Application deadline

• Applications can be submitted by 15 January and 15 June each year.
• The application portal opens approximately two months before the application deadline.

Duration of funding

• Max. 36 months

Funding amount

• Monthly basic grant: €1,650
• Monthly allowance for materials and travel: €150
• Further funding for material costs may be available
• Health insurance subsidy of up to €150 may be available
• Monthly child allowance and further support available

Eligibility criteria

• Above-average degree in any subject
• Proof of a good command of the German language, at least at B2 level.
• The aim of the PhD is to develop sustainable solutions to current environmental problems.
• The PhD will focus on the environmental situation in Germany or on global environmental challenges relevant to Germany.
• The PhD will be undertaken at a German university and has not yet commenced. (A project is considered to have commenced if you have been engaged in academic research on your PhD topic for more than one year since completing your degree).

You can find the latest information and requirements here

Application deadline

• Any time

Duration of funding

• 36 months. A six-month extension may be granted upon application.
• The maximum funding period is 42 months.
• PhD students with children may receive funding for up to 54 months.

Funding amount

• Basic funding: €1,550 per month
• €100 flat-rate research allowance
• In autumn 2025: increase in the basic grant by €100
• Health insurance subsidy amounting to 50 per cent of the documented costs; max. €100 per month.

Eligibility criteria

• At the time of application, no more than four years must have elapsed since the applicant’s most recent degree (calculated on a monthly basis).
• A prerequisite for the funding to commence is formal admission to the PhD programme; enrolment is not required.
• The doctoral project must be scheduled to last no longer than three years.

You can find the latest information and eligibility criteria here

Application deadline

• Applications can be submitted on 1 April and 1 October each year.

Duration of funding

• Two years (standard funding period)
• Extension possible for academic reasons and/or due to childcare or disability
• Maximum funding period: four years

Funding amount

• Basic grant (income-dependent) €1,550 per month
• Flat-rate research allowance: €100
• Family allowance: €155
• Childcare allowance: €155 for the first child, €50 for each additional child

Eligibility criteria

• Muslim PhD students from all disciplines with above-average school/academic achievements
• Social commitment
• A compelling statement of reasons for applying to the Avicenna-Studienwerk
• Admission to a PhD programme at a state or state-recognised German university, and a language proficiency level of C1
• The PhD programme must be in its early stages at the time of application.
• Re-application is possible after one year.

You can find the latest information and requirements here

Application deadline

• The application deadlines are updated annually in the second quarter.

Duration of funding

• Max. 4 years

Grant amount

• Basic grant: €1,300 per month
• Cover for health, accident and personal liability insurance
• Flat-rate travel allowance
• Research grant: €460 per year

Eligibility criteria

• International PhD students
• Above-average academic qualifications
• Master’s degree or Diplom (in exceptional cases: Bachelor’s degree)
• State-recognised university or non-university research institution in Germany
• Qualifications: grades, academic record, language skills, academic achievements
• Research proposal: relevance, originality, timetable, preparation
• Potential: career prospects, motivation, commitment

Find out more

Application deadline

• The application deadlines are updated annually in the second quarter

Duration of funding

• PhD students: 2 to 12 months
• Postdocs: 2 to 6 months

Funding amount

• Basic grant: €1,300 per month
• Flat-rate travel allowance
• One-off research grant (for stays of more than 6 months): €460
• Additional benefits on application:
• Rent allowance (for stays of more than 6 months)
• Supplements for family members
• Subsidy for additional costs incurred abroad (in the case of disability or chronic illness)
• Green Mobility Top-up (climate-friendly travel) / CO₂ offsetting

Eligibility criteria

• PhD students or postdocs (up to 4 years after completing their PhD) based outside Germany
• You are not eligible to apply if, by the application deadline, you have already been residing in Germany for more than 15 months
• A research project or programme at a state or state-recognised university or non-university research institution in Germany, carried out in consultation with an academic supervisor in Germany.
• Do not apply if your entire PhD is being carried out at a German higher education institution
• Working language/German language skills (support for a German language course may be available)

Application criteria:

• Academic qualifications: grades, academic record, research achievements
• Research proposal: originality, relevance, timetable, preparation, institution
• Personal potential: career prospects, motivation, extracurricular involvement

Find out more

Application periods

• 1 September to the first working day in December
• 1 March to the first working day in June

Duration of funding

• 3 years
• A six-month extension of funding may be granted upon application.
• An extension may be granted on academic grounds and/or due to childcare or disability

Funding amount

• Full scholarship: €1,550 per month (from 1 October 2025: €1,650 per month)
• Research allowance: €100
• Additional allowances where applicable
• Support for stays abroad

Eligibility criteria

• Membership of a Protestant church
• Completion of degree programme within a reasonable timeframe
• Above-average academic performance and examination results (final grade of at least ‘good’; in law, ‘very satisfactory’)
• A degree entitling the holder to pursue a PhD
• Admission to a doctoral programme by the university
• Students with a foreign degree may apply if they have been admitted to a doctoral programme at a university in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Find out more

Application period

• You can find the current application deadlines here.

