DAAD PRIME Fellowship Program for PhD Students, Canada 2024-25

DAAD PRIME Fellowship Program is a golden ticket for PhD students who want to take their research global. In 2024-25, this program is fully funding postdoctoral researchers to work at German universities and also spend time abroad. It’s a big deal because it pays for everything: your salary, travel, and even family costs if they come with you.

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This program is not just about the financial benefits; it’s about building international research connections and gaining experiences that will shape your scientific career. It’s an open door to new cultures, new ideas, and new ways of thinking that can enrich your work and personal growth. 

A Background

The DAAD PRIME Fellowship Program was initiated by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in 2014, with funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The program’s goal is to promote international mobility among postdoctoral researchers by providing temporary positions at German universities. This includes a period abroad and a mandatory return phase to Germany, ensuring a well-rounded experience that benefits both the individual researcher and the German science system.

The fellowship is designed to strengthen the professional career of researchers who see their future in Germany. It’s a highly competitive program that seeks applicants with above-average qualifications from all faculties. The program not only supports the researchers financially but also helps them to establish a solid foundation for a continued career in science, making it a prime choice for postdoctoral researchers.

What the Scholarship Offers

The DAAD PRIME Fellowship Program for PhD Students offers a funded opportunity for prospective applicants as follows:

• Compensation: 18-month contract for temporary work at a German university based on TV-L EG 13 pay scale (€70,000 – 80,000). The colleges calculate your actual salary depending on your prior job experience.
• Expatriate allowance: Based on the region categorization of the destination and the fellows’ gross income, a monthly expatriate stipend is provided during research stays overseas.
• Travel allowance: PRIME The DAAD lump sum travel grant for postdoctoral scientists is awarded to fellows.
• If a spouse or kid stays with the fellow for at least one month while conducting research overseas, they are also eligible.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the opportunity, applicants have to meet certain requirements as listed below:

• You need to have done well in your studies. They’re looking for people who have above-average qualifications from any field of study.
• It doesn’t matter where you’re from. This program is open to applicants of any nationality.
• You’ve got to be okay with the idea that you’ll be spending some time abroad and then coming back to Germany to finish up your work. Both parts are a must.
• If you’re living outside Germany right now, you need to plan on continuing your research career in Germany after your fellowship.
• You can apply if it’s been up to six years since you got your first doctorate.
• You should have completed your doctorate with excellent results before you start the fellowship.
• If you already have a permanent job where you plan to do your research, then this funding isn’t for you.

Application Procedure

Follow the process below on how to apply for the DAAD PRIME Fellowship Program for PhD Students for the 2024-25 academic session: 

• Visit the DAAD application portal to access the application form. Click Stipendiendatenbank für Deutsche Nationalbank to access the portal.
• The necessary letter of reference form may be generated and downloaded following your portal registration.
• Uploading the recommendation letter and all other application materials to the portal is possible after the applicant data has been entered.
• Every attachment has to be a PDF file to be uploaded. 
• All documentation must be in English as well, with the exception of the certificates (see below), as an international committee and international reviewers conduct the evaluation and selection procedure.
• Prior to the deadline, applications submitted may be modified.

NOTE: The deadline for this offer is August 30, 2024.

For detailed information about the DAAD PRIME Fellowship Program for PhD Students and application guidelines, please visit the official scholarship link.

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