ERP Scholarship Program 2027

Designed as a complementary program to the German National Academic Foundation's McCloy Scholarship Program , the ERP Scholarship Program supports one- to two-year research and study stays at top US universities as part of Master's or PhD programs. The program aims to strengthen transatlantic understanding and to support and connect highly qualified graduates who aspire to careers in the public sector (e.g., in ministries, government agencies, foundations, think tanks, international organizations, NGOs, or in academia and research). 

The following projects can be funded under the ERP scholarship program:

• One- to two-year study abroad programs to obtain an American Master's degree
• Study stays for the course phase of a PhD program. The following applies: Those who have already completed a Master's degree before starting a scholarship can receive support in the first year of a PhD program; those who successfully apply for a PhD program with a Bachelor's degree can receive funding for up to 21 months.
• Ten- to twelve-month research projects within the framework of dissertation projects based at a German university

For two-year Master's programs, a two- to three-month internship in the public sector is expected between the first and second year of study. For one-year programs, the internship should be completed after the study or research period in the public sector. Please include the internship in your planning from the outset.

Not eligible for funding under the ERP program are post-doc projects, one- to two-semester study stays in the USA as part of a German Master's degree, and medical doctoral theses before completion of medical studies.

Table of Content

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

Summary

• Application DeadlineSeptember 20, 2026
• Study LevelMasters , PhD
• SponsorGerman National Academic Foundation
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

Financial support

• Monthly stipend of $2,500
• One-time starting fee of 500 USD
• Travel expense allowance of USD 1,000
• Tuition fee subsidy of up to USD 25,000 per academic year

Non-material support

• Admission to the German National Academic Foundation (access to non-material support)
• Inclusion in a global ERP network
• Kick-off event in the run-up to the funding
• Virtual semester kick-off at the start of the funding period
• Annual meeting of scholarship recipients in the USA during the funding period
• Direct contact person during the funding period

It is possible to combine this scholarship with other scholarships (e.g., DAAD or US university scholarships).

Requirements

• The program is open to young professionals from all disciplines except artistic fields of study (music, art, acting, film).
• Applicants must hold at least a Bachelor's degree by the application deadline (September 20th); the most recent university degree (including doctorate) must not be more than five years old. The date of the degree certificate applies.
• An excellent degree is expected, at least "fully satisfactory" for law students.
• Prior funding from the German National Academic Foundation is not necessary.
• Admission to an American university is not required at the time of application for the ERP scholarship.
• Since the ERP scholarship program was designed to complement the McCloy scholarship program, study projects at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government cannot be supported.

If you are interested in the ERP scholarship program but do not hold German citizenship, you can find out here whether you meet the formal application requirements.

Selection Process

• Please complete the following application documents (DOC, 0.2 MB) . Please be sure to read the information in the document "FAQ and Application Instructions" (PDF, 0.2 MB) .
• Please note that applications must be submitted as a PDF attachment via email. Sending application documents by post is not necessary.
• Following a preliminary selection, promising applicants are invited to a selection seminar.
• Applications to the desired US universities and preparations for the internship are the responsibility of the applicants. 

Check also:
2026 Fully Funded Humboldt Research Fellowship
2026 Eutopia PhD Co-tutelle Call

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• Please complete the following application documents (DOC, 0.2 MB) . Please be sure to read the information in the document "FAQ and Application Instructions" (PDF, 0.2 MB) .

For more information, kindly visit the ERP scholarship webpage.