HAB Postdoctoral Fellowships 2028: €2,200 Stipend & Deadline

HAB Postdoctoral Fellowships 2028 at a Glance

The Herzog August Bibliothek is an independent research centre funded by the State of Lower Saxony. Its collections include medieval and early modern manuscripts, incunabula, rare printed books, engravings, maps and special collections, as well as twentieth-century artists’ books.

The research fellowship programme supports projects that require substantial use of the Wolfenbüttel collections. HAB welcomes applications from Germany and abroad and from historically oriented disciplines.

Who Can Apply for the 2028 Postdoc Fellowship?

The 2028 postdoctoral fellowship is intended for early-career researchers who already hold a doctorate.

• PhD required: applicants must have completed their doctorate before applying.
• Six-year post-PhD window: applicants must be within six years of receiving the PhD.
• 2028 cycle cut-off: for applications submitted in January 2027, the PhD must have been awarded in 2021 or later.
• Research discipline: applications are welcomed from all historically oriented disciplines.
• Nationality: the programme accepts researchers from Germany and abroad.
• Collection requirement: the proposed project must substantially benefit from or require use of HAB holdings.

Research Scope and Collection Fit

The fellowship is broader than “medieval and early modern cultural history” alone. HAB welcomes historically oriented research that depends on its collections.

Particularly relevant holdings and research contexts include:

• medieval and early modern manuscripts;
• incunabula and rare printed books;
• historical maps and engravings;
• special collections;
• twentieth-century artists’ books;
• cultures of knowledge in global perspective;
• cultural translation;
• material culture; and
• history of collections and collecting.

Applicants do not have to work only on HAB’s current internal research themes, but the application must show why Wolfenbüttel holdings are necessary for the project.

Postdoctoral Fellowship Funding

The regulations describe the full postdoctoral fellowship as primarily intended for early-career researchers who have not taken up a permanent position, as well as scholars taking unpaid research leave.

Short-Term HAB Fellowships

Researchers who do not need a 6–10 month postdoctoral stay can also apply for a short-term fellowship for intensive source work.

The short-term programme is designed primarily for focused source-gathering visits using HAB collections.

Residence, Insurance and Fellowship Conditions

Residence in Wolfenbüttel

HAB fellowships carry a residence requirement. Fellows are expected to conduct their research in Wolfenbüttel, participate in relevant HAB activities and take part in the Fellows’ Colloquia.

Short unavoidable absences must be agreed with the fellowship programme. HAB’s regulations allow the residence requirement to be partially waived in certain cases for successful applicants living in a war or acute conflict zone.

Medical insurance

Fellows must have valid medical insurance covering the fellowship period in Germany and must provide proof before the fellowship begins.

If an international fellow cannot arrange sufficient insurance independently, HAB may help facilitate access to group insurance offered through the DAAD. The insurance cost remains the fellow’s responsibility.

End-of-stay report and publications

Fellows are required to submit a report at the end of their stay. HAB also expects research results to be published promptly, with appropriate acknowledgement of the fellowship.

How HAB Selects Fellows

The fellowship regulations identify three main considerations in selection:

• research qualifications of the applicant;
• research significance of the proposed project; and
• the extent to which HAB holdings are necessary for the project.

Independent referees may be appointed to evaluate applications. Fellowship decisions are made by the HAB Director in consultation with the Research/Scientific Advisory Board.

How to Apply for the HAB 2028 Fellowships

Step 1: Request the official application documents

Email forschung@hab.de and state:

• your research focus; and
• the keyword “Post-doc” or “Short-term”, depending on the fellowship type.

Step 2: Use the forms supplied by HAB

HAB sends the relevant application documents for the selected fellowship category. Applicants should follow those forms rather than assembling an application based on an unofficial checklist.

Step 3: Demonstrate collection dependence

The project description should identify the HAB materials, collections or source groups that make a research stay in Wolfenbüttel necessary.

Step 4: Submit by the deadline

The 2028 fellowship application deadline is 31 January 2027.

CareerAidHub Application Guidance

Start with the collections, not a generic fellowship proposal

The strongest applications explain exactly which HAB holdings are required and how those sources will answer the project’s research questions.

Show a feasible 6–10 month work plan

For the postdoctoral route, divide the proposed residence into source identification, systematic examination, analysis and writing outputs. The schedule should make the requested duration credible.

Check the PhD date carefully

For the January 2027 deadline, postdoctoral applicants need a PhD awarded in 2021 or later unless an allowable career interruption is considered under HAB rules.

Budget separately for insurance and local living costs

The stipend is €2,200 per month, but health insurance is not paid separately by HAB under the fellowship regulations. Applicants should budget accordingly.

Researchers can also review CareerAidHub’s postdoctoral fellowships, Postdoctoral Fellowships, and Germany opportunities.