FAQ - Scholarship and Fellow Program

The application requires the completion of an application form and other documents as indicated in the call section of the IAI website. Both the application form and the instructions are available in the four official languages of the Institute: English, German, Portuguese and Spanish. Proposals may also be submitted in any of these languages. Letters of recommendation are only required for applicants who do not hold a doctoral degree. Proposals must be submitted by e-mail only(becas@iai.spk-berlin.de).

No, there is no age limit for researchers who wish to apply for one of the three categories: a) graduates and/or doctoral students; b) postdoctoral researchers (persons with a doctorate or equivalent qualification); c) partial scholarships.

The scholarship finances a maximum stay of two months. The start and end of the stay can be determined by the scholarship holders themselves. It is not necessary for the research stay to coincide with a calendar month. However, the stay must take place in the year of the call for applications.

No, the IAI is open all year round, except on public holidays and Sundays, so the stay can take place at any time of the year for which the scholarship has been approved. From mid-July to mid-August is vacation time in Germany, during which the institute's scientific activities are reduced, but research visits can still take place.

The thematic focus of the call varies from year to year. It is important to note that the IAI's calls for scholarships only apply to projects in the humanities, cultural studies and social sciences. Projects in fields such as engineering, natural sciences or life sciences are not funded.

The call for applications only funds research projects. The scholarships awarded support researchers who have a well-structured project in which access to the library and/or the special collections of the IAI is important.

In addition to the scientific quality, originality and interdisciplinary networking of a proposal, the jury also assesses the extent to which the need for a research stay at the IAI is justified, as well as access to the library and/or the special collections. The selection decision also tries to ensure a certain balance between the different disciplines and countries.

In principle, it is possible to reapply, but given the large number of applications, the probability of receiving another scholarship is rather low.

There is no formal limit to the number of applications. The proposals for each call are reviewed by a committee, which has the autonomy to decide on the scientific quality of the proposals.

No, this is not necessary. Although exchange with IAI academic staff and other visiting scholars is an essential part of the stay if a fellowship is awarded, it is not possible to arrange collaboration with IAI academic staff prior to application due to the large number of applications.

Researchers with a doctoral degree can submit their proposals independently and without the support of an institution in Germany or in the country from which they are applying. For doctoral candidates, an institutional affiliation is relevant, as they must be enrolled in an appropriate doctoral program, either in Germany or in another country.

The IAI's research fellowships are mainly aimed at people who do not live in Berlin. There is no formal restriction, but the chances of a person living in the Berlin area receiving a scholarship are very low. People living in Berlin can use the services and materials of the library and the special collections of the IAI at any time and free of charge.

Yes, it is possible to apply. However, the selection committee will take into account the fact that access to the IAI's library holdings is also possible via the interlibrary loan service.

Yes, the minimum requirement for application is a first university degree and enrollment in a doctoral program at the time of application.

No, unfortunately this is not possible. The scholarships awarded by the IAI can only be awarded to individual researchers. It is not possible to split the scholarship between several people. However, two people working on a joint project can each submit an independent application.

In this case, you cannot apply for a postdoctoral fellowship. Two letters of recommendation are required. The decisive factor is the situation at the time of application.

No, the rejection of an application does not mean a negative assessment of the quality of the application. Due to the large number of applications we receive, only a small proportion can be funded. The IAI does not comment on the reasons for rejection.