If you have any questions that are not addressed in the FAQ or the Call for Applications, please feel free to contact us via email at international.fellowship@uni-due.de . Please understand that due to the high volume of emails we receive, we may not be able to respond immediately, and we may not reply to questions that are already addressed in the FAQ.
What distinguishes the „KWI International Fellowships“ from the „Thyssen@KWI Fellowship“?
The KWI International Fellowships are designed for outstanding international researchers in the humanities, cultural studies, and social sciences who hold a PhD and have up to six years of post-doctoral experience.
The Thyssen@KWI Fellowship, funded by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, is an integral part of our fellowship programme. It is open to exceptional researchers of all nationalities who hold a PhD in the humanities, cultural studies, or social sciences and have several years of post-doctoral experience. Applicants for this fellowship are expected to propose a project that differs from their doctoral research.
HOW SHOULD I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION?
Please submit your application by e-mail to international.fellowship@uni-due.de. When applying for the KWI International Fellowships, please use the subject line „KWI INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS“. For the Thyssen@KWI Fellowship, please use the subject line „THYSSEN@KWI FELLOWSHIP“.
Your application should include:
- a CV;
- a list of publications;
- a digital copy of your PhD certificate; and
- a proposal outlining your KWI project (up to 5,000 characters including spaces).
A cover letter is not required but may be included if you wish.
Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Upon submitting your application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement confirming receipt of your e-mail. Applications are then checked for compliance with the submission requirements (e.g. submission as a single PDF file). If these requirements are met, you will receive a separate confirmation within approximately one to two weeks.
Please note that this confirmation does not constitute confirmation of completeness or eligibility. Applications will be reviewed for compliance with the Call for Applications only after the application deadline. Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to send individual notifications regarding incomplete or improperly submitted applications before the application deadline.
SHALL I SEND MY APPLICATION IN ONE SINGLE FILE?
Yes. Applications must be submitted as one single PDF file with a maximum file size of 20 MB.
For IT security reasons, we are unable to accept applications containing links to external platforms. Applications consisting of multiple files or containing Word documents will not be considered.
CAN I SEND MY APPLICATION IN OTHER FILE FORMATS?
Please submit your application in PDF format only. Due to data security requirements, Word documents and other file formats may be rejected.
YOUR CALL ASKS FOR A PROPOSAL OF UP TO 5,000 CHARACTERS. DOES THIS MEAN 5,000 WORDS?
No. The project proposal should be no more than 5,000 characters including spaces, not 5,000 words.
To determine the character count (including spaces), please use the word count function of your word processor.
A bibliography/reference list is optional and, if included, does not count towards the character limit.
DOES MY NATIONALITY OR CURRENT INSTITUTION AFFECT MY ELIGIBILITY?
The KWI International Fellowships primarily address international researchers. Researchers of German nationality are eligible to apply only if they are currently employed at an international institution.
The Thyssen@KWI Fellowship is open to international researchers as well as researchers of German nationality who can demonstrate excellent international contacts and work experience.
International researchers remain eligible regardless of whether they are currently based in Germany or abroad.
IS THIS FELLOWSHIP OPEN TO SCHOLARS AT ALL STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS, OR IS IT LIMITED TO RECENT PHDS?
The KWI International Fellowships are intended for researchers who hold a PhD and have up to six years of post-doctoral experience.
Applications from researchers exceeding the six-year limit may still be considered where additional post-doctoral experience results from circumstances such as employment closely related to the research field (e.g. curatorial work in a museum) or personal circumstances (e.g. parental leave or being a Scholar at Risk).
The Thyssen@KWI Fellowship is open to researchers who hold a PhD. There is no upper limit on post-doctoral experience. Applicants are expected to propose a project that differs from their doctoral research.
If I haven’t completed my PhD yet, can I still apply?
For the KWI International Fellowships, applicants must have completed their PhD by the start of the fellowship.
At the time of application, you should have submitted your doctoral thesis and/or have a viva (oral examination) scheduled before the fellowship begins. Applicants are requested to provide a PhD certificate. If the certificate is not yet available, a letter from the relevant department or institution confirming submission of the thesis and/or the expected viva date may be submitted instead.
Are the start and end dates of the fellowship fixed?
Yes. The fellowship dates and duration are fixed and cannot be changed or postponed, as they are closely linked to KWI’s term schedule and programme of academic activities.
DO I HAVE TO APPLY FOR THE ENTIRE SIX MONTH PERIOD?
Yes. We do not offer fellowships of less than six months.
Our academic programme is structured around the term schedule. Fellows are expected to participate actively in lectures, conferences, reading groups and other academic events and to be present at KWI for at least three days per week.
What types of projects are suitable for this fellowship?
The fellowship supports a wide range of research activities, including completing a manuscript, developing a new research project or preparing a grant application.
The proposed project should align with KWI’s programmatic agenda.
HOW LONG WILL THE EVALUATION PROCESS TAKE?
Applicants will normally be informed of the outcome approximately four months before the fellowship begins.
WILL I RECEIVE FEEDBACK IF MY APPLICATION IS UNSUCCESSFUL?
Unfortunately, due to the high number of applications, we are unable to provide individual feedback on applications or research projects.
DOES THE FELLOWSHIP INCLUDE A FAMILY ALLOWANCE OR COVER TRAVELING EXPENSES?
While fellows are welcome to bring their families, the fellowship does not include an additional family allowance.
Travel expenses for the fellow’s arrival and departure may be partially reimbursed. This does not extend to accompanying family members or relatives.
KWI also provides a parent-child office that may be booked by fellows with children.
I HAVE MISSED THE DEADLINE. CAN MY APPLICATION STILL BE CONSIDERED?
No. Applications received after the deadline cannot be considered.
CAN I RESEND THE APPLICATION IF I FIND A MISTAKE?
Yes. During the application period, you may submit an updated version of your application.
Please indicate clearly that the new submission replaces your previous application. Only the latest version received before the deadline will be considered.
Once the evaluation process has begun, corrections to application materials can no longer be accepted.
CAN I UPDATE MY APPLICATION AFTER THE APPLICATION DEADLINE?
Application materials cannot be updated after the deadline.
However, if there are significant developments relating to your academic career after submission (e.g. completion of your PhD or another substantial academic achievement), you may notify us by e-mail. Relevant information will be forwarded to the selection committee where appropriate.