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In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation.
Fulbright Germany welcomes applications for research and/or teaching projects or professional projects such as but not limited to the arts, museums, non-profits and other organizations with a cultural, humanitarian and/or educational scope. Applicants coordinate specifics of the arrangement directly with the prospective host institutions. Scholars with short-term projects of less than one term (i.e., 3 months) that include a teaching segment need to submit a proposal to teach one or two block seminars over four to six weeks.
Fulbright Scholars in Germany may participate in the European Fulbright Intercountry Lectureship Program that provides them with opportunities to enrich their professional and cultural experience outside their host community and country of assignment. Participants are highly encouraged to share their research experience with the wider German science community and to connect with their local communities as well as their fellow Fulbrighters.
Applicants arrange affiliation with accredited state-recognized German higher education institutions (resource: Higher Education Compass), or university-affiliated research institutions (resource: Federal Ministry of Education and Research).
Grants start between September 2025 and April 2026, and end no later than July 2026. For maximum outreach and impact, the project activities should take place when German universities are in session, i.e. during the core lecture periods which last from early October until the end of January (fall term) and from early April until the end of July (summer term).
Scholars planning segments that last less than one term (i.e., two months) but include teaching activities need to submit a proposal to teach one or two block seminars over four to six weeks. All segments of the Flex award must end no later than July 31 of a given year.
The Flex Award is designed for scholars who require multiple visits to the host country. This option allows grants to be conducted over two or three short segments. Applicants must select Flex in the application form, and clearly describe their plans for Flex in their project statement, including a project timeline. Flex grantees may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host-country academic community.
The grant includes Fulbright support and guidance. Fulbright Scholars in Germany are invited to network and outreach activities. They gain access to the online Fulbrighter Network as well as admission to the German-American and global Fulbright Alumni Network.
In addition to a stipend and other allowances (please refer to Stipend & Benefits information), the grant includes private German health insurance coverage.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
The letter of invitation is an important selection criterion. A description of the host’s interest in the applicant’s project needs to be included in the invitation letter explaining how both sides will benefit from the proposed project and continue their work after the Fulbright grant.
The letter should also outline the expectations of the candidate when undertaking the award, including the number of courses and/or amount of involvement in teaching responsibilities such as student advising and curriculum development. For teaching/research projects, the letter should list the preferred division of responsibilities between the two activities (such as 60% teaching and 40% research).
For teaching projects, applicants should consult with the host institution regarding language requirements. For research and artistic projects, language proficiency sufficient to complete the proposed project is required.
Fulbright Germany's selection criteria include:
- academic/professional excellence
- commitment to community engagement according to the Fulbright mission
- the project's relevance for both the host and home communities
- the originality, impact and innovativeness of the project
- significance and match with the host affiliation
$4,000 per month for applicants holding their Ph.D. or equivalent degree for seven or more years by the application deadline; $3,300 per month for applicants holding their Ph.D. or equivalent degree for fewer than seven years by the application deadline. Final stipend amounts will be in Euros and are subject to change due to currency fluctuations. Housing is not included.
International round-trip travel allowance €1,400. This benefit is for the grantee only.
A monthly allowance in the amount of approximately $300 (€276) for accompanying spouses will be provided for Scholars whose spouses accompany them for at least two consecutive months of the grant period.
Participation in private German health insurance program, including accompanying spouse and children if they do not have their own income.
Germany
You can send any questions regarding life in Germany to americanprograms@fulbright.de.
Germany has the largest population of any country in the EU. With close to 400 mostly public universities, 9,500 undergraduate and 6,800 graduate study programs, and a student population of 2.9 million, Germany is an excellent place to teach and conduct research. The German university system features four major types of institutions, and U.S. Fulbright scholars are highly welcome at all of them: Universitäten (traditional research universities); Fachhochschulen (universities of applied sciences, usually not offering Ph.D. programs); Berufsakademien und Duale Hochschulen (cooperative programs integrating bachelor studies with workplace training); and Research Institutes such as Max-Planck and Fraunhofer.
German higher education institutions maintain partnerships with 5,000 universities in 150 different countries, many of which take place in the European Higher Education Area, a consortium of 48 countries that have harmonized their higher education structures to increase the academic mobility of their students, faculty, and staff (Bologna Reforms). Additionally, most German universities maintain long-lasting partnerships with one or more U.S. institutions of higher education. Given Germany´s strong interest in maintaining close relations with the U.S., many universities wish to expand their transatlantic networks, discuss strategies and ways to strengthen transatlantic exchange in higher education, and seek new U.S. partners for collaborative initiatives in teaching and research. Additionally, several German-American cultural institutes welcome the contribution from U.S. Fulbright scholars, and offer opportunities for guest lectures. The German-American Fulbright Commission works with almost all accredited and recognized institutions of higher learning in both countries, and sets high quality standards for the selection and sponsorship of excellent scholars and administrators in higher education. For further information on Germany’s scientific community please visit deutschland.de.
In the Scholar Program, Fulbright Germany is particularly interested in research and/or teaching proposals based on comparative approaches and issues. Whether researching, teaching, or consulting on course design/curriculum, the specifics of the arrangement should be coordinated directly with the prospective host institution. The invitation should also include a description of the host’s interest in the applicant’s project, and how both sides will profit from the proposed engagement. The quality of the invitation letter and of the institutional engagement proposed therein is an important selection criterion. Fulbright Germany gives preference to academic and professional excellence; the originality and innovativeness of the project; its relevance for the academic community; and significance and match with the host affiliation. For maximum outreach and impact, the project activities should take place when German universities are in session, i.e. during the core lecture periods, which last from early October until the end of January (fall term), and from early April until the end of June (summer term). Fulbright Scholars should have strong reasons for wishing to pursue the proposed project in Germany and are encouraged to engage with their host community according to the Fulbright mission.
The goal of the Fulbright U.S. Administrators in International Education Program is a frank and imaginative assessment of how to deepen and expand transatlantic academic exchanges. Within this framework, the focus of this seminar is on internationalizing higher education, career services, fundraising, and network building. Participants will have the chance to engage in discussions on recent challenges in German and U.S. higher education, to further their professional development, and to exchange strategies on how to establish new partnerships.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.