Within the framework of measures promoting equal opportunities, FAU offers a range of specific funding opportunities for early career researchers who are completing or have completed a doctoral degree, as well as for women who would like to get back into academia after taking a break to care for children, for instance the scholarship for promoting equal opportunities in research and teaching (FFL scholarship).

Funding is only available to women who plan to pursue a research career with the aim of becoming a professor in Germany.

FFL scholarship

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Stays abroad can be funded with ERASMUS+.

Studying with ERASMUS+

Enrolled doctoral candidates from all departments and faculties at FAU can apply for the ERASMUS+ program.

Depending on the degree program and the host university, the duration can vary between one semester/term (but at least 3 months) and one academic year (a maximum of 12 months per stay).

The funding consists of a mobility grant that varies depending on the host country.

Erasmus+ traineeships

If you are enrolled as a doctoral candidate at FAU, you are entitled to funding as part of this program if you are planning to spend time completing a practical traineeship that is of relevance to or related to your doctoral degree in another country in Europe.

The traineeship must last at least a total of 60 days. You receive a partial scholarship, in other words a contribution towards the cost of living, with the amount of funding determined according to the respective group of countries.

The Electronic Research Funding Information System (ELFI) offers registered users a comprehensive database with details of more than 6,000 funding programs from national and international funding providers. In the first instance, the service is aimed at researchers who are looking for third-party funding for their research project. However, it also provides information on scholarships for interested researchers from all qualification levels.

You can access ELFI free of charge from within the FAU network.

Germany has a rich and varied selection of scholarships. Two databases that specialize in scholarships and one that includes various funding institutions are:

• e-fellows.net
• elfi.info

Further calls for applications for scholarships are regularly published in the blog of the FAU Graduate Center.

The Deutsches Stiftungszentrum database gives you a good overview of more than 500 German foundations that provide research funding.

Foundations at FAU

There are also a large number of foundations associated with FAU which provide funding to doctoral candidates and early career researchers at the university. Refer to the website for an overview of the individual foundations and their objectives.

Association of German Foundations

With approximately 11,000 entries, the foundation search of the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen (Association of German Foundations) gives a comprehensive online overview of foundations available in Germany.

Organizations for the promotion of young talent

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research funds politically and religiously oriented organizations for the promotion of young talent that award scholarships to excellent doctoral candidates who demonstrate social engagement. Most foundations also accept applications from international doctoral candidates. Further information:

• Consortium of organizations for the promotion of young talent

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers two scholarship databases for anyone who is interested in funding for spending time abroad, irrespective of their qualification level.

• Scholarship database for German nationals
• Scholarship database for other nationalities

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation provides funding for international and German doctoral candidates who would like to come to Germany or go abroad to conduct research. Information on other funding options at FAU is also available from:

• FAU’s Central Office for International Affairs and the international offices at the faculties and schools:
• International representative at the Faculty of Sciences
• International scientist mobility at the Faculty of Medicine
• International research networks at the Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Engineering – international research
• International Office at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology
• International Relations Office at the School of Business and Economics

National and international conferences are crucial to make contacts and remain up to date with the latest research. This page offers some guidance on funding travel for conferences.

In principle, the following options are possible for funding travel for conferences or presentations:

• Funding from the chair’s budget: Chairs have a small amount of funds reserved for travel expenses. If your chair considers it necessary for you to attend a conference, they may provide funds directly or take these from third-party funds. In the first case, the trip counts as a business journey for accounting purposes. Please read and ensure you adhere to the guidelines on travel applications; in particular, please be aware that trips to conferences in which you are not an active participant can only be approved as training journeys.
• Third-party projects: If you take part in a conference as part of a third-party project your costs may be covered by the funding provider, provided that you submit an application and it is accepted. Once again, you should ensure you comply with the guidelines on travel applications.
• Scholarship holders: Some scholarships include funding for travel expenses. It is best to ask the organization providing your scholarship directly.
• Women: Funding for travel to conferences is available on a case-by-case basis from university funds for promoting equal opportunities.
• Graduate schools: Some externally funded graduate schools and research training groups provide funding to enable their members (scholarship holders) and outstanding doctoral candidates to attend conferences.
• Full or partial grants from the conference organizer: Many conferences and summer schools offer grants for doctoral candidates to attend upon application. Please refer to the website giving information for the relevant conference.
• In addition, for trips abroad: you can apply to the DAAD for funding to travel to a conference or a congress.

