Applications for the 2025 DAAD PRIME Fellowship Program are currently being accepted by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Through temporary work at a German university, this fully paid fellowship facilitates postdoctoral researchers’ worldwide mobility. The fellowship, which is supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), provides up to €80,000 in pay annually in addition to reimbursement for travel, lodging, and dependant expenses (if the fellow stays overseas for more than a month).
In order to facilitate the fellows’ return to the German academic system, the program includes a required reintegration phase in Germany. It is especially designed for postdoctoral researchers who hope to work in Germany for the duration of their careers, giving them the chance to work independently overseas while still being hired by a German company.
Eligibility Criteria :
- Candidates with above-average qualifications from all academic fields are welcome to apply.
- Candidates of any nationality are welcome.
- The program requires both the return period in Germany and the international research phase.
- After the return phase, applicants who live overseas must clearly state that they intend to continue their research careers in Germany.
- The fellowship is not available to those who have a permanent job contract at the designated host institution.
- Up to six years following the attainment of a first doctoral degree, applications are accepted.
- Before the fellowship starts, the doctoral degree must be finished with outstanding academic standing.
Host Country: Germany
Eligible Countries: All Countries
Reward: Full Sponsorship | €80,000/Yr | Travel Costs
No IELTS Required
Benefits :
- Salary: Funded through an 18-month temporary employment contract at a German university under pay scale TV-L EG 13 (€70,000–€80,000), with the exact amount determined by the university based on prior work experience.
- Expatriate Allowance: Monthly allowance during the research stay abroad, calculated based on the destination’s cost classification and the fellow’s gross income.
Travel Allowance: Fellows receive a lump sum travel subsidy from DAAD for international travel related to the research stay.
Family Support: Spouses and children are eligible for travel allowances if they accompany the fellow abroad for at least one month; paid directly by DAAD. - Program Structure: Funding supports an 18-month contract at a German university, which includes a 12-month research stay abroad followed by a 6-month reintegration phase in Germany.
- Flexible Research Locations: Fellows may conduct their 12-month research abroad across multiple institutions and/or countries.
Deadline: August 29, 2025
