Call for Applications: DAAD Prime Fellowship Program 2025

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants with above-average qualifications from all faculties may apply.
• Applicants can be from any nationality
• Applicants must accept that the research stay abroad and the return phase to Germany are both mandatory parts of the programme.
• To be considered for funding, applicants living abroad are expected to state their intent to continue their research careers in Germany upon completion of the return phase.
• Applicants who already have a permanent employment contract with the prospective host institution for the intended research activity are not eligible for funding.
• You may apply up to six years after the (first) doctorate. 
• They must have completed their doctorate with excellent results before the start of funding.

Offered Benefits

• The DAAD will conclude a grant agreement with the respective German university covering the costs for the regular salary and the monthly expatriate allowance.

  • Salary: temporary 18-month employment contract at a German university according to pay scale TV-L EG 13 (€70,000 – 80,000). Your exact pay is determined by the universities based on your previous work experience.
  • Expatriate allowance: A monthly expatriate allowance for the research stay abroad is based on an area classification of the destination and the gross income of the fellows.
  • Travel allowance: PRIME Fellows receive the DAAD lump sum travel subsidy for postdoctoral scientists.
  • Spouses and children are also eligible if they accompany the fellow for at least one month during the research stay abroad. The travel allowance is paid directly by DAAD.
• DAAD provides funding for an 18-month employment contract at a German university to conduct a 12-month research stay abroad with a 6-month subsequent return phase to Germany.
• During your 12 months abroad, you may combine stays at several research institutions in one or several countries.

Application Process

Required Documents:

• Application Form 
• EU standard Curriculum vitae
• Binding declaration from the German host university (form)
• Invitation letter from the German host
• Time schedule for the realization of the planned work abroad and in Germany
• A detailed and independently prepared research proposal
• One confidential letter of recommendation from a university professor
• Short summary/abstract of the research project
• Your career plan (one-page max.) Your career plan (one-page max.)