FRIAS Fellowship Programmes in Germany are fully funded opportunities for both early-career and senior researchers. These fellowships are hosted by Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies. The programmes will bring together scholars from Germany and around the world. During the international fellowships, researchers will get a chance to work on their projects within a community of diverse cultural and academic backgrounds.
Fellows will collaborate across different disciplines while having access to University of Freiburg’s resources. The program offers a monthly living allowance and a mobility allowance to cover travel costs. Scholars will have access to office space and the campus library. The host university will provide exceptional research support to the fellows for their innovative projects. Depending on the conditions, all scholars will either receive a fellowship contract with the University or other compensation.
Three fully funded fellowship programmes are offered in Germany according to scholars’ study and research experience. These include FRIAS Early Career Fellowship Programme, FRIAS Senior Fellowship Programme, and the FRIAS Sustainable Governance Fellowship Programme for Researchers from Africa, each to take place between 1 September 2026 – 31 August 2027 in Freiburg, Germany. All programmes have different eligibility requirements, read carefully and apply accordingly.
FRIAS Fellowship Programmes in Germany:
Host Country:
- Germany
Host Organisation:
- The Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS)
Program Location:
- Â Freiburg, Germany
Program Duration:
- Early Career Fellowships: 4-10 months
- FRIAS Senior Fellowships: 3-8 months
- FRIAS Sustainable Governance Fellowship for Researchers from Africa: 6 months
Benefits of FRIAS Fellowship Programmes in Germany:
FRIAS Early Career Fellowship Programme:
- Selected researchers will either receive a fellowship contract with the University of Freiburg or alternative compensation.
- Fellows will receive a research and travel allowance that will cover costs for the inbound and the outbound travelling.
FRIAS Senior Fellowship Programme:
- Selected scholars will either receive a fellowship contract with the University of Freiburg or alternative compensation.
- Researchers will receive a research and travel allowance that will cover costs for the inbound and the outbound travelling.
FRIAS Sustainable Governance Fellowship Programme for Researchers from Africa:
- Selected fellows will either receive a fellowship contract with the University of Freiburg or alternative compensation.
- Scholars will receive research and travel allowance that will cover costs for the inbound and the outbound travelling.
Check Harvard Visiting Research Scholarship Program in the USA (Funded)
Eligibility Criteria for FRIAS Fellowship Programmes in Germany:
FRIAS Early Career Fellowship Programme:
- Applicants should have completed their doctoral degree and have a maximum of eight years of post-doctoral experience.
- Scholars must have 4 peer-reviewed publications since 1 January 2022.
- Applicants should have minimum six months’ research or study experience at a different country’s academic institution from their first country’s academic degree institution.
- Candidates should have challenging and innovative research projects.
- Researchers from any discipline that can be supported at the University of Freiburg can apply.
- Scholars from any nationality can apply.
FRIAS Senior Fellowship Programme:
- Applicants should have completed their doctoral degree and have at least eight years of post-doctoral experience.
- Applicants should have 10 peer-reviewed publications since 1 January 2020.
- Candidates must have minimum six months’ research or study experience at a different country’s academic institution from their first country’s academic degree institution.
- Applicants should have challenging and innovative research projects of top academic quality.
- Researchers from any discipline that can be supported at the University of Freiburg can apply.
- Candidates from any nationality can apply.
FRIAS Sustainable Governance Fellowship Programme for Researchers from Africa:
- Applicants should have completed their doctoral degree and have at least eight years of post-doctoral experience.
- Candidates should have 5 peer-reviewed publications since 1 January 2017, including at least one with or as a co-author.
- Applicants should be based in an African country.
- Candidates should have at minimum six months’ research or study experience at a different country’s academic institution from their first country’s academic degree institution AND must have received a Master/PhD in an African country.
- Candidates should have challenging and innovative research projects of top academic quality.
- Applications only in the Humanities and Social Sciences disciplines with a focus on sustainable governance will be considered.
- Candidates should provide a letter of cooperation by an academic partner at the University of Freiburg.
Check Kennan Institute Digital Fellowship 2026–2027 (Fully Funded Virtual Fellowship)
How to apply for FRIAS Fellowship Programmes in Germany?
FRIAS Early Career Fellowship Programme:
- First fill out and send the initial application form.
- Then register and continue with the additional sections of the form.
- Upload the required annexes.
- Complete the ethical issues questionnaire.
- Submit your application.
FRIAS Senior Fellowship Programme:
- First fill out and send the initial application form.
- Then register and continue with the additional sections of the form.
- Upload the required annexes.
- Complete the ethical issues questionnaire.
- Submit your application.
FRIAS Sustainable Governance Fellowship Programme for Researchers from Africa:
- First fill out and send the initial application form.
- Then register and continue with the additional sections of the form.
- Upload the required annexes.
- Complete the ethical issues questionnaire.
- Submit your application.
Documents required for FRIAS Fellowship Programmes in Germany:
FRIAS Early Career Fellowship Programme:
- Project proposal.
- CV in tabular form.
- Publication list.
- Copy of the PhD diploma.
- Letter of support identifying a host laboratory in Freiburg.
- Experiment sketch and timetable.​
FRIAS Senior Fellowship Programme:
- Project proposal.
- CV in tabular form.
- Publication list.
- Copy of the PhD diploma.
- Letter of support identifying a host laboratory in Freiburg.
- Experiment sketch and timetable.
FRIAS Sustainable Governance Fellowship Programme for Researchers from Africa:
- Project proposal.
- CV in tabular form.
- Publication list.
- Copy of the PhD diploma.
- Letter of Cooperation by an academic partner at the University of Freiburg.
Program Deadline:
- The deadline for all programs is 18 September, 2026.
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