Fritz Thyssen Foundation - Research Stipends

Research stipends from the Fritz Thyssen Foundation are an instrument used to support highly qualified individual junior scholars that have doctoral degrees in a research project over a limited period of time. They are to be offered the opportunity to fully concentrate on the research project they have selected with the help of a post-doc research stipend.

• To be able to apply for a research stipend, the doctoral degree procedure must have been completed with the defense of the work (disputation) or doctoral viva (Rigorosum); a (preliminary) degree certificate is to be submitted.
• The applicant should generally not have received his or her doctoral degree more than one or two years previously.
• The planned project should generally comprise a period of one to two years.
• The research stipend should be associated with a scholarly project that is independent of any outside influence and be based on individual initiative and be carried out at a school of higher learning or at a non-profit research facility.
• No stipends are awarded for doctoral dissertations or “Habilitationen” (post-doctoral research) or to complete such works to follow up support through other institutions; nor can stipends be applied for to support students at the bachelor’s or master’s level.
• The foundation generally does not accept any applications for projects if applications are being filed with other institutions offering support at the same time to ease the burden on its experts assessing applications. An application that is refused by another institution can be filed with the foundation along with a note explaining why it was refused.
• It is generally not possible to revise applications that have been rejected by the Foundation.

Stipend amount

• The research stipend is made up of a basic payment and additional payments.
• The basic payment irrespective of age is € 1,800 per month.
• To cover material and travel costs (e.g. for books, information visits to other working groups) directly connected to the academic work, a lump sum allowance of € 200 per month can be awarded as additional payment. Significant special expenses beyond this can only be considered if applied for in advance.

Travel expenses and increased cost of living

• A grant can be awarded for travel expenses to the place of the academic work up to the amount of the costs actually incurred, which should not exceed 2nd class for rail travel and economy class for air travel. Price reductions should be made use of wherever possible.
• In the case of travel abroad, the daily or monthly rates for the respective country of travel can be applied for as an allowance to defray overnight accommodation and meal costs.
• For continuing financial commitments, in justified cases (e.g. if the stipend holder cannot be accompanied by his or her family to the location of the academic work) an application can be submitted for the payment of an appropriate subsidy towards these commitments (e.g. rent) of up to € 200 per month.

Partial stipends and family-related benefits

• Partial stipends (at least 50%) can be awarded to give stipend holders the opportunity to take care of their children alongside their academic activity. The duration of the stipend is extended accordingly.
• Stipend holders can be paid an allowance in the form of a monthly lump sum (€ 400 for the first child, € 100 respectively for each additional child) for children up to the age of 18. If child benefits are applied for, copies of the birth certificates of the children are to be submitted. Children of life companions can only be considered if it is convincingly demonstrated that such were already living in the household of the stipend holder before the stipend was commenced (for example, verification from the local residents’ registration office).
• For funded stays abroad of at least six month, the costs for one home flight of the funded scientist whose child/children has/have stayed in the home country can be applied for.
• Child benefits are not included in the stipend. Such must be applied for at the employment office.

Health insurance, illness or accident

• The stipend holder shall be responsible for ensuring that he or she has adequate health-insurance coverage (including for foreign countries) during the period of the stipend granted. The foundation does not pay any subsidies or benefits in the event of sickness or accident.