Welcome Centre
Informations for researchers at risk
Scholarships for Vulnerable/Refugee Researchers
- Hilde Domin Programme
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers the "Hilde Domin Programme" scholarship programme with funding from the Federal Foreign Office (AA).
The Hilde Domin Programme is intended to support students and doctoral candidates at risk worldwide who are formally or de facto denied the right to education in their country of origin to take up or continue their studies in Germany in order to obtain a degree or doctorate at a German university. The long-term goal of the scholarship programme is to enable students and doctoral candidates to study at a university or conduct research in a safe environment so that they can make an important contribution to political, economic and social development after completing their studies or research project.*
The requirements for nominations are
- Possession of educational qualifications that allow access to a university and guarantee the completion of a degree programme or research project sought according to Anabin (note: last degree max. two years ago).
- Admission to a degree programme or confirmation of supervision for a research project at Bielefeld University
- Candidates are not resident in Germany or in another EU country at the time of nomination
- A proven or credible threat to personal well-being or safety (e.g. through physical violence, arrest, denial of civil and educational rights, etc.).
*Excludes subject areas: Human medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and law and the countries of origin: EU, EEA, EFTA countries as well as Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the United Kingdom.
Please note: It is not possible to apply for the programme independently. Nominations are made exclusively via the International Office of Bielefeld University. A nomination application can be submitted via the online form (link follows) . Applications will be accepted until 15 August to enable processing by the International Office and subsequent nomination to the DAAD by 15 September.
After successful nomination by Bielefeld University, potential candidates are given the opportunity to apply directly to the DAAD via an online portal. The final selection of candidates is made by an independent selection committee appointed by the DAAD. Both risk and academic performance are assessed as part of the selection process.
Further information on the Hilde Domin Programme can also be found on the DAAD website.
- Phillipp Schwartz Initiative
Internal application deadline - Round 17 (funding start July 2026): 30.01.2026
The application is submitted to the AvH by the International Office. (Contact: io-foerderprojekte@uni-bielefeld.de)
The Philipp Schwartz Initiative gives universities and research institutions in Germany the opportunity to host researchers at risk as part of a full scholarship or an employment contract for 24 months. There is also the option of a one-year extension as part of a co-financing model.
This initiative is funded by the Federal Foreign Office, the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, the Gerda Henkel Foundation, the Klaus Tschira Foundation, the Robert Bosch Foundation, the Stifterverband and the Stiftung Mercator.
Bielefeld University has successfully applied with a support concept as a host institution so that new applications can be based on an existing central support concept.
The prerequisites for an application are
- Research project and acceptance by a professor at Bielefeld University
- The researcher must have a doctorate or a comparable university degree and must not have spent more than five years outside their home country at the time of application. "Bildungsinländer" or persons with dual citizenship are excluded.
- A status under residence law in connection with an asylum procedure within the EU, which indicates a recognised risk, or credible proof of risk from a third party provided no more than 12 months before the application deadline, e.g. documentation from the Scholars at Risk Network (SAR) or the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA). If proof of vulnerability is to be provided via Scholars at Risk, the application must be submitted to Scholars at Risk/CARA as early as possible.
If you have any questions about the application, please contact the Welcome Centre: welcome@uni-bielefeld.de
Further information can be found on the website of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
- Supporting at-risk researchers with fellowships in Europe (SAFE)
Together with European partner organisations, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is launching the "Supporting at-risk researchers with fellowships in Europe" (SAFE) programme. In cooperation with Campus France, the Collège de France and the Association of Universities of the Mediterranean (UNIMED) , the DAAD [German Academic Exchange Service] is enabling up to 60 at-risk international researchers to continue their research in the EU. The European Commission is providing around twelve million euros for this purpose until 2027.
www.saferesearchers.eu
Call for Applications
Terms of Reference for ApplicantsPrerequisites for an application are:
- Research projects and acceptance by a professor at Bielefeld University
- The researcher must have completed a doctorate/Phd studies no more than 8 years ago
- Proof of endangerment or residence status in connection with an asylum procedure
Applications are collected by the International Office.
Documents researcher (application procedure is in English)
- Research proposal (max. 15 pages, min. font size: 10)
- Time plan
- Declaration of consent data processing
- Ethics Self Assessment
- Risk Description Form
- External Assessment Letter
- Letter of motivation (max. 2 pages, min. font size: 10)
- Curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages, min. font size: 10)
- List of publications (max. 10 pages, min. font size: 10)
- Selection of up to 3 most important publications (max. 1 page, min. font size: 10)
- Master's degree (or equivalent) indicating final grade(s) and Doctoral/PhD certificate (or, if not available, provisional certificate or official confirmation of successful defence of the doctoral thesis) and, if applicable, transcript of records
- Passport / ID
- Residence permit
- CV
Host documents
- Supervisor - Detailed Statement
- Hosting Plan (prepared by the IO)
Please submit application documents by 10 January 2025 at the latest.
Please do not send documents by email. A shared folder will be provided for this purpose.
If you have any questions, please contact: welcome@uni-bielefeld.de