Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin Fellowships

Fellows choose their own projects, with no thematic requirements, and the project need not have anything to do with Berlin, but it must be possible to do it in residence. The only obligations are to live at the Wissenschaftskolleg, to join the other fellows for a meal once a day and to attend the colloquium each Tuesday, where one fellow presents their work, followed by an hour of discussion.

The institute deliberately mixes disciplines and cultures of knowledge, and includes composers, musicians, novelists, poets and visual artists among the fellows. Each year it invites a small number of people from outside academia: senior advisers nominate composers, writers and photographers, while journalists and other public intellectuals can apply themselves for a ten-month residency.

Anyone can apply on their own behalf through the electronic application platform, at any time; the lead time from application to the start of the fellowship is about two years, so fellows can arrange leave and bring their families. Candidates can also be nominated by a letter naming two relevant publications, sent to the admissions office. The institute treats nominations and self-applications equally.

Two researchers who want to write a joint publication can apply as a tandem, a format now being tested. Their joint description must say who is responsible for which part and why the project should be done at the Wissenschaftskolleg, and each application is reviewed separately.

Early career researchers in the humanities and social sciences can apply for a fellowship in the following academic year through a call that runs each year from June to 1 September. They need a doctorate in the humanities or social sciences obtained no more than five years before the fellowship begins; care work, career breaks and part-time work can be taken into account on request.

Applications are accepted in German, English or French and ask for a CV with publications, a project description of about 500 words, one recent article and a motivation letter of about 200 words, with bibliographic details of at least three major publications, one of them in English. Applicants hear before the end of the year. A separate call through the College for Life Sciences serves early career researchers in the life and natural sciences.

The financial agreement aims to let fellows come without losing income. The institute asks home institutions to keep paying all or part of the salary; where they do, it can cover the cost of a substitute, as a rule up to 60,000 euros. Where no contribution is possible, it pays a stipend based on the fellow's income, as a rule up to 60,000 euros, or one oriented to comparable German salaries.

Fellows who bring their whole salary receive 850 euros a month for local costs such as meals and utilities, and public figures and self-employed artists without a fixed income receive 5,100 euros a month. The institute pays travel to and from Berlin, including one trip for partners and children when the stay is longer than three months.