Goals

Doctoral researchers who are enrolled and supervised at one of the Berlin universities can receive full and completion scholarships according to the Berlin State Act to Support Early-Career Researchers and Artists (Gesetz zur Förderung des wissenschaftlichen und künstlerischen Nachwuchses).

Please check our information brochure for detailed information on the different types of scholarships, conditions of funding and the documents required for application.

Funding Conditions

To have a chance of success, an applicant's academic performance must be far above average, which is usually demonstrated by the final grade of her or his university degree(s). The doctoral project must be expected to make an important contribution to the candidate's field of research. Applications have to be accompanied by proof of the researcher's qualifications, a CV, a doctoral admission notification, a statement by the supervisor and a research proposal including a detailed timetable. Applicants are only eligible for an Elsa Neumann scholarship if they have not yet received public funding for their doctoral project.

Application Deadlines

There are two deadlines per year, one in April and one in November. The office will announce the exact deadlines (cut-off dates). Funding starts on 1 April or 1 October of each year.

The application portal is open. You can upload your documents to the application portal until 17 April, 2024 12:00 (noon).

Please find out more about the application requirements, necessary documents etc. in our information brochure.

Scope of Funding

The scholarship is 1,350 euro per month, plus a lump sum of 100 euro for research expenses. Family allowances and special allowances for travel costs can be granted. Scholarships are initially granted for a period of up to two years. Scholarship holders are required to submit a report on their work and a statement by their academic supervisor at the end of the first and second year of funding. Scholarships are granted for a maximum period of three years. Scholarships for the completion of a dissertation are granted for a maximum of one year and cannot be extended. Scholarship holders must devote themselves predominantly to the work on the doctoral project for which the funding is intended.

Procedure

Scholarships are granted based on the decisions made by the inter-university Committee for the Allocation of Doctoral Grants (Kommission zur Vergabe von Promotionsstipendien), whose members are appointed by the Senator for Higher Education and Research, Health and Care.

Contact Information

Freie Universität Berlin
DRS-NaFöG
Hittorfstr. 16
D-14195 Berlin

Consultation hours: Tuesday and Thursday 10 am - 1 pm

Phone: +49 30 838-50447 (Ms Daseking), -52877 (Ms Shrom), -55764 (Ms Schumann)

Email: nafoeg-stipendium@drs.fu-berlin.de
Further information: Information Brochure for Applicants, Information for Supervisors (in German)