Humboldt Research Fellowship — 2026 Call Status
The Humboldt Research Fellowship remains active, but the current call has reached its maximum number of applications. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation states that the next call opens on 15 November 2026.
Is the Humboldt Research Fellowship open now?
Not for new applications at present. The official Humboldt Foundation page states that the maximum number of applications has been received for the current call, so new applications cannot currently be created. The next call is officially scheduled to open on 15 November 2026.
What is the Humboldt Research Fellowship?
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation supports highly qualified postdoctoral and experienced researchers from all countries except Germany to conduct research in Germany. The official programme describes fellowship stays of 6–24 months, with applicants proposing an independent research project together with a host in Germany.
| Programme | Humboldt Research Fellowship |
|---|---|
| Target researchers | Postdoctoral and experienced researchers |
| Nationality scope | All countries except Germany, subject to the programme rules |
| Research stay | 6–24 months in Germany |
| Current application status | Current call cap reached; no new applications can presently be created |
| Next call | 15 November 2026 |
Humboldt Research Fellowship call schedule
The Foundation introduced a structured call system corresponding to three selection meetings per year. It currently limits each call to a maximum of 800 applications.
| Call opens | Selection meeting | Earliest fellowship start |
|---|---|---|
| 15 March 2026 | November 2026 | February 2027 |
| 15 July 2026 | March 2027 | May 2027 |
| 15 November 2026 | July 2027 | September 2027 |
A call may stop accepting submissions before the corresponding selection meeting once the application cap is reached. Applicants should therefore not treat the selection-meeting date as an application deadline.
What applicants should do before 15 November 2026
- Confirm that the Humboldt Research Fellowship is the correct programme. Check the postdoctoral or experienced-researcher requirements on the official page.
- Develop the research project with a host in Germany. The host’s required documents are part of the submission process.
- Prepare all required documents to the Foundation’s specifications. The Foundation warns that materially incomplete or non-compliant applications can be formally rejected without review.
- Do not rely on an old “rolling application” description. Plan around the next official opening on 15 November 2026.
- Check the official page again when the call opens. Requirements and call capacity should be verified at the point of submission.
Why the application process changed
The Foundation reports that application volume increased substantially from 2024 onward. To make processing more predictable, the programme moved to three calls aligned with its selection meetings and introduced a current cap of 800 applications per call.
Frequently asked questions
Can I submit a new Humboldt Research Fellowship application today?
No. The official programme page states that the current call has reached its maximum number of applications, so new applications cannot presently be created.
When does the next Humboldt Research Fellowship call open?
The next official call is scheduled to open on 15 November 2026.
Is the fellowship still an active programme?
Yes. The programme remains active; the present restriction applies to the current call because its application cap has been reached.
Is the fellowship rolling year-round?
No. The current procedure uses three calls per year, and each call can close when the maximum number of applications is reached.
