DAAD PRIME Fellowship 2025–26 – Fully Funded Career Transition Opportunities in Germany

The Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience (PRIME), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and administered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), offers distinguished postdoctoral researchers a fully funded 18-month employment-based fellowship. It includes a 12-month research stay abroad followed by a 6-month reintegration phase in Germany, designed for those pursuing long-term academic careers in Germany.

 Eligibility & Selection Criteria

• Open to postdoctoral researchers of all nationalities aiming for a long-term academic career in Germany.
• Applicants must obtain their PhD no more than six years before the start of funding, with adjustments for parental or caregiving periods.
• A minimum of one peer-reviewed publication is required.
• Mobility rules apply:
  • EU/EEA nationals or researchers with ≥3 years of EU research experience can conduct their host stay outside Europe.
  • All others must spend the 12-month research stay outside Germany but within the EU, and you must not have lived or worked in the host country for more than 12 months in the past three years.
  • Proposals must include confirmed letter(s) of invitation from both a German and a foreign host institution.

 Fellowship Structure & Benefits

• Fixed-term employment position at a German university (TV-L E13 scale), lasting up to 18 months.
• First 12 months abroad: Employment-based stay at a selected international research institution.
• Final 6 months: Mandatory reintegration at a German institution to strengthen local career networks.
• Expat allowance for foreign stay and grant support for travel—including family members, where applicable—as per DAAD rates.
• Highly competitive: Acceptance rate historically around 12%.

 Timeline & Selection Process

• Deadline for applications: 29 August 2025.
• Selection period: Final decisions expected by March 2026.
• Start window for fellowship: Between 1 June and 1 November 2026.

 Application Essentials

Prepare your online application through the DAAD portal, including:

• CV, publication list, PhD certificate and summary
• Detailed research proposal and career plan
• Signed invitation letters from both German and international host institutions
• Ethics checklist and proof of required language skills
• Two reference letters, synopsis of your PhD thesis, and timeline of academic plan

 Why Pursue DAAD PRIME

• Combines international research exposure with a guaranteed German reintegration—ideal for long-term tenure-track goals.
• Provides a competitive salary, research mobility funding, and robust institutional backing in Germany.
• A prestigious, low-overhead pathway into Germany’s academic and scientific community.

 Official Program Link