The Max Weber Foundation (MWS) confers Gerald D. Feldman Travel Grants once a year to internationally oriented researchers in the humanities and social sciences who are in the qualification phase. The call for applications usually takes place in June with a deadline for applications in October.

The researchers carry out a research project on a subject of their choice in at least two and up to three host countries that are home to MWS institutes and centers or at the Richard Koebner Minerva Center for German History (Israel). Placements (at most one month per host country, shorter stays are also possible) are to be used for research, especially in libraries and archives. Researchers are expected to produce transnational or transregional studies that provide research with new and original ideas.

In Germany, everyone has to have health insurance. The details of which health insurance cover you require depend on which system applies to you, i.e. whether you are covered by private or state health insurance. Cover for people who do not currently have valid health insurance depends on which health insurance system they previously belonged to. Anyone who has never paid contributions to a health insurance provider is insured in the system which applies for them on the basis of their profession (including students).

Doctoral candidates who work as research associates or are otherwise employed while completing their doctoral degree

Doctoral candidates who work as research associates at the university whilst completing their doctoral degree are generally state insured on the basis of their employment. It is important to note that doctoral candidates are not students within the meaning of Section 5 (1)(9) German Social Security Code V (SGB V), as a doctoral degree is classed as a freelance academic employment and not part of academic education.

Doctoral candidates who are employed at the same time as completing their doctoral degree are also covered by state health insurance on the basis of their employment.

Doctoral candidates who are not employed

Doctoral candidates who are not employed whilst completing their doctoral degree are “exempt” from statutory insurance. However, all this means in practice is that they can choose whether to take out state or private insurance.

Doctoral candidates must have health insurance cover. This applies in particular to doctoral candidates who are financing their studies with a scholarship, mainly self-employed work or low-income employment. Doctoral candidates are not treated as students by the state health insurance providers. They are not entitled to the reduced rates available for students.

Employees in low-income employment may choose to take out statutory or private insurance.

Receiving a scholarship does not entail health insurance protection. Scholarship holders must therefore organize their own health insurance (state or private).

If you are receiving a scholarship and also employed at FAU you must contact your health insurance provider in advance to determine whether your particular situation means that you are required to pay social security contributions (this applies to part-time research associates as well as part-time research assistants).

Health insurance for international doctoral candidates

International doctoral candidates are also required to arrange health insurance cover in Germany. Further information is available from the FAU Welcome Center.

Doctoral candidates covered by family insurance

Doctoral candidates who have not yet reached the age of 25 (possibly longer if extended) or who are married or in a civil partnership and are therefore covered by family health insurance do not need to take out individual health insurance.

Further links on health insurance

• Volume 5 of the German Social Security Code (SGB V) – statutory health insurance – Article 1 of the law from December 20, 1988, Federal Gazette p. 2477
• Income Tax Act

If you have been admitted to a doctoral degree at FAU and are registered in docDaten as a doctoral candidate, you are covered by state accident insurance. All tasks conducted under the umbrella of the University within the context of the doctoral degree are covered. This includes, for example, attending courses or using the libraries. Enrollment is not necessary.

Travel to and from the University is not covered by state accident insurance.

Doctoral candidates who are employed as research staff at FAU are also covered by state accident insurance on the basis of their employment contract with the University.

There are also differences in the way doctoral candidates at FAU are insured against damage arising within the context of their work on their doctoral degree. It makes a difference whether doctoral candidates are employed as research staff and are therefore in an employment relationship with the University or not.

Research associates

Doctoral candidates employed by the University are entitled to claim indemnity from liability from the University. This means that they are not held liable for damage caused within the context of their employment unless this damage was caused as a result of gross negligence or intent. You can also take out additional professional liability insurance that covers claims for damages due to gross negligence.

Doctoral candidates with a doctoral scholarship and external doctoral candidates

If the doctoral candidate is not employed at the University, they are not insured for any damage they may cause whilst working on their doctoral degree at the University.

Doctoral candidates with a doctoral scholarship and external doctoral candidates are not covered by the University’s insurance for any damage they cause. You are therefore strongly advised to take out private liability insurance. Please check with the insurance provider whether your research activity is covered and whether you can take out such insurance as a scholarship holder.