The Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience (PRIME) 2026 is formally open for functions—and it’s calling bold postdocs from all disciplines who dream of worldwide analysis expertise with out leaving Germany behind.
Funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and administered by the DAAD, PRIME offers researchers a novel alternative to spend a full yr conducting unbiased analysis overseas whereas being employed by a German college—with a reintegration part to come back again home stronger, extra related, and profession-prepared.
Where Is It Offered?
PRIME relies in Germany, nevertheless it’s world in scope. Applicants safe an 18-month employment contract with a German college that features:
- 12 months overseas at a number of worldwide analysis establishments
- 6-month reintegration interval again on the German college.
Destinations for the 12-month worldwide part are versatile however should adjust to mobility guidelines: you can’t have lived or labored in your chosen host nation for greater than 12 months within the 3 years earlier than the application deadline.
What’s within the Funding Package?
- Salary: You’ll be employed for 18 months at a German college below pay scale TV-L E13, with the quantity primarily based in your expertise.
- Monthly Expatriate Allowance: Based in your vacation spot and earnings stage.
- Travel Allowance: Lump sum for you—and your partner or kids (in the event that they keep not less than a month overseas with you).
- Administrative Support: DAAD funds your wage via challenge funding despatched to your German college.
Who’s Eligible?
To apply, you could:
- Have accomplished your PhD with glorious outcomes (you may apply within the closing phases, however PhD should be full earlier than funding begins).
- Be inside 6 years of incomes your PhD (parental/care intervals are thought-about).
- Be from any nationality or college.
- Have not less than one publication (co-authorships accepted).
- Not maintain a everlasting place at your proposed host college.
- Prove your dedication to persevering with a profession in Germany after PRIME.
- Not have resided/labored in your supposed host nation overseas for greater than 12 of the previous 36 months.
Additionally, EU nationals or these with lengthy-time period analysis expertise within the EU can select locations exterior the EU. Others should keep inside Europe for the overseas part.
What’s Required for the Application?
An entire application contains:
- Application type (SCHOLARSHIPS/daad-funding-programmes/prime/prime-candidates/”>https://www.daad.de/en/studying-in-germany/scholarships/daad-funding-programmes/prime/prime-applicants/ )
- CV (gapless and detailed)
- Career plan
- Research abstract and detailed proposal
- Timeline (e.g., Gantt chart)
- Letters of invitation from each German and overseas host establishments
- Commitment letter from German college to make use of you for 18 months
- Proof of educational levels with transcripts
- Publication checklist (highlighting 3 most related)
- Doctoral thesis abstract (1–2 pages)
- Ethics declaration
- Language certificates (if required)
- One confidential letter of advice from a professor
All paperwork should be submitted in English through the DAAD portal in PDF format.
Application Timeline
The application course of for the DAAD PRIME 2025/26 fellowship begins with the official name for functions. Interested candidates should submit their full functions by the deadline of 29 August 2025. Following the assessment and choice course of, candidates will likely be notified of the outcomes by mid-March 2026.
A digital orientation seminar for profitable fellows will happen in March or April 2026 to arrange them for the implementation of their fellowship. The earliest potential begin date for the funded place is 01 June 2026, and the most recent allowable begin date is 01 November 2026.
DAAD Prime Fellowships 2026 Announced for Germany FULLY FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
