Bayreuth Academy Individual Fellowships for African Studies Scholars

The Bayreuth Academy Individual Fellowships support established scholars working in African Studies to conduct research at the University of Bayreuth in Germany. Fellows join the interdisciplinary Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence, receive workspace, library access, travel support, and a monthly living and mobility allowance, and are expected to contribute actively to the Cluster’s research and academic activities.

What Is the Bayreuth Academy Individual Fellowship?

The Bayreuth Academy of Advanced African Studies (BA) offers individual research fellowships through the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bayreuth in Germany.

The programme brings together an international community of researchers studying Africa from different disciplinary perspectives.

The Cluster includes scholars from more than 15 academic disciplines, creating an interdisciplinary environment for research and scholarly exchange.

The fellowship allows selected scholars to spend an extended period at the University of Bayreuth, develop their research, collaborate with Bayreuth-based academics, and contribute to debates in African Studies.

What Is the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence?

The Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence is a major interdisciplinary research environment focused on African Studies.

Its approach brings together different academic disciplines to examine Africa and African societies from multiple perspectives.

Fellows are expected to connect their proposed research with the Cluster’s theoretical and thematic agendas.

What Does the Fellowship Support?

The fellowship supports scholars who want to advance research projects in African Studies while benefiting from the academic environment at Bayreuth.

Research can come from a wide range of disciplines, including:

Humanities
Social sciences
Technical sciences
Natural sciences
Interdisciplinary African Studies
Other academic fields with a strong African Studies focus

The programme is particularly interested in research that contributes to broader theoretical and thematic discussions within the Africa Multiple Cluster.

Why Does This Fellowship Matter?

African Studies is inherently interdisciplinary, involving history, politics, anthropology, sociology, economics, literature, environmental studies, technology, and many other fields.

The Bayreuth Academy fellowship provides scholars with an opportunity to work within an international research community rather than conducting research in isolation.

Fellows can:

Develop their research projects.
Exchange ideas with international scholars.
Collaborate with Bayreuth-based researchers.
Access university library resources.
Participate in academic seminars and lectures.
Engage with doctoral researchers.
Present their work to specialist audiences.
Develop publications based on their fellowship research.

Who Is Eligible?

The fellowship is open to scholars who meet the programme’s academic requirements.

Applicants must:

Hold a PhD.
Have a proven academic track record in African Studies.
Work in a relevant discipline within the humanities, social sciences, technical sciences, or natural sciences.
Propose research that contributes to the Cluster’s research agenda.
Be able to reside at the University of Bayreuth during the fellowship.

Scholars based in Africa are particularly encouraged to apply.

What Is the Fellowship Duration?

The fellowship duration depends on the academic term.

Winter Term

Fellowships can last between:

1 month and 5 months

Summer Term

Fellowships can last between:

1 month and 4 months

Residence at the University of Bayreuth is required throughout the fellowship period.

What Financial Support Is Available?

Fellows receive several forms of financial and academic support.

Travel Subsidy

Fellowships include support for travel to Bayreuth.

Monthly Living and Mobility Allowance

Fellows receive a monthly allowance to support living and mobility expenses.

The amount depends on factors such as:

Employment status
Family situation

Additional Support for Fellows With Children

An increased mobility allowance may be available to fellows travelling with minor children.

Teaching Buyout Support

For fellowships lasting more than three months, grants may be available to support a teaching buyout at the fellow’s home institution.

This can help scholars obtain time away from teaching responsibilities to focus on their research at Bayreuth.

What Facilities Do Fellows Receive?

Selected fellows receive:

Workspace in the African Studies research building.
Access to University of Bayreuth library holdings.
Access to the Cluster’s interdisciplinary academic environment.
Opportunities to participate in academic and social activities.

What Are Fellows Expected to Do?

The fellowship is designed as an active academic residency.

Fellows are expected to:

Conduct their proposed research.
Collaborate with Bayreuth-based scholars.
Participate in Cluster lectures.
Attend seminars and discussion groups.
Present their research when appropriate.
Offer discussion sessions for doctoral students.
Engage with the Cluster’s scholarly community.
Contribute to the Cluster’s publication strategy.

Fellows are also expected to produce at least one publication resulting from their fellowship project.

How Does the Fellowship Work?

Step 1: Develop a Research Proposal

Applicants should develop a focused African Studies research project.

The proposal should clearly identify:

The research question.
Research objectives.
Methodology.
Scholarly contribution.
Expected outcomes.

Step 2: Connect the Project to the Cluster

Applicants should explain how their research relates to the theoretical and thematic agendas of the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence.

