Volkswagen Foundation: Freigeist Fellowships
The Volkswagen Foundation is dedicated to the support of the humanities and social sciences as well as science and technology in higher education and research. The Foundation is the largest private research funder in Germany, and since 1962 it has granted more than €5.1 billion of funding for over 33,000 projects. A Freigeist Fellowship will open up new horizons with the initiative focusing on early-career researchers from all disciplines.
Applications open
5 Aug 2023
Applications closed
11 Oct 2023
Application type
Application required
How to apply
Benefit type
General allowance
Full benefit details
Citizenship requirements
Australian / domestic student
International student
Total value
up to $3,500,000
Applicable study areas
All study areas
Number of scholarships awarded
Approximately 15
What are the benefits?
Depending on the nature of the project, up to €2,200,000 for two funding phases is available.
- The first funding phase can encompass either five or six years. This allows the Fellow to be hired as a W1 Junior Professor for the duration of the grant. It is expected that Fellows participate in academic teaching (including examinations), involving generally a teaching load of between two and four weekly hours per semester.
- A second funding period of two or three years is possible, whereby the total funding period (including the first funding phase) must not exceed eight years. The prerequisite is a positive evaluation carried out by the Foundation and a clear perspective for the continuation of the Freigeist Fellow’s position on the part of the host institution. Flexibility is ensured by allowing a change to another institution for the second phase.
The information listed here is subject to change without notice. Where we have listed information about jointly run scholarships programs, please also see our partners' websites. Information describing the number and value of scholarships awarded is indicative.