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Funding

Salary

Program dates

Apr 1, 2028

Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience (PRIME)

FellowshipGermany

DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)

Application Deadline

April 15, 2027

Official Page

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

“You must have been studying or working in the German higher education/research system for at least three of the past five years before the application deadline to apply (e.g. doctoral program/research activities). … You may apply up to six years after your (first) PhD was completed.” Eligibility

  • Education required

    PhD Enrolled · PhD

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PRIME is a postdoctoral mobility programme run by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).

Fellows hold a fixed-term position at a German university for 18 months: 12 months on their own research project with a host abroad, then a 6-month integration phase back at the German university. All disciplines can apply.

Benefits & funding

  • Salary on the German public pay scale TV-L E13, about €5,000–6,400 a month before tax, depending on experience and circumstances.
  • An extra allowance during the 12 months abroad, varying by salary and destination (an estimated €1,500–2,800 a month for Europe and North America; rates may change).
  • A lump-sum travel allowance from DAAD, set by destination.
  • No extra family support; overheads and bench fees are not covered.

Eligibility

  • Postdocs of any nationality and current residence, in any field.
  • Doctorate completed with excellent results before funding starts; M.D. degrees based on medical training alone do not qualify.
  • At least three of the five years before the deadline spent studying or working in the German higher education/research system.
  • No more than six years since your first PhD; time outside research and career breaks is not counted.
  • Destination: any foreign country where you have not spent more than 12 months in total in the three years before the deadline — this can rule out your home country or country of residence.

Application process

  1. 1
    Line up a host abroad and a German host university; the host sends an invitation and the university signs a declaration (Form 1).
  2. 2
    Apply through the DAAD portal (opens January 2027) by 15 April 2027, 11:59 pm CET.
  3. 3
    A formal check follows within about 8 weeks; external experts review, and an interdisciplinary committee ranks applicants in late September.

Program timeline

  1. Call published; online information session

    Autumn 2026

  2. Application portal opens

    January 2027

  3. Application deadline

    15 April 2027

  4. Late September – October 2027

    Selection committee; DAAD aims to notify in October

  5. Funding starts

    1 April – 1 September 2028

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