DFG - Application and funding formats

The DFG's funding programs are largely modularized.

This means that the applicants can supplement the respective  programs with selected module components. The individual modules are always subject to the same conditions, regardless of the program in which they are applied for.

For each funding program and format and for each module, you will find uniformly structured forms and fact sheets with the relevant information.

Grant applications are usually submitted electronically using the Elan portal.

Review:

Proposals to the DFG are evaluated by volunteer reviewers.

Approval:

The DFG's committees ultimately decide on whether the application is approved.
Here you can see Hohenheim members of DFG Review Boards and Senate Committees.

Duration of procedure and success rates:

Approximately seven months from submission must be expected before an individual grant is approved.

For coordinated programs, the dates of the respective committee meetings should be observed. Submission should therefore be discussed directly with the DFG Head Office or the respective program officer.

The rate of funded projects is about 35% (based on all new applications submitted).

Information from the DFG on this...

The DFG's current annual report can provide information on the prospects of success for proposals in coordinated programs.

Individual research grants are awarded for thematically and temporally limited research projects.

Applications can be made for funds for

• personnel (project staff, technical staff, student assistants)
• smaller scientific equipment
• material resources (consumables, guests, travel and publication costs, investments).
  
  

With the module temporary positions for principal investigators, qualified early career researchers can be funded for the duration of their self-proposed and self-directed project.

The module can be applied for by all researchers in Germany who hold a doctorate.

Submission:

• personally by applicant
• using Elan
• at any time
• The signing of the employer's declaration is the responsibility of the institute or department director. APO review and countersignature is required to eliminate any potential issues with fixed-term contracts. For this, please contact the APO staff member responsible for your personnel file.
  
  

Support and advising:

• Applications for temporary positions for principal investigators should be accompanied by the department directors of the previous position.
• The Research Support Department’s advising services for research proposals supports applicants in the preparation of their proposal, e.g. in financial matters, and is also happy to provide feedback on the overall proposal. 
• Early career researchers can apply for SEED grants to prepare DFG proposals.

DFG grant compact presentation

In these programs, the DFG supports young researchers at different career stages.

More guidance on academic career development...

In most cases, a change of location or institution is a prerequisite for funding. For the host research institution, this offers a renowned opportunity to recruit excellent early career researchers. In return, a significant contribution is often expected from the host university.

• Walter Benjamin Program

  Funding objective:
  The Walter Benjamin Program enables researchers in the qualification phase following their doctorate to independently implement their own research project at the location of their choice.
  
  Who can apply: Researchers with doctorates in the early phase of further qualification
  
  Duration: Maximum two years
  
  What can be applied for:
  
  • Walter Benjamin position (in Germany) or fellowship (abroad)
  • Material costs and publication grant

  
  Contribution of the host institution:
  

  • Workplace, as well as all other resources and infrastructure for the implementation of the project
  • Support for career development and integration into local networks (this must be outlined in writing to the DFG by the scientist(s) for the application)
  • For a project carried out in Germany: Submission of an employer declaration

  
  Advising and support:
  We will be happy to advise you as an applicant, as well as a possible host, for a Walter Benjamin grant. The necessary host support must be provided from departmental funds.  
  
  

• Emmy Noether Program

  Funding objective:
  The Emmy Noether Program offers particularly qualified early career researchers the opportunity to qualify for a university professorship by independently leading a junior research group over a period of six years.
  
  Who can apply: Min. 2 years postdoc, max. 4 years after doctorate, experience abroad, and further requirements
  
  Duration: 6 years
  
  What can be applied for:
  
  • Project manager position
  • Project-specific material and personnel resources
  • Funds for visiting scientists (Mercator Fellows), workshops, public relations, and family allowance

  
  Contribution of the host institution:
  

  • Employer's declaration (preferably in the form of a contract template)

  which includes:
  

  • Commitment that the right to supervise doctoral candidates to their doctorate is granted,
  • Commitment that the fellow will participate in teaching (2SWS)

     
  Advising and support:
  We will be happy to advise you as an applicant, as well as a possible host, for an Emmy Noether grant. For the necessary confirmation of “supervising doctoral candidates," please contact the responsible doctoral committee of your faculty at an early stage.
  
  

• Heisenberg Program

  Funding objective:
  To enable outstanding scientists who meet all the requirements for appointment to a long-term professorship to prepare for a scientific leadership position and to work on advanced research topics during this time.
  There are different variants that can be selected and, if necessary, changed after acceptance into the program.
  
  Target group: Excellent junior staff who have already achieved eligibility to be appointed to a professorship but do not yet hold an adequate permanent position.
  
  Duration: 5 years
  
  What can be applied for regardless of the program chosen:
  
  • Heisenberg position: Positions for the person(s) applying for the grant (group leadership)
  • Heisenberg professorship: temporary (2 years) W2/W3 professorship
  • Flexible research funds

  
  Contribution of the host institution:
  The grant recipient must be promised employment (employer's declaration) and basic resources. For a Heisenberg professorship, the university must promise the continuation of the professorship after the end of funding if the evaluation is positive.
  
