University of Bayreuth
Centre of International Excellence
“Alexander von Humboldt”

Starter Grant Programme 2026

Call for Applications

Application deadline: October 31, 2025

The University of Bayreuth Centre of International Excellence “Alexander von Humboldt” promotes excellent research at the University of Bayreuth (UBT) and advances the internationalisation of research and networking with the best universities worldwide. Effective immediately, the Centre is offering

Starter Grants for the year 2026

 - open to all disciplines* -
(Please note the specific rulings for African Studies at the bottom of this page.)

Award sum 10,000 €

The Grantees will have the awarded sum at their disposal for covering all costs of project realisation. Grantees accompanied by at least one child receive an additional monthly family allowance of 250 €. If successful, Grantees may apply for a follow-up grant called “Booster Grant” by the Bayreuth Humboldt Centre (award sum 20,000 €). This requires proof of the successfully completed Starter Grant. Success must be documented in e.g. joint publications, a jointly organized workshop or conference or other results of the starter funding. These success criteria will be evaluated during the selection process for the Booster Grant. Please see the Application Guidelines for details.

International Excellence – Programme Goals

The Centre supports academic exchange across existing boundaries: between disciplines, between different cultures and countries, between established and younger researchers. Furthermore, the Centre engages in activities opening the research community to society and politics. Successful applicants will become Grantees at the Centre and profit from the lively research environment of the university and its seven faculties. Applicants are encouraged to learn about the University of Bayreuth’s focus areas and research strengths.

Experience Bayreuth – Collaboration with Local Host

We invite the Grantees to carry out their own research projects in Germany in cooperation with a local host at UBT. The research projects shall benefit both the candidate and the host. Prior to submission of the application, applicants are required to identify a researcher in Bayreuth with whom they aim to carry out their research project. The local hosts provide their Grantees with appropriate office and lab space and an up-to-date infrastructure. Applications are welcome from all disciplines, although exceptions apply.* The Grant will commence when the applicant signs the Declaration of Acceptance, and the Grant money will be transferred with the first visit of the Grantee to UBT. This visit must be within the year after the official acceptance of the Grant. 15 months after the Grant has been accepted, a report must be submitted. Therefore, the Centre strongly recommends the Grantee to visit UBT shortly after accepting the Grant.

Candidate Requirements

We award the Grants to individuals affiliated with institutions abroad with challenging and innovative research projects of top academic quality through a highly competitive, strictly merit-based selection process. The all-important selection criteria are the academic excellence of both the applicant and the cooperative project — reflected, for example, in high-ranking publications — as well as the potential for networking with the University of Bayreuth beyond the local host.

We view the diversity of our awardees as an asset and are expressly committed to the goal of gender equality. Female scholars and anyone who can help make the research profile of the university more diverse are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more information on the application and selection process (required documents, guidelines on eligibility, hosts, evaluation criteria, timeline and stages of the selection process) see our Application Guidelines for Starter Grants. Please note that the Guidelines are rigorously binding and applications not adhering to them will not be considered.

Application Deadline

Please submit your complete application via our online form by October 31, 2025.

Homepage Bayreuth Humboldt Centre

* Members of the Cluster of Excellence (as defined by § 11 (3) of the Cluster Rules) cannot act as host if the research focus of the application is on African Studies. This is due to regulations of the German Research Foundation stipulating that the Centre cannot provide funding to enhance resources of the university’s Cluster of Excellence. In case of doubt, please contact our office before applying.