TWAS-DFG Cooperation Visits Program for African Researchers 2024 for Master

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants need to hold a PhD obtained not earlier than 2019; however, for female applicants the year limit for the PhD can be extended by two years per child, i.e. for a woman with one child the PhD year would be 2017 or later. This exception for female applicants has a limit of three children which equals a maximum of six years. Therefore, the PhD of a female applicant with three or more children should not have been obtained before 2013.
• Applicants must be nationals of a  sub-Saharan African country, including South Africa, and hold a research position in  sub-Saharan African country.
• Applicants already on site in Germany are not eligible.
• Applicants with an established collaboration with the intended host are not eligible. Examples of established collaboration include one common publication with the host Professor; a previous visit to the host laboratory; interactions between applicant and supervisor as a result of meeting at a conference; the host Professor was previously the applicant's MSc or PhD supervisor.
• Previous recipients of a TWAS-DFG Cooperation Visit cannot reapply. For a second visit, the German host can apply for funding under the DFG  Initiation of International Collaboration Programme.
• Women scientists are especially encouraged to apply.
• All academic fields will be considered.

Offered Benefits

• The aim of the visit is to initiate research collaboration between African and German scientists with the ultimate goal of developing longer-term links, perhaps through other Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, or German Research Foundation) programmes.
•  DFG will cover travel expenses and provide subsistence costs for the stay in German

Application Process

• TWAS-DFG Cooperation Visits do not include provisions for accompanying family members.
• Applications for part-time visits will be considered ineligible.
• Successful applicants must not take up other assignments during the period of their Cooperation Visits.
• DFG shall be entitled to a repayment of all or part of any funds paid to an applicant hereunder, in the event that the applicant intentionally or negligently fails to fulfil any or all of the above conditions. The applicant agrees to pay any reasonable legal and/or collection costs incurred by DFG to obtain the repayment.

Required Documents:

• Scanned copy of your passport, even if expired (page with your name and surname);
• A recent invitation letter from a German host:

1. - Maximum two pages on the host institution’s letterhead paper,
2. - It should contain the proposed time of the visit (up to 3 months) and should refer to the proposed cooperation; the results of the selection will be available in spring 2024.
3. - It should be made evident that the applicant and the proposed host have mutually agreed on the research proposal that will be submitted;
4. - Confirmation that the necessary research facilities are available;

• Two reference letters from senior scientists familiar with your work. The letters need to be on headed paper and signed;
• Copy of the PhD certificate;
• Evidence of proficiency in either English or German;
• Supporting statement from the Head/Director of the applicant's home institute: it must confirm that the Head/Director is favourable to the application and that the applicant will be granted leave to take up the cooperation visit in Germany if awarded.