Travel Allowances from the Young Researchers Fund – Apply Now

You are planning a research stay in Germany or abroad between November 2026 and April 2027 and are unable to cover the travel costs yourself? Then you should apply for a travel grant from the Young Researchers Fund amounting to a maximum of € 1,500 until 15 September 2026.

Prerequisities for an application

You have completed your studies with above-average grades.
Your planned researchstay is for the purpose of data collection, fieldwork, research in libraries or archives, conducting interviews, using specialized equipment, networking, etc.
Your planned research stay will take place in the period from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027.
The research stay is relevant to your doctorate.
You have been admitted as a doctoral candidate to your Faculty at Heidelberg University (Annahme als Doktorand*in | Acceptance as doctoral candidate).

Travel expenses that can be reimbursed

Travel expenses of up to € 1,500 can be reimbursed from the Young Researchers Fund. Please indicate your expected expenses in the application form. Unfortunately, expenses that exceed the amount for which you have applied will not be refunded. Reimbursement will be made on the basis of the receipts submitted.

The following expenses can be reimbursed:

Costs for outward and return trip as well as local public transportation (airfare, train faire, tickets for public transportation etc.)
Costs for accommodation without meals (hotel, private room rental, guesthouse apartment)
Please note that accommodations can only be covered at the most from one day before to one day after the end of the research stay.
Tuition fees

Please submit the documents required for the payment as well as a copy of the approval of the travel allowance no later than one month after the trip has taken place to the Graduate Academy.

Please note: If your trip is financially supported by an external funding, please submit a copy of your application to the external organisation / institution.

Please note that the following costs cannot be reimbursed:

Costs for meals
Costs for books, photocopies and leasure activities
Costs for private travels and stays of fellow travelers
Costs for trip cancellation insurance, travel insurances for trips abroad etc.
Costs for extra baggage
Costs for childcare
Costs for daily allowances
Costs for voluntary climate taxes (≠ mandatory climate taxes)

Application documents

The application must be completed until 15 September 2026 and takes place in three steps:

Fill out and send the Online Registration Form (see link)
Fill out the application form and send the application documents via email to the Graduate Academy:
ga-docs@uni-heidelberg.de
.
Documents to be submitted:
- Application form (PDF document)
- Degree certificate of the last course of studies
- Acceptance as a doctoral candidate or enrolment for doctoral studies
- If applicable, „Antrag auf Genehmigung einer Dienstreise“
- If applicable, invitation letter (research travel)
- If applicable, list of planned stops (research institutions, archives, etc.) of your research trip
- If applicable, confirmation of funding for acquired external funding
Evaluation by your first doctoral supervisor (PDF document)
The evaluation must be sent via email by your first doctoral supervisor directly to the Graduate Academy by 15 September 2026:
ga-docs@uni-heidelberg.de
.

If it is not possible for your first supervisor to fill out the evaluation form for you (e.g. due to illness, parental leave etc.), you can ask another professor in your subject area to evaluate your application and complete the form for you.

Please note: Please fill out the application form (PDF document) eletronically. Save the form on your computer before filling it out, otherwise your data may not be transmitted correctly. After filling out the form, please save it again. Please use an Apple or Windows operating system to fill out the forms. The forms are not compatible with a Linux system.

Good to know

The Young Researchers Fund is financed by donations and endowment contributions. We would like to thank each and everyone who makes the awarding of travel allowances and completion grants possible with their support.
The awards notifications are sent out about 6 weeks after the deadline.
Your trip must begin no earlier than 1 November 2026, and must end no later than 30 April 2027.
Applications received after the deadline as well as incomplete applications will not be considered.
If you cannot go on your planned trip, you will automatically forfeit your travel allowance.
Please contact us immediately if you have to postpone your research trip. The travel allowance will apply to the postponed trip only if the purpose and destination of it remains unchanged.

Please note that you must comply with export control regulations when traveling to countries outside Europe.