Deadline 2026-08-31
Country Germany
Level postdoc, fellowship
Organization DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)
Field All academic and professional fields
Funding fully funded Overview
The DAAD Re-Invitation Scholarship Program allows former DAAD scholarship or research grant holders to return to Germany for a funded research or professional work stay. The program aims to strengthen DAAD's global academic alumni network by enabling former scholars to deepen collaborations and reconnect with German institutions. The duration of the stay is flexible, ranging from 1 to 3 months, and is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.
Coverage
This is a fully-funded program. It provides a monthly stipend of €2,000 for assistant teachers, assistant professors, and lecturers, and €2,150 for professors. Travel costs to and from Germany are also covered, with the allowance calculated based on your country of origin. Participants gain access to leading German research institutions and have the flexibility to work in academic, administrative, business, cultural, or media settings.
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must have previously held a DAAD research grant or study scholarship that was funded for more than six months, either directly by the Federal Foreign Office or through a program co-financed with Federal Foreign Office funds. East German scholarship alumni must have studied in Germany for at least one year. Applicants must not have lived in Germany for at least three years prior to applying, as the program is designed for returning alumni. A confirmed cooperation partner in Germany is mandatory, and you must coordinate your proposed research or working project with them in advance. This program is exclusively for DAAD alumni; new applicants who have never held a DAAD scholarship are not eligible.
Requirements
Required documents include a completed online application form, a full Curriculum Vitae (CV), a list of academic publications (if available), a comprehensive statement describing your proposed research or working project, a time schedule and itinerary detailing your host institution(s) or cooperation partner(s) in Germany, a confirmation letter from your academic host in Germany, a valid ID document (passport, national ID card, driving license, or student ID card), and proof of your original DAAD grant confirming it was funded for more than six months.
How to apply
Applications involve both an online submission and a postal follow-up. First, apply through the DAAD Online Application Portal, completing all required fields, including personal details, academic background, and prior DAAD grant information. Upload all required documents in the designated sections. After submitting your online application, you must print and post one copy of the automatically generated application summary to the designated application address. The application is not considered complete without this postal copy.
Notes
The application deadline is 31 August 2026. Given the postal submission requirement, it is advisable to complete the online application well in advance to allow sufficient time for the physical copy to reach DAAD by post. Notification dates are not fixed; applicants are typically informed directly by DAAD after their complete application has been reviewed. You can choose your preferred stay duration within the 1-3 month range. A cooperation partner in Germany is mandatory. The program supports stays in various institutions beyond universities, including administration, business, culture, and media, as long as it's tied to your academic or professional background.
