German Chancellor Fellowship Programme

Deadline: 15-Oct-23

Are you a graduate with initial leadership experience? Do you come from Brazil, the People’s Republic of China, India, South Africa or the USA? Would you like to implement a self-chosen project that supports your career development, is societally relevant and has a lasting public impact? Are you interested in actively participating in an international network of dedicated leaders? Then come to Germany with a German Chancellor Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to take the next step of your career.

The Fellowship addresses prospective decision-makers, multipliers and thought leaders from a broad range of professional fields such as politics, public administration and business as well as society and culture. This fellowship programme is intended to give them the opportunity to spend a year in Germany exploring new solutions to the global issues of the times and widening their networks. With this programme Germany once again presents itself as a destination of choice for intercultural dialogue and as a meeting place for the international leaders of tomorrow.

During their stay in Germany, the German Chancellor Fellows pursue self-developed, research-based projects that are societally relevant and have the potential for long-term, publicly visible impact. They are supervised by hosts in Germany whom they select themselves and who have the necessary level of expertise to mentor the respective topics. Their projects enable the fellows to advance their careers by expanding their specialist knowledge, gaining new international experience and strengthening their intercultural skills in Germany in order to develop into successful international leaders.

By sponsoring them through the German Chancellor Fellowship programme the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation invites fellows to become active members of an international network of trust and cooperation characterised by exchange and contacts that persist beyond the shared fellowship experience in Germany. This creates a lively, continuously expanding network of international decision-makers, multipliers and thought leaders who maintain lasting ties with Germany, thereby acting as intermediaries between their countries of origin and Germany.

This fellowship programme is under the patronage of the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and is financed by the Federal Foreign Office. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation grants up to 60 German Chancellor Fellowships every year – up to ten of which go to prospective leaders from each of the six countries.

Potential candidates who are interested in studying or training in Germany should apply for the programmes offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) or other funding organisations. Postdoctoral scientists and scholars planning an academic research project should apply for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme.

Fellowship Benefits

German Chancellor Fellowships are awarded to the fellows for a period of twelve months for the purpose of carrying out their proposed projects as agreed with their hosts at host institutions in Germany. The twelve fellowship months are awarded as one-year fellowships to begin on 1 October of the year in which the selection takes place. Fellows, however, have the option to flexibly adapt the schedule of their stay in Germany to suit the demands of their projects, meet existing work obligations or allow for family circumstances; the twelve months of the fellowship can be used within a time frame from 1 August of the selection year to 31 March of the year after next. Fellows must agree the intended distribution of their fellowship periods with their respective hosts and notify the Foundation of their intended schedule when accepting the fellowship.
The fellowship grant amounts to 2,000 EUR, 2,300 EUR or 2,600 EUR per month, depending on the applicant’s qualifications and professional experience. In addition, a mobility allowance and a contribution to health and liability insurance are paid.
Essential to the German Chancellor Fellowship programme are events designed to enable fellows to network and offer them insights into current topics and trends in German society, business, politics and culture. These events include:
- an opening conference in November (approx. one week);
- a half-time conference in the following spring (approx. one week);
- a meeting in Berlin in July with a reception at the German Chancellery (three days).
Complementing these events, fellows are given the opportunity and encouraged to independently collaborate in peer groups as well as organise smaller network formats and events during the sponsorship period.
In particular, the Foundation awards language fellowships covering an intensive language course of up to three months immediately prior to the start of the fellowship in Germany. Accompanying marital partners may also receive funding for language courses under certain circumstances.
Additional benefits
- lump sum for the fellow’s travel expenses if the costs are not borne by a third party;
- family allowances for accompanying family members staying at least three months (up to 346 EUR a month for marital partners and up to 289 EUR a month per child);
- for single-parents: flat-rate allowances for accompanying children under the age of 18 for stays of at least three months (400 EUR a month for the first child and 100 EUR a month for every additional child);
- a subsidy towards research costs to be paid to the hosts in Germany amounting to 500 EUR per month;
- Europe allowance for a stay at an institute in another European country (though not the fellow’s own country);
- for one to two months during the course of the fellowship if necessary to ensure the success of the project;
- extensive alumni sponsorship after the stay in Germany has been completed successfully, in particular to promote networking with cooperation partners in Germany during the further professional career of the alumni.

Eligibility Criteria

citizenship of Brazil, the People’s Republic of China, India, the Russian Federation, South Africa or the USA, including predominantly living and working in one of these countries;
work in a field such as politics, business, media, administration, society or culture and have demonstrable initial leadership experience
Bachelor’s or comparable academic degree completed no more than twelve years ago. The key date for calculating this twelve-year period is 1 October of the year following the application;
initial proven leadership experience. Applicants with a predominantly academic background should have acquired initial leadership experience in addition to their own research activity;
English and/or German language skills;
a letter of motivation;
a project plan; candidates must independently draw up a project plan for a twelve-month stay in Germany and agree this plan with their intended host before applying;
a detailed statement, including a confirmation of research facilities and mentoring agreement, from a host in Germany;
two references by individuals qualified to comment on the candidate’s professional, personal and/or academic background.
want to conduct an independently developed project with a host of your choice in Germany