Plan and develop your career
On the road to professionalism
To be appointed to a professorship, you need more than just publications. Your academic portfolio should demonstrate academic independence and show your strengths in the areas of international networking, teaching, supervision and leadership as well as fundraising. Involvement in university self-administration and academic communication are also factors that will improve your prospects of a professorship. We will be happy to advise you on this.
Academic tenure is an alternative career path to a professorship at Bielefeld University. These are available in two forms: Academic Lecturer and Academic Researcher. Both take on permanent tasks in their faculties, but can also further develop their own teaching and research profile.
Promotion & Prices
The first point of contact for advice on funding is the Department of Research Funding and Transfer (FFT). It provides advice on national funding programmes as well as European and international programmes and supports you in the application and submission process. In particular, applications that go beyond your own position (e.g. DFG Emmy Noether or ERC Grants) should definitely be discussed with FFT.
- Further portals and information on funding
ELFI - Funding database to search for suitable funding programmes. You have access to all functionalities in the university network or via VPN. We strongly recommend using the support and explanatory videos.
Selection of funding organisations, funding opportunities and awards, as well as job portals, compiled by the Federal Government
Funding from the European Commission (Horizon Programme) - Commission website
National Contact Point MSC - Information and advice on individual funding for postdocs by the EU/European Commission
DFG funding programmes for doctoral candidates
Current information events on DFG funding opportunities
Information events on funding opportunities from the European Commission (Horizon Programme)
- Academic awards
Karl Peter Grotemeyer Prize - for outstanding teaching at Bielefeld University by teaching staff up to the age of 45 | €3,000 | Bielefelder Universitätsgesellschaft
Heinz Maier Leibniz Prize - all subject areas | €200,000 | DFG
Communicator Prize - all subject areas: Prize for science communication | €50,000 | DFG
ZukunftsWissen - Topic-specific depending on the theme of the respective Leopoldina Annual Meeting | €50,000 | Leopoldina and Commerzbank Foundation
Schering Young Investigator Award - Basic research in the life sciences | € 10,000 | Schering Stiftung
Friedwart Bruckhaus Prize - changing topics | € 5,000 | Schleyer Foundation
Roman Herzog Research Prize Social Market Economy | age limit 40 years (plus parental leave) | € 35,000 | Roman Herzog Institute
Academic awards of the German Bundestag - work that encourages the study of parliamentary issues and contributes to a deeper understanding of parliamentary practice | €10,000
academics Young Talent Award - all subject areas | €5,000 | academics.de (job exchange)
Wolfgang Ritter Prize - Market Economy | € 20,000 | Wolfgang Ritter Foundation
Fundamental Academic Values Award | Contributions to fundamental academic values | € 7,000 | DAAD
With the Knowledge of the Many - Research Prize for Citizen Science - all subject areas | € 20,000 | mit:forschen!
European Union Prize for Citizen Science - all subject areas | € 20,000 - € 60,000
Career decisions
With"No limits", the European Commission offers an online tool for decision-making and strategic planning of careers for knowledge professionals - in research, science and society.
We are happy to advise you on careers within science at .
You can find information, helpful links and advice on career paths in business and society at the Carreer Service.