Minerva Fellowship - Eligibility

Minerva Fellowships are granted to doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from Germany and Israel from all fields of research who hold Israeli or German citizenship and wish to apply for a research stay in Germany (Israeli citizens) or Israel (German citizens).

Applicants who are not citizens of either of the two countries (non-Israeli applicants currently residing in Israel and non-German applicants currently residing in Germany) must provide proof of integration into the Israeli or German scientific community. An affiliation with a research institution in Israel (non-Israeli applicants with current residence in Israel) or Germany (non-German applicants with current residence in Germany) as well as a stay of at least 5 years in the respective country is required. In addition, a residence permit for Germany (non-German applicants applying for a stay in Israel) or Israel (non-Israeli applicants applying for a stay in Germany) which is valid for the entire duration of the Minerva Fellowship must be presented.

Conversely, if applicants are citizens of one country but have been living in the other country - Israelis living in Germany or Germans living in Israel - for an extended period of time (more than 4 years), a scholarship in the second country cannot be granted since it would not truly support German-Israeli exchange.

Application requirements

• Doctoral fellowships: Eligible candidates must have completed a university degree ("Diploma", M.A., M.Sc., or equivalent qualification). B.A. and B.Sc. students are only eligible to apply if accepted to a direct Ph.D. track.

• Postdoctoral fellowships: We accept applications from candidates
  - who have completed their doctorate no more than seven years prior to the beginning of the fellowship (parental leave will be taken into account)
  or (in case the PhD is not fully completed yet)
  - who provide proof by a letter from the university, that they have submitted their doctoral thesis latest by January 14 (for applications submitted for the January deadline) respectively latest by June 14 (for applications submitted for the June deadline)

Scientists with tenure are not eligible to apply.