Goethe University Frankfurt Financial Support for Early Career Researchers with Children 2026

Funded by the Franz Adickes Stiftungsfonds, the Goethe Research Academy for Early Career Researchers (GRADE) financially supports 30 PhD candidates, postdocs and scientists in the R3 qualification phase with children performing their research at Goethe University.

Working on your research project is challenging and entails a high workload. Raising and taking care of your kids at the same time produces an additional financial burden and puts severe constraints on your time management. GRADE wants to support early career researchers in this special situation.

For candidates with small-scale income, this support may take the form of a scholarship. For persons with substantial income, we can finance the hiring of research assistants, who can cover routine tasks in research and teaching, thereby creating relief for early career researchers.

Table of Content

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

Summary

• Application DeadlineMay 8, 2026
• Study LevelPhD , Postdoctoral Fellowships
• SponsorGoethe University Frankfurt
• City to studyHesse
• School to studyGoethe University Frankfurt
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• The total sum of support amounts to 2400 EUR.

Requirements

• We can only consider applications from individuals with children in need of care who live in their household and / or whom they are currently caring for at least part of the time.
• Furthermore, either the admission as doctoral candidate or a confirmation of employment at Goethe University is required.

Application Documents

• Completed application form
• Curriculum Vitae
• Copy of birth certificate for your children or an equivalent confirmation
• Faculty letter of admission as doctoral candidate (PhD candidates) or confirmation of employment at Goethe University (e.g., work contract) or scholarship with clear connection to GU (confirmation of scholarship or confirmation by supervising person)

Check also:
2026 Fully Funded Humboldt Research Fellowship
2026 Konrad Adenauer Foundation Scholarship

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• Please log in to our application portal with your HRZ account or register as a guest. You can find instructions for using the portal here.
• Please fill out the application form in the portal and upload all the necessary documents. 

For more information, kindly visit the GRADE webpage.