This connection is important because the fellowship is designed to contribute to the Cluster’s broader research programme.

Step 3: Identify Potential Academic Collaboration

Applicants should consider which scholars, research groups, or academic activities at Bayreuth could contribute to their project.

A strong application should demonstrate genuine interest in academic exchange and collaboration.

Step 4: Plan the Fellowship Period

Select an appropriate fellowship duration based on the proposed research activities.

Applicants should create a realistic plan for the period they will be resident at the University of Bayreuth.

Step 5: Demonstrate Academic Contribution

Applicants should explain how they intend to contribute to the Cluster.

Potential contributions include:

Research presentations.
Seminars.
Discussion sessions.
Doctoral workshops.
Scholarly publications.
Interdisciplinary collaboration.

Step 6: Plan the Publication Outcome

Because fellows are expected to contribute at least one publication resulting from the fellowship project, applicants should identify a realistic publication outcome in their research plan.

What Makes a Strong Application?

A strong application should demonstrate more than an interesting research topic.

Applicants should show:

A strong academic record in African Studies.
A clearly defined research question.
A convincing connection with the Africa Multiple Cluster.
Potential for interdisciplinary engagement.
A realistic research plan.
Opportunities for collaboration with Bayreuth scholars.
A clear contribution to academic discussions.
A feasible publication outcome.
Commitment to participating in Cluster activities.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Submitting a proposal with only a general connection to Africa but no clear African Studies focus.
Failing to connect the research to the Cluster’s theoretical or thematic agenda.
Treating the fellowship as an individual research retreat without academic engagement.
Providing an unrealistic research timetable.
Ignoring opportunities to collaborate with Bayreuth-based scholars.
Failing to explain the intended publication outcome.
Applying without a completed PhD.
Planning to reside outside Bayreuth during the fellowship.
Overlooking the requirement to participate in Cluster activities.

Tips for African-Based Scholars

Africa-based scholars are particularly encouraged to apply.

Applicants based in Africa can emphasize:

Their direct engagement with African research contexts.
The importance of international scholarly exchange.
Potential collaborations between African and European researchers.
How their research contributes to broader African Studies debates.
How the Bayreuth residency will strengthen their research and publication plans.

Key Details at a Glance

Fellowship: Bayreuth Academy Individual Fellowship
Institution: University of Bayreuth, Germany
Research area: African Studies
Academic level: Postdoctoral/established scholars with a PhD
Disciplines: Humanities, social sciences, technical sciences, natural sciences and interdisciplinary fields
Winter fellowship: 1–5 months
Summer fellowship: 1–4 months
Location: University of Bayreuth
Financial support: Travel subsidy plus monthly living and mobility allowance
Additional support: Increased mobility allowance for fellows travelling with minor children
Possible teaching buyout: For fellowships longer than three months
Research facilities: Workspace and University library access
Special encouragement: Scholars based in Africa

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Bayreuth Academy Individual Fellowship?

It is a research fellowship at the University of Bayreuth for scholars working in African Studies. Fellows join the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence and participate in its interdisciplinary research community.

Who can apply for the fellowship?

Applicants must hold a PhD and have a proven academic track record in African Studies. Researchers from the humanities, social sciences, technical sciences, and natural sciences may apply where their work fits the programme.

Are scholars based in Africa eligible?

Yes. Scholars based in Africa are particularly encouraged to apply.

How long can the fellowship last?

Winter-term fellowships can last one to five months, while summer-term fellowships can last one to four months.

Where must fellows be based?

Fellows are required to reside at the University of Bayreuth during their fellowship period.

What financial support is provided?

Fellows receive a travel subsidy and a monthly living and mobility allowance, with the amount depending on employment status and family circumstances. Additional mobility support may be available for fellows travelling with minor children.

What are fellows expected to contribute?

Fellows must actively participate in Cluster activities, collaborate with Bayreuth scholars, present or discuss their research where appropriate, engage with doctoral students, and contribute at least one publication resulting from their fellowship project.

Conclusion

The Bayreuth Academy Individual Fellowships provide an opportunity for experienced African Studies scholars to conduct research within one of Germany’s major interdisciplinary research environments focused on Africa.

The combination of research space, library access, financial support, academic collaboration, and participation in the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence makes the fellowship particularly valuable for scholars seeking to develop internationally connected research and publication projects. Applicants should focus on demonstrating a strong academic record, a research project aligned with the Cluster’s agenda, and a clear plan for active participation and scholarly contribution during their residence in Bayreuth.