FAZIT Foundation Doctoral Scholarship 2026

The promotion of science is firmly enshrined in the statutes of the FAZIT Foundation, particularly through the awarding of scholarships for study and research at universities in Germany. The FAZIT Foundation pursues this goal by supporting individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who would otherwise find it difficult to access this career path. The scholarship covers the monthly living expenses of doctoral candidates and enables them to work on their dissertations quickly and complete them.

Table of Content

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

Summary

• Application DeadlineNot Specified
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorFAZIT Stitfung
• School to study
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• The FAZIT FOUNDATION doctoral scholarship is intended to finance monthly living expenses.
• The monthly subsidy amounts to up to €1,250.00. The subsidy amount is based on the applicant's financial need, which must be demonstrated through the submitted self-declaration and personal information.

Requirements

• The FAZIT Foundation's doctoral scholarship requires applicants to demonstrate financial need. German and international early-career researchers from all disciplines residing in Germany and holding a university degree that qualifies them for doctoral studies in Germany are eligible to apply. A final grade of at least "good" (or "fully satisfactory" for law) is expected.
• Eligibility for doctoral funding requires timely completion of studies and a planned doctoral period of no more than four years. Applications from candidates who are over 28 years old at the start of their doctoral studies will not be considered.
• A doctorate cannot be funded if further studies or training are undertaken during the scholarship period.
• Lawyers can only apply for a doctoral scholarship if they have completed their legal traineeship or will begin it immediately after completing their doctorate. The doctoral program must not be interrupted by a legal traineeship.
• A doctorate as part of a medical degree (Dr. med.) is not supported.
• Second doctorates and research projects (postdoc or habilitation projects) by those who have already received a doctorate are not funded.
• Doctoral candidates with a foreign university degree can apply if they are admitted to doctoral studies at a German university located in Germany.
• Follow-up funding for ongoing doctoral projects is possible. Prior receipt of another scholarship is not a disqualifying factor.
• Applications and correspondence with the FAZIT FOUNDATION must be conducted exclusively in German.

Selection Process

• Upon receipt of the applications, the foundation office checks whether they meet all formal requirements and prepares them for review.
• The decision to approve or reject an application is made based on the application documents. No interviews are conducted. The management of the FAZIT FOUNDATION decides on the allocation of foundation funds.
• Priority will be given to applications in which the applicant assures that no support is available from other sources, that the requested funds will alleviate a financial emergency and are therefore essential to support the desired completion of the program.
• The selection process typically includes several applications. Particular emphasis is placed on a compelling letter of motivation, a generally understandable description of the topic, at least a good academic record, the content of the expert opinions, and the quality of the evidence of financial need. Dissertation topics with current relevance are especially welcome.
• Review and processing of complete applications can take up to eight weeks.
• The decision regarding the funding application will be communicated via email. There is no legal entitlement to the award of a scholarship.
• Due to the large number of grant applications and the limited funds available to the foundation, even first-rate applications must be rejected. The FAZIT Foundation generally does not provide detailed reasons for rejecting an application.
• Rejected funding applications will not be allowed to be reviewed again.

Application Documents

• Application form
• Letter of motivation stating the professional goal
• CV
• University degree certificates
• Acceptance notice for doctorate
• endorsement of the application by the doctoral supervisor
• The application must be endorsed by a scientifically qualified person.
• Dissertation outline
• Tabular work and time schedule until the expected submission of the dissertation
• Self-declaration including the requested monthly scholarship amount
• Description of the economic situation and the financing to date

Please name the application documents according to the following rule: “Last name_First name_Document type”, e.g. Mustermann_Max_Application; Mustermann_Max_Motivation etc.

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• The application is submitted exclusively online and must include all required documents and evidence, which you can find in the corresponding checklist .

• Application documents should be submitted at least three months and no earlier than six months before the desired start of funding.

• As a general rule, funding commitments are only made for the future.

   

For more information, kindly visit the FAZIT webpage.