Apply George Forster Research Fellowship 2025: Advancing Global Academic Collaboration (Study in Germany)

Apply George Forster Research Fellowship 2025 | The George Forster Research Fellowship portal 2025 are now open, The program is for postdoctoral researchers that will enables you to conduct research in Germany with the sponsorship  monthly fellowship amount of  €2,670. Fellowships may last from 6 to 24 months. Read through

Application Deadline:  Unspecified

George Forster Research Fellowship 2025

The George Forster Research Fellowship is a prestigious program designed to foster international academic cooperation by supporting highly qualified researchers from developing and transition countries.

Named after the German naturalist and explorer George Forster, who traveled extensively and contributed significantly to the fields of natural history and anthropology, this fellowship aims to create lasting academic and professional relationships between scholars worldwide.

The George Forster Research Fellowship is a powerful catalyst for advancing global academic collaboration and addressing critical global challenges. By providing financial support, research opportunities, and professional development to researchers from developing countries, the fellowship fosters international partnerships and promotes the exchange of knowledge and expertise.

The success stories and positive outcomes generated by the fellowship highlight its transformative potential and underscore the importance of continued investment in initiatives that promote academic collaboration and inclusivity. As the fellowship continues to grow and evolve, it holds the promise of creating a more interconnected and innovative global academic community.

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Benefit

For your research stay

• The Georg Forster Research Fellowship enables you to conduct your own research at various stages of your career in collaboration with a host at a German research institution of your choice
• Travel expenses (PDF, 145 KB)
• Booking of a flight by the Humboldt Foundation
• Resarch stays outside Germany
• Benefits for research fellows with disability or chronic illness
• Extending your fellowship

For you and your family

• Language fellowships and German courses
• Health, liability and accident insurance
• Family benefits for accompanying partners and children
• Additional benefits to support families

Postdocs

Benefit from research sponsorship in Germany at the beginning of your academic career. The Georg Forster Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers enables you to conduct research in Germany. The monthly fellowship amount is €2,670. Fellowships may last from 6 to 24 months.

Experienced researchers

You can still apply for research sponsorship in Germany even if you are already well advanced in your academic career. The Georg Forster Research Fellowship for experienced researchers enables you to conduct research in Germany. The monthly fellowship amount is €3,170. Fellowships may last from 6 to 18 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years.

General conditions

In addition to the fellowship amount, you will also receive personal support throughout your sponsorship. You are flexible in determining when you would like to start your fellowship. Prior to your research fellowship, you and your marital partner will be able to attend an intensive German language course.

Further financial support, including family benefits for children and marital partners, subsidies for private full health insurance and allowances for travel expenses, is also available.

Alumni programmes

We stay in contact even after your research stay has come to an end. Our alumni sponsorship measures flexibly support every Humboldtian’s individual journey through life, in both their careers and their future collaborations. A return fellowship or later visits to Germany are also possible.

George Forster Research Fellowship  criteria

Post-doctoral researchers:

• Did you complete your doctorate – or equivalent academic qualification – during the last four years?
• Are you within six months of completing your doctorate and can already provide a written summary of your findings?
• Have you been published in academic journals and by publishing houses that are reviewed according to international standards?
• If so, and if you fulfil the criteria under the “What is required of you” section, apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers.

Experienced researchers:

• Did you complete your doctorate – or equivalent qualification – during the last twelve years?
• Is your academic profile substantiated by an extensive list of publications in academic journals and by publishing houses that are reviewed according to international standards?
• If so, and if you fulfil the criteria under the “What is required of you” section, apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship for experienced researchers.

If a doctorate in your field or country of origin is not possible or uncommon, you can still apply up to 16 years after completing your master’s or other postgraduate degree provided that you have a publication record commensurate with your career level.

Requirements /Eligibility

To successfully apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship, your research should make a significant contribution to the further development of your region of origin. You must also fulfil the following criteria:

• Nationality: You must be a citizen of a developing or transition country – excluding PR China and India (see list of countries).
• Place of residence/stay: You must have lived and worked in a developing or transition country for at least 12 months within the last 18 months
• Confirmation that research facilities are available/host’s statement: A researcher from an academic institution of your choice in Germany will provide you with a mentoring agreement and written confirmation that research facilities are available, and will compile a detailed review for you.
• Expert reviews : You can provide two expert reviews. (1) Postdocs: Your doctoral supervisor and one other researcher – outside of your institute, if possible – should provide well-grounded information on your qualifications. (2) Experienced researchers: The reviews should be provided by important collaborative partners and/or researchers at your own institute as well as other institutes – outside your country of origin, if possible.
• Language skills: Natural sciences and engineering: You must have a good knowledge of German or English. Humanities, social sciences and medicine: You must have a good knowledge of German if this is necessary for conducting your research successfully. Otherwise, good knowledge of English will suffice.

How  to Apply George Forster Research Fellowship 2025

If you would like to apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship, please submit the necessary documents to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation online only.

Please note that you may only submit your application once you have uploaded the following documents to the application form:

• curriculum vitae (two pages max)
• research outline (five pages max)
• complete list of your publications (cf. sample list, PDF)
• list of key publications (cf. sample list, PDF)
• key publications
• doctoral certificate or proof that your doctorate has been completed successfully, or confirmation that this will be the case within the next six months
• German language certificate, if required
• if required: acceptance form and/or publisher’s acknowledgement of receipt and summaries/translations of key publications that are not available in German or English
• In addition: host’s statement and confirmation that research facilities are available, as well as two expert reviews. Please note that these documents can only be uploaded in a protected area by the host(s) and expert reviewers personally. You can only submit your application once these documents have been uploaded. Further information and explanations can be found on the application form.

As soon as we have received your online application, we will send you written confirmation by email. After reviewing your documents, we will notify you of the expected selection date.

Apply George Forster Research Fellowship 2025