Walter Benjamin Programme: DFG Funding for Postdoctoral Researchers to Conduct Independent Research in Germany or Abroad
The DFG Walter Benjamin Programme offers postdoctoral researchers funding to independently conduct their own research projects in Germany or abroad. It supports early-career academic independence, mobility, and career transition.
Overview
The Walter Benjamin Programme, managed by the German Research Foundation (DFG), is designed to support early-career postdoctoral researchers who wish to independently conduct their own self-directed research projects. The programme emphasizes academic independence, thematic development, and mobility by generally requiring participants to change their research institution. Projects can be hosted at research institutions either in Germany or abroad, depending on the chosen funding module and applicant eligibility.
Funding arrangements vary by location. Projects in Germany are typically funded through a postdoctoral research position or a temporary substitute position. Projects conducted abroad are provided via a fellowship that includes a monthly basic amount along with potential allowances for foreign living costs, travel, and children. Additional support for direct project costs, travel expenses, and publication costs is also available.
Eligibility
- Open to particularly qualified postdoctoral researchers at an early stage of their academic careers.
- Applicants generally must change their research institution to fulfill mobility requirements.
- For research projects abroad, specific conditions apply regarding integration into Germany’s academic research system, educational background, and prior time spent abroad or at the chosen host institution.
- Host institutions must not be for-profit and must permit the publication of research findings in a generally accessible form.
How to Apply
Applicants must prepare a detailed independent research proposal using the official DFG forms, guidelines, and proposal documentation. Prospective candidates should carefully coordinate with their intended host institution beforehand to confirm administrative arrangements, verify that fellowship funding can be managed according to DFG regulations, and ensure the research environment is fully suitable.
Applications can be submitted directly through the official DFG application portal.
Deadline
The programme does not state a fixed application deadline in its current guidelines.