Research stays and visits to Germany

Two Scientists talking in front of a computer screen at DZNE-Bonn (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases)

A research stay in Germany for a postdoc can last from one month to several years and is usually tied to a specific research project and a collaborating institute.

It can enable you to realise your own research project at a university or a non-university research institute in Germany or may be organised within the framework of an international partnership. In any event, it will increase your experience and expand your horizons.

These temporary research stays receive funding – especially within the framework of international collaborations and through the award of prizes or grants.

This overview shows you which funding organisations support international guest researchers during their stay in Germany:

Graphic showing the number of international guest researchers in Germany:<br/>Leading German funding organisations: 27,866<br/>including Deutsche Forshcungsgemeinschaft: 15,506<br/>German Academic Exchange Service: 12,546<br/>Alexander von Humboldt Foundation: 2,371<br/><br/>Other German funding organisations: 1,464 <br/>International funding organisations: 637<br/>Total: 29,967<br/><br/>2021; Funding recipients by funding organisation; source: Wissenschaft weltoffen 2023

How do I find a host institution in Germany?

Short research visits or stays by international postdocs in Germany are basically possible at all universities and research institutions. The prerequisites are contact with the host institution and its willingness to accept the visiting researcher.

You can search for contact persons at German higher education institutions using our overview of research organisations or by using different databases:

Cooperation with a German university
The German Rectors’ Conference offers a database containing information on over 35,000 international university partnerships with German higher education institutions.
www.international-university-partnerships.de

GERiT – directory of 32,000 research institutions in Germany
GERiT – the German Research Institutions directory of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation, DFG) provides details of 32,000 institutes at German universities and non-university research institutions searchable by geographical location, subject and other criteria.
www.gerit.org

Overview of research organisations in Germany
Where can I conduct research? Scientists and researchers are welcome guests and cooperation partners not only at universities, but also at non-university research institutes. Visit our Research landscape page for an overview of the universities and research-performing institutions.
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Can I receive financial support for my research stay in Germany?

German institutions have a great interest in international cooperation. Stays of international postdocs in Germany are funded with special research grants irrespective of whether they involve visits to a non-university research facility, a German higher education institution or a research-oriented company. Here you will find more information:

Funding programmes

Outstanding international postdocs with good degrees, publications in prestigious specialist journals, relevant research experience and excellent research proposals can also receive support in the shape of fellowships and prizes.

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Funding organisations

Research funding in Germany is provided by government bodies, various organisations and foundations, including many of the large non-university research institutions, and industry.