Call for Applications: DAAD Prime Fellowship Program 2025

Published: 15 May 2025

DAAD PRIME Fellowship funds the international mobility of postdoctoral researchers with temporary positions at German universities.The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) provides the funds for this program. 

The grant also includes a mandatory return phase for reintegration into the German science system. The programme aims to provide participants with an important qualification for a continued career in science.

The target group are postdoctoral researchers who see their long-term professional career in Germany. Postdocs who see their long-term career perspectives in Germany receive funding for an independent research stay abroad, based on temporary employment at a German university.

DAAD Prime Fellowship Program

Application Deadline	August 29, 2025
Funding Type	Fully Funded
Country to study	Germany
Type	Fellowship
Sponsor	German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Gender	Men and Women

Benefits of DAAD Prime Fellowship Program

• The DAAD will conclude a grant agreement with the respective German university covering the costs for the regular salary and the monthly expatriate allowance.

  • Salary: temporary 18-month employment contract at a German university according to pay scale TV-L EG 13 (€70,000 – 80,000). Your exact pay is determined by the universities based on your previous work experience.
  • Expatriate allowance: A monthly expatriate allowance for the research stay abroad is based on an area classification of the destination and the gross income of the fellows.
  • Travel allowance: PRIME Fellows receive the DAAD lump sum travel subsidy for postdoctoral scientists.
  • Spouses and children are also eligible if they accompany the fellow for at least one month during the research stay abroad. The travel allowance is paid directly by DAAD.
• DAAD provides funding for an 18-month employment contract at a German university to conduct a 12-month research stay abroad with a 6-month subsequent return phase to Germany.
• During your 12 months abroad, you may combine stays at several research institutions in one or several countries.

Requirements for DAAD Prime Fellowship Program

• Applicants with above-average qualifications from all faculties may apply.
• Applicants can be from any nationality
• Applicants must accept that the research stay abroad and the return phase to Germany are both mandatory parts of the programme.
• To be considered for funding, applicants living abroad are expected to state their intent to continue their research careers in Germany upon completion of the return phase.
• Applicants who already have a permanent employment contract with the prospective host institution for the intended research activity are not eligible for funding.
• You may apply up to six years after the (first) doctorate. 
• They must have completed their doctorate with excellent results before the start of funding.

Selection Process

Timeline

Open for applications: 12 May 2025
Application deadline: 29 August 2025
Selection: February 2026
Starting date: 1 June 2026 - 1 November 2026

Application Documents

• Application Form 
• EU standard Curriculum vitae
• Binding declaration from the German host university (form)
• Invitation letter from the German host
• Time schedule for the realization of the planned work abroad and in Germany
• A detailed and independently prepared research proposal
• One confidential letter of recommendation from a university professor
• Short summary/abstract of the research project
• Your career plan (one-page max.) Your career plan (one-page max.) 

Application Deadline

August 29, 2025

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) on static.daad.de to apply