Duration of funding

• 3 years
• A six-month extension of funding may be granted upon application.

Funding amount

• Full scholarship: €1,550 per month
• Research allowance: €100
• Health insurance benefits

Eligibility

• Jewish PhD students in all subject areas and disciplines (except medicine). Non-Jewish PhD students may apply with research projects that focus on Jewish topics.
• German language skills at B2 level
• Admission to a PhD programme at a state or state-recognised higher education institution in Germany and – for German nationals – in an EU Member State or in Switzerland.

You can find the latest information and eligibility criteria here

Application deadline

• 1 June and 1 November each year

Duration of funding

• 3 years
• A six-month extension of funding may be granted upon application.
• Extension possible for academic reasons and/or due to childcare or disability

Funding amount

• Basic grant: €1,550 per month (from October 2025: €1,650 per month)
• Research allowance: €100
• Health insurance subsidy amounting to 50 per cent of the documented costs; max. €100 per month.

Eligibility criteria

• Membership of the Catholic Church
• Admission to a PhD programme at a state-recognised higher education institution in Germany or abroad (for German nationals)
• Admission to a PhD programme at a state-recognised higher education institution in Germany (for applicants from abroad)

You can find the latest information and eligibility criteria here

Party-affiliated foundation (SPD)

Application deadline

• up to approximately 2 years before the start of the PhD

Funding amount

• Basic grant: €1,550 per month (from October 2025: €1,650 per month)
• €100 flat-rate research allowance

Eligibility

• Commitment to the values of social democracy; socio-political engagement in fostering a vibrant, solidarity-based community
• PhD students in all disciplines (except medicine)
• Admission to a German university or university of applied sciences
• Very good command of German (level C1)
• Social engagement

You can find the latest information and entry requirements here.

Application period

• You can find the current application deadlines here.

Duration of funding

• 3 years
• A six-month extension of funding may be granted upon application.
• Extensions may be granted on academic grounds and/or due to childcare or disability
• Max. 4 years

Funding amount

• Basic grant: €1,550 per month (increase of €100 from 1 October 2025)
• Research allowance: €100
• Family allowance: 1 child: €155 per month, €55 for each additional child – max. €25 per month

Eligibility criteria

• German citizenship
• Above-average academic performance
• Voluntary work
• At least 2 more semesters remaining on the scheme
• Interest in politics
• Sense of civic responsibility
• Alignment with the Hand-Seidel Foundation’s objectives

Find out more

The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) Organisation for Co-determination, Research and Student Support

Application period

• You can find the current application deadlines here.

Duration of funding

• 3 years
• Possible extension

Funding amount

• Basic grant: €1,650 per month
• €100 flat-rate research allowance
• Health insurance allowance: max. €100 per month
• Family allowance, if applicable

Eligibility criteria

• Age limit: 40 years
• All disciplines at (non-)state universities
• Academic performance and examination results must demonstrate a particular aptitude for academic work
• Rapid completion of studies
• Doctoral research proposal: socio-political relevance

Find out more

The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) Organisation for Co-determination, Research and Student Support

Application period

• Twice a year.
• The application deadlines are 1 March and 1 September.

Grant amount

• Basic grant: €1,550 per month (increase of €100 from 1 October 2025)
• Flat-rate research allowance: €100 per month
• Possible family allowance: €155 per month
• International students from outside the EU who are commencing a PhD in Germany:
• Basic grant: €1,400 per month
• Flat-rate research allowance: €100 per month
• Possible family allowance: €276 per month

Eligibility criteria

• Commitment to the Foundation’s core values
• Taking responsibility for politics, the economy and society
• Particularly good academic performance
• Social commitment

Find out more

Party-affiliated foundation (CDU)

Application period

• Applications may be submitted by 15 January and 15 July each year.

Grant amount

• Basic grant: €1,550 per month
• Flat-rate research allowance: €100 per month
• Additional allowances (e.g. for family, children) may be granted where applicable.

