The Walter Benjamin Programme is run by the German Research Foundation for researchers in the early postdoctoral phase. It supports an independent research project at a host research institution in Germany, abroad, or through consecutive phases in both.
Funding is provided as a position in Germany, a fellowship abroad, or a temporary substitute position for clinicians in Germany. The programme is designed to support mobility, thematic development, and a move into a new academic environment.
Benefits & funding
- Standard funding lasts up to 24 months; an exceptional renewal of up to 12 additional months may be requested when external circumstances prevented completion.
- Research in Germany is funded through a postdoctoral position, with the host institution acting as employer; research abroad is funded through a fellowship with a monthly basic amount and possible foreign, cost-of-living, travel, and child-related benefits.
- The June 2026 programme guide states a monthly allowance of €313 for direct project costs, travel, and publication costs for all modules. The DFG FAQ still lists €313 for the fellowship and €250 for position and rotation routes, so applicants should confirm the applicable rate with DFG.
- Up to €5,000 per year may be requested for justified high publication costs for a book. Other project resources must be provided by the host institution or host researcher.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be in the early postdoctoral phase and pursuing a research career. Funding cannot begin until the doctorate is complete, although a proposal may be submitted after the thesis has been formally submitted if the required proof, thesis, and supervisor statement are included.
- The project must be based at a research institution that permits public dissemination of results and must not be conducted in a commercial context. A change of institution is normally required; remaining at or returning to the current or doctoral institution requires specific justification.
- For a position in Germany, there are no further personal restrictions beyond the early-postdoctoral requirement. Researchers may apply irrespective of nationality or prior work location, but a German host must provide the employer declaration and career-support statement.
- For a fellowship abroad, applicants whose schooling and higher education were mainly in Germany must have spent less than three years abroad for research since the doctorate and must not have worked at the proposed host for more than one year when applying.
- For a fellowship abroad, applicants whose schooling and higher education were mainly outside Germany must have worked continuously as researchers in Germany for at least the preceding three years and must submit the proposal from Germany.
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.
Education required
PhD
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Application process
- 1Identify a suitable host research institution and agree on infrastructure, project support, academic guidance, and career-development measures.
- 2Choose the position, fellowship, clinician-substitute, or combined route and obtain the route-specific host confirmation or employer declaration.
- 3Prepare the elan proposal data, project description, academic CV, and required attachments; the project description may be no more than 25 pages.
- 4Submit the proposal in German or English through the DFG elan portal at any time.
Program timeline
Any time
Submit the proposal through elan; there is no fixed deadline.
About six months after submission
The current average processing time for an individual grant decision, although individual cases may vary.
Within one year after approval
Take up the funding.
Up to 24 months after the start
Complete the standard funding period.