Humboldt Residency Programme 2027

International applicants; six weeks in Germany are mandatory. Researchers must hold an academic position and have their long-term residence outside Germany. Civil society, journalism and arts applicants may reside in Germany or elsewhere and must not hold an academic position; citizenship is not the residence test.

Apply under one of three categories connected to the Oceanic Horizons annual theme. Five places are for Humboldt Foundation alumni with an academic position outside Germany, relevant expertise and willingness to communicate beyond academia; prior fellowship/award recipients must not receive another Humboldt programme’s funding at the August 2027 start. Three places are for early-career researchers with an academic position outside Germany, science-communication experience and a relevant academic profile: PhD candidates or those who completed a PhD less than four years before August 2027. The four-year limit is strict, with individually assessed career-break/parental-leave exceptions; contact the provider. Four places are for civil society practitioners, including journalists, writers, filmmakers, curators, artists, designers, entrepreneurs, policy/campaign/NGO workers and consultants. They need a clear thematic connection and capacity to communicate the programme’s ideas, and must not currently hold an academic position. They may reside anywhere, including Germany. A non-academic Humboldt alumnus should use the relevant civil society category and declare the previous affiliation. All disciplines are welcome; category suitability, achievement, motivation and cohort diversity inform selection. Proficient English and the confidence to discuss scientific subjects are essential. Commit to the full in-person residency from 2 August to 10 September 2027, daily Monday–Thursday meetings and three or four evening events. The wider programme includes a 29 June virtual kick-off, September–October remote output work and a 26 October virtual wrap-up. Regular work is possible only in a reduced scope. Family arrangements must be requested early; no short-notice accommodation or childcare requests can be met.

1. Apply through the official online form by 14 December 2026. Choose the closest category; if unsure, explain the alternatives to the provider by email. No reference letters are required or considered.
2. Upload a CV of no more than three pages in PDF format and a personal introduction video of no more than 60 seconds. Explain your thematic connection and what you would contribute.
3. Record the video in landscape 16:9 using mp4, mov, avi or mpeg format. Upload it to Smash on the same day you submit the application, and share its link in the form so it can be downloaded before expiry.
4. Confirm full six-week attendance, English proficiency and the category-specific role/residence rules. Contact the provider about any career-break exception and identify essential accompanying-family arrangements early.