FAQ: Research Fellowships
Return Grants
No, return grants must be requested from abroad at least two months prior to returning to Germany.
If there is a possibility of working in Germany directly following the stay abroad, a return grant cannot be awarded.
No, previous funding through a DFG research fellowship abroad is a strict prerequisite for eligibility to apply for a DFG return grant.
This information is given in the DFG’s guidelines for research fellowships:
The host institution must state that appropriate working resources are being made available for the duration of the return grant. This statement should be signed by the office that, depending on the organisation of the university or non-university research institution, can provide authoritative approval for the resources and core support. The signature of the professor in whose research group you would like to work is sufficient for this purpose.
DFG Contacts
Additional information on the proposal process can be obtained from the relevant programme staff
Queries on programme eligibility can be addressed to
In case of questions or for further information on financial management, please contact the Fellowship Office.