Eligibility

• The degree qualifying the applicant for a PhD must have been obtained no more than five years prior to the date of application.
• Very good command of German (at least equivalent to the Goethe-Zertifikat C1)

You can find the latest information and requirements here

Party-affiliated foundation (Die Linke)

Duration of funding

• 36 months
• One-off extension of 6 months
• Max. 4½ years if conditions apply for parental leave, severe disability or caring for a relative

Grant amount

• Basic grant: €1,450 per month
• Flat-rate research allowance: €100 per month
• Health insurance (excluding long-term care insurance): 50% (max. €100)
• Childcare: €155 per month (+€50 per month for each additional child under 18)
• Family allowance: €155 per month

You can find the latest information and eligibility criteria here

Application period

• You can find the current application deadlines here.

Duration of funding

• 36 months
• one-off extension of 6 months

Funding amount

• Depending on financial circumstances: maximum funding rate: €1,550 per month (increase of €100 from 1 October 2025)
• Income-independent: flat-rate research allowance of €100 per month
• Family allowance: €155 per month
• Where applicable, a child allowance of €155 per month for the first child and €50 per month for the second child may be available

Eligibility criteria

• Students from all disciplines
• Above-average academic performance
• Community involvement
• Determination
• No more than 5 years between graduation and the start of the PhD programme

Find out more

Application period

• Twice a year
• 1–30 April and 1–31 October

Duration of funding

• 12 months
• Extension for a further year upon application
• Maximum funding period: 3 years

Grant amount

• Basic grant: €1,550 per month (increase of €100 from 1 October 2025)
• Flat-rate research allowance: €100 per month
• Health insurance and family allowances may be available

Eligibility criteria

• PhD students from all disciplines
• An innovative and compelling research project

Find out more

Application period

• Any time

Funding amount

• Staff costs
  • Academic staff in accordance with TV-L / TVöD
  • Student and research assistants in accordance with BAT or the institution’s pay scale
  • Non-academic staff in accordance with BAT or the institution’s collective agreement
• Material costs
• Travel expenses & conference fees
• Publication costs
• For company-specific research and development activities aimed at developing innovative products, processes or technical services, eligible project costs are funded on a pro rata basis at 30–40 per cent, in line with ZIM guidelines.

Eligibility criteria

The HEAD-Genuit Foundation supports cutting-edge technical processes, individuals and institutions in the fields of science and research that are committed to optimising the acoustic environment in public spaces and in all types of buildings and institutions:

• Visiting and Endowed Professorships
• Doctoral theses
• Study and research projects
• Events and awards – e.g. Best Paper Award
• Lecture tours and travel grants for research projects
• Measurements and legal advice for people affected by noise pollution
• Loan of measuring equipment

Here you will find the latest information and eligibility criteria

Application period

• Applications may be submitted on 1 May or 1 November

Scope of funding

• The funding period is two years. It may be extended once by up to twelve months if there are specific professional or personal reasons.
• The funding (grant) comprises:
• A basic scholarship of EUR 1,600 per month, plus a supplement of EUR 150 per month for living expenses and travel costs
• A family allowance if one or more children are to be supported:
• for one child: max. EUR 300
• for two children: a total of up to EUR 400
• for three or more children: a total of up to EUR 500
• A printing allowance may be granted on a case-by-case basis.
• The Wüstenrot Foundation scholarship enables the recipient to work full-time on their chosen research project. It is not possible to receive a salary or other scholarships at the same time. Part-time work of up to 8 hours per week is permitted.

Eligibility criteria

• The scholarship programme is open to PhD students from all disciplines.
• The thematic focus of the doctoral thesis must align with the Wüstenrot Foundation’s key areas of work. These include, in particular, the following subject areas: heritage conservation and outreach, architecture and urban planning in the 20th and 21st centuries, sustainable urban and rural development, urban and housing sociology, and urban, regional and national planning. Research projects that are interdisciplinary in nature and address cross-cutting issues from the subject areas listed above are particularly encouraged.

Consideration will be given to applicants

• who have registered for a PhD at a university in Germany;
• whose proposed doctoral research examines a subject of academic relevance and is expected to yield results of above-average quality;
• who had not yet reached the age of 30 at the time of obtaining the university degree entitling them to pursue a PhD. Time spent in adult education, raising children, military or civilian service, professional experience and other special life circumstances will be taken into account.

You can find the latest information and eligibility criteria here