Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung, by a gift from the former President of the Federal Republic of Germany - Theodor Heuss Research Fellowship

Theodor Heuss Research Fellowship

As a PhD student, you will receive a monthly stipend of 1,500 EUR; as a postdoc, you will receive 3,000 EUR to carry out research at a German university or research institution. In addition to the monthly payments, you will receive a mobility allowance, a contribution towards health and third-party liability insurance, travel expenses and full coverage of fees at your German host institution. You may also be required to pay a small contribution to the Studentenwerk. If family members are travelling with you, you can apply for a family allowance. The fellowship lasts for one year and may be extended to two years. It is funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation from a donation by the former German Federal President Theodor Heuss. Only one person is selected per call for applications.

Who can apply

• Where you are now: You are enrolled as a PhD student at the University of Oxford, or you have completed your PhD at Oxford within the last 12 months and have started a postdoctoral project at Oxford.
• Where you go: Your research project is best carried out in Germany at a German university or research institution.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. Priority will be given to those who have not yet spent a significant period of time attending school or completing vocational training in Germany.
• German language: You should have a reasonable command of German. If your German is not yet up to standard, you can secure additional financial support for a language course in Germany before the internship begins.
• Supervisor: Before you apply, you must get in touch with a potential supervisor at your German host institution and provide evidence of this contact.
• Other funding: This scholarship cannot be combined with any other major travel scholarship.

How to apply

You should submit your application online via the University of Oxford. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview, which will take place on the Monday of week 9 of the Hilary Term. If you are unable to attend on this date, your application cannot be considered. You will be notified of the result by the end of March.

How realistic are your chances?

Only one scholarship is awarded per round, and applications are open exclusively to PhD students at Oxford and postdoctoral researchers who have only recently completed their work at Oxford. You are therefore competing within a small but high-calibre group. If your project does indeed require a German host institution, you have already found a supervisor there and have not previously studied in Germany for any length of time, you fit the profile favoured by the funding body. A clear, feasible research plan is just as important as your academic grades.