Volkswagen Foundation Freigeist Fellowship 2027 in Germany | Fully Funded — Volkswagen Foundation
A research idea that falls neatly inside one established field rarely needs special funding to get noticed, which is exactly why the Volkswagen Foundation built the Freigeist Fellowship around the ideas that do not fit anywhere at all.
About the Scholarship
The Freigeist Fellowship, funded by the Volkswagen Foundation, one of Germany’s largest private research funders, backs early career researchers who want to pursue genuinely unconventional, high-risk projects that sit between established academic fields. Unlike most postdoctoral schemes, a Freigeist fellow does not simply join an existing lab. The funding supports the creation of an entirely new junior research group at a German university or research institution, with the fellow as its leader from the outset.
Scholarship Benefits
- Project-related funding of up to several million euros across two funding phases
- A salary for the fellow as junior research group leader
- Funding to hire additional team members, such as doctoral or postdoctoral researchers
- Equipment, travel, and material costs covered for the full project duration
- A funding period of five to six years, with the possibility of a further extension phase
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants of any nationality may apply, provided they completed their doctorate at least one year but no more than four years before applying. A change of academic environment is required, meaning the fellow must move to a new institution for the fellowship, and a prior research stay abroad is also expected. There is no restriction tied to German citizenship or residence, and the foundation explicitly states that outstanding postdocs of all nationalities are welcome to apply.
Fields of Study Covered
The fellowship is open to all academic disciplines, with a particular emphasis on proposals that sit between two or more established fields, such as projects bridging natural sciences with social sciences, or engineering with the humanities. A conventional, single-discipline research plan is less likely to succeed than one that makes a genuine case for working across boundaries.
Required Documents
- A detailed research proposal explaining the project’s interdisciplinary or boundary-crossing nature
- A full CV with publication record
- Evidence of the required change of academic environment and prior stay abroad
- A letter of support from the proposed host institution in Germany
- Academic references supporting the application
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
- Identify a German host institution willing to support the planned junior research group
- Draft a research proposal that clearly articulates why the project cannot be pursued within a single conventional field
- Submit the full application through the Volkswagen Foundation’s online portal, since applications are accepted on a rolling basis ahead of each review round
- Prepare for a possible interview or presentation stage before the foundation’s selection committee
- Plan the move to the German host institution once notified of a successful outcome
Selection Process
A panel of the Volkswagen Foundation’s Board of Trustees reviews shortlisted proposals, placing heavy weight on originality and risk alongside scientific quality. Roughly ten to fifteen Freigeist fellows are selected worldwide each year, making this one of the more selective routes into independent research funding in Germany.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
Make the case for risk explicit rather than implied, since reviewers are specifically looking for projects that a conventional funding body would consider too uncertain to back. Secure a strong, genuinely engaged host institution early, since the quality of institutional support carries real weight in review. Avoid repackaging a continuation of doctoral work as an interdisciplinary project unless the boundary-crossing element is authentic and central.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to already have a connection to a German university?
No prior connection is required, though identifying a willing host institution before applying strengthens the proposal considerably.
Is there a fixed annual deadline?
Applications are accepted through the foundation’s online portal on a rolling basis, so applicants should check the current call details directly on the Volkswagen Foundation’s website before preparing materials.
Can I apply with a project that is mostly within one discipline?
It is possible, but proposals that genuinely combine two or more fields are viewed far more favorably, since bridging disciplines is the central purpose of the fellowship.
What happens if my first funding phase succeeds?
A second funding phase of several more years is available to fellows who demonstrate strong progress, extending the total research group funding considerably beyond the initial period.
Is this fellowship only for scientists?
No. While many funded projects are in the natural sciences and engineering, humanities and social science projects that make a strong interdisciplinary case are equally eligible.
Early career researchers comparing independent fellowship routes in Germany may also want to read about the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin Early Career Fellowship and the German Chancellor Fellowship for Prospective Leaders, both of which support independent, self-directed work in Germany outside a traditional academic appointment.