Research Stay under Partnerships (MoU's)

Freie Universität Berlin has signed partnership agreements (Memorandum of Understanding - MoU) with University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), IIT Madras and University of Hyderabad about the exchange of graduate (students enrolled in Master's programs) and doctoral students. With a grant, a stay of 1-2 semesters can be funded. Please consider that the beginning and end of the academic year in Berlin and India differ. For detailed information (deadlines, application procedure and grant amount), we kindly ask Indian graduate and doctoral students to get in touch with their university's international office.

Research Internships

• DAAD-WISE program: Students of a bachelor, double-degree or integrated program in subjects like engineering, mathematics, natural sciences who are from a list of selected universities under the WISE program are eligible for funding. This enables a 2 to 3 month long research internship at a German higher education institution like Freie Universität Berlin. Further information can be accessed here.

• "Test-Phase": Indian graduates, who would like to receive their PhD from Freie Universität Berlin (please also see Gateway for Doctoral Canditates), can be invited by their supervisor for a "test phase", a trial period, which can be 1 to 3 months long. During the stay in Berlin, the main goal is to work on the research proposal. Applications are made through the supervisor.

Dr. Angela Merkel Scholarship (Scholarship for Graduate Students in European Law)

Law students are eligible to apply for the the Master's program (LL.M.) in European Law at Freie Universität Berlin. Application, selection, etc. are administered by the DAAD. Application deadline each year is October 1st.

Summer courses

Indian full-time students in Bachelor's or Master's programs, that include German as major or minor subject, are invited to participate in a writing contest by the DAAD New Delhi. The winners of the contest have the chance to attend a summer course at a German university. Application deadline is October 15. Further information can be acquired through Ms. Manisha Mudgil of the DAAD New Delhi: mudgil@daaddelhi.org

Group visits

University lecturers may apply for group visits of 10-15 students for the duration of 7-12 days. The program is open for all disciplines. Application deadlines are February 1 (for trips beginning after June 1), May 1 (for trips beginning after September 1), and November 1 (for trips beginning after March 1).

NOTICE: This website is about funding opportunities for your doctorate. To obtain general information about doing your doctorate at Freie Universität, please refer to this website.

Partnerships (MoU's)

Freie Universität has singed partnership agreements (Memorandum of Understanding - MoU)  with Delhi University, IIT Madras and the University of Hyderabad about the exchange of graduate (students enrolled in Master's programs) and doctoral students. With a grant, a stay of 1-2 semesters can be funded. Please consider that beginning and end of the academic year in Berlin and India differ. For detailed information (deadlines, application procedure and grant amount), we kindly ask Indian graduate and doctoral students to get in touch with their university's international office.

PhD Full-Time Scholarship for an Individual Doctorate

Graduates from all disciplines may apply for a DAAD full-time stipend to pursue their doctorate at Freie Universität. Application deadline is October 1. Further information can be obtained here.

PhD Sandwich Scholarship for an Individual Doctorate

PhD students at an Indian higher education institution or a research institution can pursue part of their research in Germany under the supervision of a German professor. The doctoral degree will still be awarded by their home institution. Application deadline is October 1. Further information can be obtained here.

Scholarship for a Structured Doctoral Program at the DRS

Within the framework of the Structured Doctoral Programs at the Dahlem Research School (DRS) of Freie Universität, numerous calls for PhD scholarships are published every year. Further information can be obtained from our PhD Gateway and on the DRS website.

Small Equipment Program

1-Year scholarship holders from the fields of engineering, technology, natural sciences, as well as agricultural sciences and forestry can apply for equipment and material funds. For more information, please click here. 

Offers by Alexander-von-Humboldt-Foundation (AvH)

A Humboldt Research Fellowship allows postdoctoral researchers to conduct their own long-term research project (6-24 months) at Freie Universität Berlin. Freie Universität is the no. 1 destination for Humboldt Fellows in Germany. For more information, please click here.

Research Stays

Researchers may apply with the DAAD for an up to 3-months-long research stay at a German higher education or research institution. Application deadline is October 1. For further information, please click here.

Visiting Professorships

Researchers can come to Freie Universität Berlin as guest professors for a duration of minimum 1 semester and maximum 4 semesters. The application process is administered by the DAAD head office in Bonn. Application deadline is January 15 for the winter semester of the same year and July 15 for the summer semester of the next year. Further information can be obtained here.

Visiting Professorship on an ICCR Chair

In accordance with the Indian Embassy in Berlin, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) funds Indian researchers, who are invited by a foreign higher education institution. Through this funding mechanism, researchers at Freie Universität Berlin have cooperated with numerous Indian colleagues. Professors interested in inviting an ICCR Chair, are kindly asked to acquire information here first and consequently contact the Culture Counsellor at the Indian Embassy in Berlin (culture@indianembassy.de).

Small Equipment Program

1-Year scholarship holders from the fields of engineering, technology, natural sciences, as well as agricultural sciences and forestry can apply for equipment and material funds. For more information, please click here. 

Alumni of Freie Universität who have received DAAD funding may apply for a re-invitation, literature or equipment funds:

Re-invitation Program for Former Scholarship Holders

Former 1-Year Scholarship holders and scholarship holders, who studied for at least one year in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and who are currently teaching at a higher education institution, may apply for a re-invitation to carry out their own research project. Application deadline is October 1. For more information, please click here.

Specialist Literature Program

Former 1-Year scholarship holders from all disciplines can apply once a year for a book grant of max. 200€. For more information, please click here.

Alexander-von-Humboldt-Foundation (AvH)

Freie Universität is the no. 1 destination for Humboldt Fellows in Germany and Indian researchers are the third largest group of "Humboldtians". Click here for more information on the AvH alumni program.