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Programme Information

German Chancellor Fellowships

for prospective leaders

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundations German Chancellor Fellowship Programme is targeted at
university graduates from the United States, the Russian Federation, the Peoples Republic of China,
Brazil and India who have an international outlook and initial leadership experience. It addresses
prospective decision-makers, multipliers and thought leaders from a broad range of professional fields
such as politics, public administration and business as well as society and culture. The fellowships
give them the opportunity to spend a year in Germany networking with other prospective leaders from
abroad, who are also sponsored by the Humboldt Foundation, and to explore new solutions to the
global issues of our times. With this programme Germany once again presents itself as a destination
of choice for intercultural dialogue and as a meeting place for the international leaders of tomorrow.

During their stay in Germany, the German Chancellor Fellows usually pursue research-based, self-
developed projects in the areas mentioned above at host institutions. They are supervised by hosts in
Germany who they select themselves and who have the necessary level of expertise to mentor the
respective research topics. The projects should not only be of social significance, but should also have
a long-term, publicly-visible impact. They should also be conducive to advancing fellows career
development. During their stay in Germany, fellows will be able to expand their specialist knowledge
and gain new international experience whilst enhancing their intercultural skills and thus enabling them
to develop into successful leaders.

After the fellowship has come to an end, they act as intermediaries between their own countries and
Germany and continue to be part of the worldwide Humboldt Network in which the alumni of the
German Chancellor Fellowship Programme foster particularly close contacts with one another. This
has resulted in a steadily growing network of international decision-makers, multipliers and thought
leaders.

This fellowship programme is under the patronage of the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of
Germany and is financed by the Federal Foreign Office. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
grants up to 50 German Chancellor Fellowships every year up to ten of which go to prospective
leaders from each of the five countries named above.

Potential candidates, who are interested in studying or training in Germany, should apply for the
programmes offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) or other funding
organisations. Postdoctoral scientists and scholars planning an academic research project should
apply for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundations Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme.


Fellowship benefits

The fellowship grant amounts to 2,150 EUR, 2,450 EUR or 2,750 EUR per month, depending on the
applicants qualifications. The fellowship also includes a mobility allowance as well as a contribution to
health and liability insurance.

The stay in Germany begins with a language scholarship for an obligatory two-month intensive
language course which takes place during August and September; fellows, who already have a good,
but improvable, knowledge of German, take part in a one-month language course; fellows with
excellent German skills are not required to attend the intensive language course. The German
Chancellor Fellowship is granted for twelve months and starts in October with a four-week introductory
seminar in Bonn and Berlin. This provides varied insights into the social, political, economic and
cultural life in Germany. It is followed by eleven months of individual project work starting in
November.
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During the spring, a two-week study tour of Germany takes place. Other events within the scope of the
fellowship include the Alexander von Humboldt Foundations annual meeting with a reception held by
the Federal President and a final meeting in Berlin which includes a reception at the Federal
Chancellery. Fellowship extensions of up to three months are possible.

Additional benefits:
allowance for research costs amounting to 500 EUR per month for the hosts in Germany
lump sum for the fellows travel to and from Germany if these costs are not borne by a third party
allowances for family members accompanying the fellow to Germany for a minimum of three
months (up to 326 EUR a month for marital partners and up to 234 EUR a month for each child)
German courses in the fellows own country prior to the stay in Germany as well as during the
stay in Germany to intensify the knowledge of German acquired during the intensive language
course
Europe allowance for a stay of one to two months at an institute in Europe (not, however, in the
fellows own country) if such a stay is necessary to conduct the project in question
extensive alumni sponsorship after the stay in Germany has been completed successfully, in
particular, to promote networking with the collaborative partners in Germany during the alumnis
entire professional careers


Application requirements

the applicant must be a national of the United States, the Russian Federation, The Peoples
Republic of China, Brazil or India
Bachelors or equivalent academic degree completed less than twelve years before the
beginning of the fellowship (1 October of the year following application)
initial proven leadership experience; applicants with a preponderantly academic background
should have acquired initial leadership experience in addition to their own research activity
German or English language skills
a letter of motivation (approx. 2 pages)
a project plan (approx. 3 pages); candidates must draw up their project plan independently and
discuss it with their intended host prior to application
a detailed statement, including confirmation of supervision, by the host in Germany
two references by individuals qualified to comment on the candidates professional, personal
and/or academic background

Potential applicants who have been in Germany for more than six months immediately prior to the
application deadline (15 September) may not apply.

Potential applicants who have already been sponsored by the Humboldt Foundation are not eligible to
apply for one of the Foundations other fellowships but should seek support for a further stay in
Germany from the Foundations Alumni Programme.


Selection criteria

Applicants are selected according to the following criteria:
previous career and leadership potential
significance of fellowship for further career development
potential to build bridges between home country and Germany
international outlook and future role as an international leader
existing knowledge to help complete the project successfully
relevance of the project for the dialogue of modern societies


Application and selection procedure

Applications should be completed online. The application deadline is 15 September of every year.

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The completed application form, including the necessary additional documents, should be submitted
online by the application deadline. Visit the Alexander von Humboldt Foundations website
(http://www.humboldt-foundation.de/buka) for further information on the online application process and
all necessary documents as well as access to the online application system. A confirmation of receipt
will be issued immediately after the application has been submitted.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their documents are complete. It may not be possible to
include incomplete applications in the selection procedure.

The host in Germany should send the confidential statement directly to the Alexander von Humboldt
Foundation by the application deadline at the latest.

The selection process consists of two steps. The most promising candidates are initially selected from
all formally approved applications on the basis of the written documents, and invited to a selection
meeting in Bonn. During an interview, the applicants present themselves and their projects to an
independent selection committee which decides on how the fellowships should be allocated. A further
selection tool involves a group discussion on an overarching topic of general interest. Additional
information on the selection process can be found in the FAQ section on the Humboldt Foundations
website. The Humboldt Foundation will be pleased to answer any further questions about the German
Chancellor Fellowship Programme by email ([email protected]).

US candidates for the German Chancellor Fellowship Programme can also approach the office of the
American Friends of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

American Friends of the Tel: (202) 783-1907
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fax: (202) 783-1908
1101 17
th
Street NW, Suite 603 [email protected]
Washington, DC 20036 www.americanfriends-of-avh.org

Hosts statements and references should be sent directly to the Humboldt Foundation in Bonn and not
to the office of the American Friends of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.