DAAD PRIME Fellowship Program 2024 For PhD Students: Apply Now!

About the DAAD PRIME Fellowship Program

The DAAD PRIME Fellowship Program, which is sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), is an excellent opportunity for students to pursue their PhD program in Germany. Moreover, the program also supports the international mobility of postdoctoral researchers by offering temporary positions at German universities.

This program is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and includes a mandatory return phase aimed at reintegration into the German science system. Its primary goal is to equip participants with the qualifications necessary for a successful career in science.

Specifically designed for postdoctoral researchers aspiring to pursue long-term careers in Germany, the program offers funding for independent research stays abroad, based on temporary employment at a German university, for postdocs with long-term career prospects in Germany. The program provides full funding,

covering an annual salary of up to €80,000, as well as travel, accommodation, and dependent expenses for stays abroad exceeding one month. This comprehensive support makes it an attractive option for those looking to advance their careers in the field of science.

Eligibility Criteria for the DAAD PRIME Fellowship Program

Students from abroad seeking PhD programs in Germany are eligible for this program.

To be eligible to apply for DAAD Prime Fellowships, applicants need to meet the following criteria:

Applicants with above-average qualifications from all faculties may apply.
Applicants can be from any nationality

Applicants must accept that the research stay abroad and the return phase to Germany are both mandatory parts of the program.
Also, applicants living abroad are to state their intent to continue their research careers in Germany upon completion of the return phase.
Applicants who already have a permanent employment contract with the prospective host institution for the intended research activity are not eligible for funding.

Again, you may apply up to six years after the (first) doctorate.
They must have completed their doctorate with excellent results before the start of funding.

Benefits of the DAAD PRIME Fellowship Program

With each of the German universities, the DAAD will finalise a grant agreement that will pay for both the monthly expatriate allowance and the regular salary.

Salary: temporary 18-month employment contract at a German university according to pay scale TV-L EG 13 (€70,000 – 80,000). Your exact pay is determined by the universities based on your previous work experience.
Expatriate allowance: A monthly expatriate allowance for the research stay abroad is based on an area classification of the destination and the gross income of the fellows.
Travel allowance: PRIME Fellows receive the DAAD lump sum travel subsidy for postdoctoral scientists.

Spouses and children are also eligible if they accompany the fellow for at least one month during the research stay abroad.

Additionally, funding from DAAD covers an 18-month employment contract at a German university in conjunction with a 6-month return phase to Germany after a 12-month research stay abroad. You may mix stays at various research institutes across one or more nations during your year abroad.

How to Apply

To apply for the DAAD Prime Fellowship program, interested and eligible candidates should take the actions listed below:

Click on the button below to visit the DAAD website for the fellowship
The application form will be available at the DAAD application portal. To get to the portal please click on the link below.
After your portal registration, you can generate and download the form for the required letter of recommendation.

After entering the applicant data, all other application documents (including the letter of recommendation) may be uploaded to the portal.
To upload the documents, all attachments must be available as PDF files.
Also, except for the certificates (see below), all documents must be in English, as international reviewers and an international committee carry out the evaluation and selection process.