Fellowships at the Munich Center for Holocaust Studies

[Die deutsche Version finden Sie hier]

The Center for Holocaust Studies at the Leibniz Institute for Contemporary History will be offering grants for research stays at the Center in Munich during 2026.

The fellowships are designed to support and foster international Holocaust research. The program is aimed at established as well as younger researchers. As we are interested in a high degree of international cooperation, applications from Germany, Europe as well as from all over the world are welcome. A topic within the field of Holocaust Studies is required in order to be eligible for one of the fellowships.

Applicants should explain their interest in a stay at the Center and make clear, which holdings of the Archives of the Leibniz Institute for Contemporary History and potentially other German archives are relevant to them. The fellows are expected to partake actively in the events and research discussions of the Center as well as present their own topic there.

The stipend level depends on the prior academic degrees of the recipients. Fellowships are awarded in the following two categories:

• Up to two Junior Fellowships (2500 Euro per month): for PhD-Candidates (in exceptional cases, for Master Candidates). These fellowships last up to four months each. In 2026, it is planned to issue one Junior Fellowship in the field of Public History of the Holocaust, for example regarding graphic novels.
• Up to two Senior Fellowships (3500 Euro per month): for researchers with a PhD, Post-Docs and those writing a Habilitation. These fellowships last up to four months each.

Additionally, two further Fellowships are also being offered together with partner institutions:

• 2026 Exchange of Scholars Zentrum für Holocaust-Studien am Institut für Zeitgeschichte and the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. For more details, see below.
• The Pierre Gouffault Fellowship in cooperation with the Brandenburg Memorials Foundation – for doctoral candidates, in exceptional cases Master's candidates, with a topic of Holocaust research, research on the National Socialist concentration camps or connected biographical studies. This fellowship has a duration of one month in Munich with a scholarship of 2500 euros and and six weeks in Oranienburg (Sachsenhausen Memorial) and Berlin with up to two weeks of free accommodation in Oranienburg (dates to be agreed on ahead of time). A workspace is available at the Sachsenhausen Memorial. The Oranienburg-Berlin scholarship will be funded with a total of €3,500. A simultaneous application to the Junior Fellowships of the Center outlined above is possible. 

The Center will offer a workspace with a PC and telephone as well as access to a printer / photocopier. Additionally, non-recurring travel to and from Munich will be covered. The fellows are obliged to take care of any necessary visas, housing and health insurance themselves at an appropriate time.

Applications

Applications – in German or English – have to reach the Zentrum für Holocaust-Studien am Institut für Zeitgeschichte by 17 November 2025 and contain the following materials: 

• a filled out application form (in English or German)
• a motivational letter
• a project proposal (max. 5 pages)
• a curriculum vitae with publication list
• two letters of recommendation

Queries and applications (preferably by email) should be sent to:

Giles Bennett
Center for Holocaust Studies at the Leibniz Institute for Contemporary History
Leonrodstr. 46 b 80636 Munich
GERMANY
fellows[at]ifz-muenchen.de
+49-89-5527907-12

2026 Exchange of Scholars Zentrum für Holocaust-Studien am Institut für Zeitgeschichte and the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum 

This exchange is designed for PhD candidates, early postdoctoral researchers, and junior faculty members based at US and German institutions or universities who are working on a Holocaust-related subject in all relevant disciplines. Applicants to the Center for Holocaust Studies (Germany) must be based at a US university or institution and should demonstrate their need to utilize holdings in residence in Munich or Berlin for up to four months. Applicants to the Mandel Center must be based at a German university or institution and demonstrate a need to utilize holdings in residence at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum for up to four months. Each institution will provide workspace and access to a computer, telephone, and photocopier. Stipends range up to $5,000 per month (and up to the equivalent amount in Euros) and also include a one-time stipend to support roundtrip, economy transportation to Germany or Washington, DC respectively. Visa assistance will be provided. Successful applicants are responsible for securing their own accommodations and health insurance. The award does not include support allowances for accompanying family members.

US applicants:

US applicants should submit an application to the Center for Holocaust Studies at the Leibniz Institute for Contemporary History as outlined above, stating in their motivational letter that they are applying for the Exchange of Scholars. A simultaneous application to the Center Fellowships outlined above is possible for US applicants.

German applicants: 

For German applicants for the Exchange of Scholars, applications should be electronically submitted at: https://www.ushmm.org/research/opportunities-for-academics/fellowships/annual, according to the deadlines for the general USHMM fellowship (deadline: 15 November 2025).

All applications must consist of the following: 

• An online application form  
• A project proposal  
• A curriculum vitae summary, in PDF format, not to exceed four single-spaced pages 

All application materials should be received by the deadline of the general USHMM fellowship call (15 November 2025). Please note the deadline for all materials. 

Contact for German applicants for the Exchange of Scholars: Visiting Scholar Programs, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, vscholars[at]ushmm.org.