Cultural Heritage Scholarship at the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen 2026

This scholarship enables cultural practitioners from countries on the DAC list to stay with host institutions. The purpose is to enable scholarship holders to deepen their professional knowledge transnationally, to introduce new perspectives and to build long-term cooperation through exchange. Thus, the scholarship strengthens ifa’s contribution to creating worldwide interpersonal understanding and trust and to promote democratic civil societies.

The focus is on transcultural dialogue and engaging with cultural heritage, collections and archive records. Funding is provided for mutual knowledge transfer and the creation of sustainable networks. At the same time, the scholarship makes a contribution to supporting freedom in art and science, freedom of opinion and open debates.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineJune 30, 2026
• Study Level
• SponsorInstitut für Auslandsbeziehungen
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

The scholarship covers the following:

• A net payment of EUR 1,500 per month
• monthly family allowances for family members travelling with you (EUR 250 for a spouse, EUR 250 per child)
• visa costs
• travel costs for the outward and return journeys (information document)
• health insurance (including family)
• monthly travel pass for public transport in the city of residence
• up to EUR 500 for a language course

Requirements

Applicants must:

• work with cultural heritage, collections and/or archive records in institutional contexts
• name a non-commercial, physical host institution for each stay and submit a specific concept note drawn up jointly with the host institution (this is decisive for the award of scholarships!)
• have completed their higher education or vocational training;
• have a very good knowledge of English (German or the language of the country of the host institution is an advantage, but not mandatory)

Exclusion criterion:

• another scholarship or parallel residence during the funding period

The stay must take place between February and December 2027. The scholarship is an on-site scholarship that requires regular attendance at the host institution. Scholarship holders must prepare a final report.

Applications by Black people, people of colour, women, LGBTQIA+ persons, people with disabilities and members of historically marginalised groups, in particular people from colonialised contexts, are actively welcomed.

Who can apply?

• curators
• restorers
• mediators
• culture managers

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• Applications are made via the Application Portal.

For more information, kindly visit the ifa webpage.