s)
Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) - Foundation basic research in biomedicine: PhD fellowships 01.10.2026 PhD natural sciences, biomedicine
Daimler and Benz Foundation 2027: Research Funding for Early Career Researchers  01.10.2026 Postdoc, Junior Faculty all

November 2026

Call Deadline Career stage Subject group(s)
German Chemical Industry Association (VCI): Kekulé Scholarship 01.11.2026 PhD (start) (EU nationality) chemistry and chemistry-related subjects

March 2027

Call Deadline Career stage Subject group(s)
Ingrid zu Solms Foundation: Ingrid zu Solms Prize for Medicine 01.03.2027 Postdoc, Junior Faculty (female, younger than 40 or 42 years old) medicine

April 2027

Ausschreibung Frist Karrierephase Fächergruppen/Fachgebiet
Ingrid zu Solms-Stiftung: Ingrid zu Solms-Preis für Natur-, Lebens- und Ingenieurwissenschaften 30.04.2027 Postdoc, Junior Faculty (weiblich, jünger als 40 bzw. 42 Jahre) Natur-, Lebens- und Ingenieurwissenschaften

Anytime

Call Deadline Career stage Subject group(s)
The Federal Government: Guide to Research and Innovation Funding      
Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation: Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship
(Information event on 24.09.2024)
anytime Postdoc, Junior Faculty all
Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation: Henriette Herz-Scouting-Programme anytime Postdoc, Junior Faculty (without German citizenship) all
Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) - Research scholarship (funding period: 6-24 months) anytime PhD, Postdoc all
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): Scholarship Program 'ERA Fellowships - Green Hydrogen' Master: spring/autumn; PhD/Postdoc: anytime Master, PhD, Postdoc Natural sciences, engineering, economics, social sciences and law in regard to hydrogen
Chemical Industry Fund: Liebig Scholarship for the start of a university teaching career (3-year funding, equipment for the working group and a doctoral scholarship for one research assistant) anytime Postdoc chemistry
Heinrich Hertz Foundation: Scholarship for a research stay abroad anytime all (restricted for doctoral researchers) all