  Advising and support:
  Early arrangements with the university administration are necessary to begin a Heisenberg grant at the university. If you are interested, please contact the Vice President for Research, Early Career Researchers, and Transfer.

FOR are set up for the medium-term collaborative work on a special research task by several outstandingly distinguished academics.

The goal is to achieve research results that go well beyond individual funding and, where appropriate, to establish new directions of work.
 

Application initiatives for research groups

• Should be carried out by especially qualified researchers
• Should be for a high-quality original research project.
• Interdisciplinarity is not mandatory. 
  
  

Applications can be made for:

• Personnel funding (project staff, technical staff, student assistants)
• Funds for smaller scientific equipment
• Material resources (consumables, guests, travel and publication costs, investments).

The duration is up to eight years in two application phases of four years each.
Application for the module “temporary positions for principal investigators” job is possible.
 

Application procedures and deadlines:
Two-stage procedure

• Application outline ("concept paper") with an approx. 10-page description of the overall project and a summary (one to two pages) for each of the individual projects.
• If the DFG recommends the application move to the second stage, an application for establishing the group must be submitted.
• The proposal for establishment is reviewed on site by reviewers, after which a recommendation for establishing the group is made to DFG committees, if the decision is positive.
• Outlines may be submitted at any time. Starting from that time, 1-1.5 years must be expected until a decision is made on whether the group is to be established.
  
  

Support and advising:

• Early contact with the Research Support Department for advising and support services is recommended.
• Specific space needs for a FOR should be coordinated with university management and administration prior to proposal submission.
• Start-up funding (up to €30,000 each for outline and full proposal) can be requested for proposal preparation.

DFG program information

RTGs serve to support early career researchers by qualifying doctoral candidates as part of a research program that is interdisciplinary, thematically focused if possible, and that offers a structured qualification concept.

In the variant International Research Training Group (IRTG), a group of researchers at a German university works together on an equal footing with a partner group abroad.
 

Application initiatives for Research Training Groups

• should be supported by five to ten highly qualified researchers with the responsible participation of the early career researchers,
• have a thematically focused, preferably interdisciplinary research program of high scientific quality and originality at an international level,
• establish a research-based study program and qualification concept with innovative teaching and supervision elements,
• plan an integrated, high-quality visiting scholar program.
  
  

The maximum duration of a RTG is 9 years in up to two application phases of 4.5 years each. Applications are made for modules selected according to subject-specific criteria for doctoral and postdoctoral positions, for workshops, substitutes, visiting scientists, etc.

The funding volume is about €500,000-600,000 per year.
 

Application procedures and deadlines:

The application process takes place in two stages. First, an application outline must be submitted with a maximum 15-page description of the project. After a consultation meeting at the DFG (Bonn), the preliminary decision is made in the DFG Senate. If the Senate calls for a full application, is followed by an on-site inspection and, if the decision is positive, approval.
Application outlines can be submitted at any time . Note that DFG Senate meetings are held in May and November each year and outlines must be submitted to the DFG well in advance. From the outline submission, approximately 1-1.5 years are needed until a decision is made on the full application. Timing should therefore be coordinated with the DFG Head Office.
 

Support and advising:

Application initiatives for Research Training Groups are urgently requested to contact the Research Support Department at an early stage, so that intensive consultation and the necessary coordination with the university management can take place in the outline phase. Please also coordinate your initiatives with your faculty management. Likewise, early contact should be made with the program officers at the DFG.
Start-up funding can be requested for the preparation of an application outline and for the preparation of the full application.

DFG program information

CRCs are long-term (up to 12 years) interdisciplinary research associations of outstanding scientists at one university (in the variant Transregio-SFB at up to three universities).

They serve to realize excellent interdisciplinary research in a network, the formation of focal points and structures at the applicant university as well as the promotion of early career researchers and the equal opportunity of researchers.
 

Application initiatives for Collaborative Research Centers:

• must be carried out by excellently qualified researchers
• need an interdisciplinary research program
• are for an innovative, demanding, elaborate, and long-term research project
• which is intended to serve the institutional focus and structure of the university.
  
  

The duration of a CRC is up to 12 years in up to three application phases of four years each.
Subprojects and coordination projects are applied for.
The funding volume is between €1.8 to 2.5 million per year.

Application procedures and deadlines:

The application process takes place in two stages. First, an  application outline of a maximum of 100 pages is submitted. After a consultation meeting at the DFG (Bonn), the preliminary decision is made in the DFG Senate. Upon request, the full application is submitted followed by an on-site evaluation and, if the decision is positive, approval.
Application outlines can be submitted at any time . Note that DFG Senate meetings are held in May and November each year and outlines must be submitted to the DFG well in advance. Timing should therefore be coordinated with the DFG Head Office.
 

Support and advising:

Application initiatives for Collaborative Research Centers are urgently requested to contact the Research Support Department at an early stage so that intensive consultation and the necessary coordination with the university management can take place in the outline phase.  Please also coordinate your initiatives with your faculty management. Likewise, early contact should be made with the program officers at the DFG.
Start-up funding can be requested for the preparation of an application outline, and for the preparation of the full application MWK funds can be requested. Further information is available from the Research Support Department.

DFG program information