Doctoral StudentsFunding

The Graduate Academy assists doctoral students in their search and application for various types of funding.

The Graduate Academy awards doctoral fellowships as well as grants for doctoral candidates and postdocs and provides information about funding organizations as well as structured doctoral programs. Our Service Point team can also help you with your search for funding opportunities (information on scholarship providers, exposé advice etc.).

Financing your doctoral studies

Doctoral fellowships

A fellowship gives doctoral students the freedom to devote themselves entirely to their dissertation. It should be noted that doctoral candidates with a scholarship are not covered by social security and therefore have to take care of their own insurance cover (e.g. health insurance).

Foundations and organizations for the promotion of young talent

In Germany there are 13 funding organizations for the promotion of young talent (Begabtenförderungswerke). These organizations are carried by different societal agencies (political parties, churches etc.) and all organizations award doctoral fellowships.

Structured doctoral programs

The University of Heidelberg has more than 30 structured doctoral programs in all disciplines that are funded through a variety of sources. Depending on the kind of program, fellowships are granted only at the outset of the program or throughout its duration.

Landesgraduiertenförderung (LGF)

The Graduate Academy awards individual doctoral fellowships through the Baden-Württemberg Landesgraduiertenförderung Program and regularly supports research training groups with fellowships funded through the LGF program.

Funding programs

Completion grants by the DAAD (STIBET)

Within the framework of the "Stipendien- und Betreuungsprogramms (STIBET)" of the DAAD, the University of Heidelberg will award completion grants. The funding is intended to support international doctoral candidates in the final phase of their doctoral training.