Gerda Henkel Research Scholarships
Please take note of our criteria regarding the applications for a research scholarship:
The funding activities concentrate basically on German and foreign academics in the fields of historical humanities. Candidates can apply regardless of their nationality and place of work.
The most important criteria when deciding if a grant should be awarded are the academic significance and the quality of the research project. Also precise planning of costs and schedule of the proposed project are absolutely essential.
Research projects in the following fields are supported in particular:
- Archaeology
- History of Art
- Historical Islamic Studies
- History
- History of Science
- History of Law
- Prehistory and Early History
Since 2008 the Foundation has also increasingly addressed issues of great relevance to contemporary life and the future, above all as part of its special “Islam, the Modern Nation State and Transnational Movements” and “Security, Society and the State” programmes. As part of the Lisa Maskell Fellowships, since 2014 the Foundation has been supporting young scholars in the humanities in both Africa and Southeast Asia. Starting in 2015, the Foundation has with its “Patrimonies” funding initiative focused more strongly on the preservation of cultural heritage, specifically in regions experiencing crisis.
Funds are provided for:
- specific temporary research projects by way of grants for personnel, travel and material expenses (not for individual journeys to participate in conferences)
- research and PhD scholarships for German and foreign scholars (not for studies under PhD level)
- publications of particularly successful projects supported by the Foundation
Projects and individuals in the following areas are not supported:
- Medicine
- Natural and Engineering Sciences
- Psychology
- Linguistics and Literature Studies
- Drama or Film Studies
- Economics
Support is not provided for:
- final projects of bachelor and master students
- studies under PhD level
- positions (temporary or permanent)
- academic institutions by way of endowments
- festschrifts or dictionaries
- annual meetings and academic anniversaries
- publications which are not related to projects already being supported by the Foundation
- excursions
- conferences that are not initiated by the Foundation
- individual journeys to participate in conferences
- exhibition projects which are not related to projects already supported by the Foundation
Type and scope of the funding
Applications for research scholarships can be made directly by Postdocs or scholars with Post Doctoral Lecture Qualification. A research scholarship is usually applied for by one scholar who will work on a specific project on his own. An institutional affiliation is not necessary. The simultaneous receipt of salary or retirement pension and a research scholarship is not possible.
The funding period is generally between one and 24 months.
The period of support for Foundation stipend holders working on Ph.D. or research projects can be extended by up to 12 months if the holder becomes a parent during the period covered by the stipend and has an entitlement to maternity or parental leave. Individual arrangements must be discussed with the Foundation’s administrative office.
Research Scholarships for Postdocs
Monthly scholarship award: 2,300 euros
• for one child: EUR 400
• for each further child: EUR 100
The family grant is awarded for children who have not yet turned 18.
Monthly endowment for scholarships abroad: 575 euros
Travel aid: as required
Material aid: as required
Research Scholarships after Post Doctoral Lecture Qualification
Monthly scholarship award: 3,100 euros
As equivalent to the German Habilitation the Foundation accepts positions as „Associate Professor“ or „Full Professor“ / „Distinguished Professor“ (according to the North American university system) and „Senior Lecturer“ or „Reader“/„Professor“ (according to the Commonwealth university system), respectively.
• for one child: EUR 400
• for each further child: EUR 100
The family grant is awarded for children who have not yet turned 18.
Monthly endowment for scholarships abroad: 775 euros
Travel aid: as required
Material aid: as required
The Foundation committees meet twice a year to consider the applications and decide on funding grants. The application deadline for the Foundation committees autumn meeting in 2020 is 27 May, 2020. Applications have to be in the Foundation's office by this day. The Foundation committees are holding their meeting in November 2020. If your application is successful, funding can start at the beginning of December 2020 at the very earliest.
The deadline is not valid for smaller funding amounts (max. 25,000 euros). Smaller funding amounts are granted by the Foundation through a simplified procedure with a deliberation time of approximately three to four months. Please follow the exact same application procedure for smaller funding amounts as for regular research scholarships.
