Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience (PRIME)

DAAD's PRIME (Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience) supports international mobility in the postdoctoral phase through fixed-term positions at German universities. This includes a 12-month posting abroad and a six-month integration phase at a German university. Fellows gain an important qualification step with their independent research project and the stay abroad for their career in academia. The programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Application 2025/2026

PRIME is a highly competitive funding program for postdocs who plan their professional career in Germany. Applicants with above-average qualifications from all faculties may apply. They must have completed their doctorate with excellent results before the start of funding.
There are no restrictions regarding nationality and current residency. However, depending on nationality and place of residence, restrictions may apply when choosing the destination country for the stay abroad. 

Application cycle 2025/2026:

Open for applications: 12 May 2025
Application deadline: 29 August 2025
Selection: February 2026
Starting date: 1 June 2026 - 1 November 2026

Call for applications 2025/26 [pdf-file] (German) 
Call for applications 2025/26 [pdf-file] (English)

The application form is available in the application portal. To get to the portal please click on Stipendiendatenbank für Deutsche, fill in "Fachrichtung" (subject of your research), "Zielland" (country of the period abroad) and "Programme für: Promovierte", and select the programme.
Please mind the instructions on registering on the portal, choose English as portal language, activate, if necessary, the compatibility view of your browser and choose English as browser language. After registration in the portal, please click on the tab "personal funding".

Please note that complete applications must be submitted on time to be considered. Give your potential host and prospective host university enough time to issue an invitation and to complete form 1 (see below "Attachments...").

Information for applicants/FAQ

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Selection criteria/Reviewers' comments
• Help-Page for the DAAD Portal
• Rules of Good Academic Practice
• Mobility with a disability

Attachments to your application

• Declaration German host university (doc 1, word [docx-file]/pdf [pdf-file])
• Invitation German host (doc 2, pdf [pdf-file] only - information for host)
• Ethics Issues Checklist (doc 3, Ethic Issues Form_doc [docx-file]/Ethic Issues Form_pdf [pdf-file])
• Checklist Application Documents (doc 4 [pdf-file], pdf)

Contact

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Section ST43 - Research Programmes / PRIME
Kennedyallee 50
53175 Bonn
Germany

Helpdesk

Please review the FAQs. 
Questions not listed in the FAQs? Please contact us: primeatdaad.de.