Academics of all disciplines from abroad, who are internationally recognised as leaders in their field and who are expected to contribute to enhancing Germany's sustained international competitiveness as a research location, are eligible to be nominated for an Alexander von Humboldt-Professorship. Nominations may be made by German universities.

In general:

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) enables foreign academics who are just embarking on their academic careers (who completed their doctorate less than four years ago) and highly-qualified scientists and scholars from abroad (who completed their doctorates less than twelve years ago) with the Humboldt Research Fellowships to carry out a long-term research project in Germany. Applications may be submitted for research stays of 6 to 24 (Postdoctoral Researchers) respectively 6 to 18 months (Experienced Researchers). The fellowship for experienced researchers is flexible and can be divided up into as many as three stays within three years. Scientists and scholars of all nationalities and disciplines may apply to the AvH directly at any time. There are no quotas for individual countries or disciplines. Funding is not available for short-term study visits, participation in conferences, or training courses.

Developing Countries:

The Georg Forster Research Fellowships enable foreign academics from developing and threshold countries (excluding People's Republic of China, India and Turkey) who are just embarking on their academic careers (who completed their doctorate less than four years ago) and highly-qualified scientists and scholars from abroad (who completed their doctorates less than twelve years ago) to carry out a long-term research project in Germany of 6 to 24 months (Postdoctoral Researchers) respectively 6 to 18 months (Experienced Researchers). The fellowship for experienced researchers is flexible and can be divided up into as many as three stays within three years. Funding is not available for short-term study visits, participation in conferences, or training courses.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation award annually ten German Chancellor Scholarships to young prospective leaders up to 35 years

from the Russian Federation,

from the USA as well as

from the People's Republic of China.

The candidates have shown outstanding potential for future leadership in their previous career. The program addresses applicants from all professions and fields of study giving preference to the humanities, law, social and economic sciences, and also to the arts.

In general:

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation grants up to 100 Humboldt Research Awards annually to outstanding foreign scientists and scholars from all fields whose fundamental discoveries, new theories, or insights have had a significant impact on their own discipline and who are expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements in future. The award can amount to € 60,000.

The Helmholtz Association and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation jointly grants up to six Helmholtz Humboldt Research Awards annually to outstanding scientists and scholars from abroad whose fundamental discoveries, new theories, or insights have had a significant impact on their own discipline and who are expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements in future. The research award is worth € 60,000. An additional sum of € 25,000 is provided by the Helmholtz Association to support cooperation with the partner at university in particular, provided that the award winner accepts the invitation to spend time on research in Germany.

The Sofja Kovalevskaja Award gives successful top-rank junior researchers from abroad, who only completed their doctorate with distinction in the last six years, and have published work in prestigious international journals or publishing houses, the opportunity to spend five years building up working groups and working on a high-profile, innovative research project of their own choice at a research institution of their own choice in Germany. The award is valued at € 1.65 million.

With the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Awards scientists and scholars from all non-European countries, who completed their doctorates less than twelve years ago, who are internationally recognised for their achievements in the field of applied research, and who in future are expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements which will have a seminal influence on their discipline beyond their immediate field of work. Award winners are invited to spend a period of up to one year cooperating on a long-term research project with specialist colleagues at one of the Fraunhofer Institutes in Germany. The stay may be divided up into blocks. The award is valued at € 45,000.

Up to three Fraunhofer Bessel Research Awards are granted annually to young, top-rank academics from the USA. This also applies to academics of other nationalities, providing they have been living in the USA for more than five years at the time of nomination and have their main focus of academic activity in the USA.

The Max Planck Research Award is awarded to excellent scientists and scholars of all nationalities who are expected to continue producing outstanding academic achievements in international collaboration - not least with the assistance of this award. On an annually-alternating basis, the call for nominations addresses areas within the natural and engineering sciences, the life sciences, and the humanities. The Max Planck Research Award 2008 is being granted for "Biomimetic materials - from structure-function relationships to the development of bio-inspired materials and systems". The award is valued at € 750,000 and may be used over a period of three to a maximum of five years to fund research chosen by the award winner.

The Konrad Adenauer Research Award for Canadian scholars in the humanities and social sciences promotes academic collaboration between Canada and the Federal Republic of Germany, and is available to be awarded annually to a Canadian scholar in the humanities or social sciences. The Award is presented to honour the scholar's entire academic record. The recipient is invited to carry out a research project of his/her choice in Germany, in cooperation with German colleagues, for a period of up to one year. The Award can amount up to € 60,000.

The Philipp Franz von Siebold Award for Japanese researchers is awarded annually to a Japanese academic for outstanding services to enhancing mutual understanding of culture and society in Germany and Japan. The scientist or scholar should be under 50 years of age and have a working knowledge of German. The prize is valued at € 50,000.

The Reimar-Lüst Award each year  awards two outstanding humanities scholars and social scientists from abroad who, as multipliers in and through the field of academic studies, have made an exceptional contribution to the enduring promotion of bilateral relations between Germany and their own countries. Additionally, science managers from all disciplines may be nominated for their interdisciplinary contribution to promoting cultural and academic relations between Germany and their own country. The award is valued at € 50,000.

With the Humboldt Alumni Award the Humboldt Foundation would recognise innovative networking initiatives of its fellows and award winners. The Award is valued at 25,000 EUR, and up to three awards will be granted annually. It is designed to support projects, not so far covered by the Foundation’s sponsorship programmes, which promote academic and cultural relations between Germany and the home countries of Humboldt alumni and strengthen their collaboration in the respective countries and regions. Further details can be found in the programme Information.

Academically active and highly qualified research fellows (no age limit) are given an opportunity to apply for sponsorship of a renewed research period in Germany.

With the re-invitation programme the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation invites back research fellows from abroad who, either due to their outstanding academic work or to their important function in the academic or foreign cultural fields, are of particular importance to German science, economy, and politics. They are re-invited for a guest visit of up to a further three months.

After successfully completing the initial visit sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany, it is possible for Humboldt fellows, Roman Herzog research fellows of the Hertie Foundation and Georg Forster research fellows to apply for a return fellowship to sponsor reintegration into an institute abroad.

To be eligible, Humboldt and Roman Herzog research fellows must return to a country in Central and Eastern Europe, Georg Forster research fellows must return to a developing or threshold country.

Applications for a return fellowship must be made no later than 6 months after completing the initial stay sponsored by the AvH in Germany, and the return fellowship be taken up no later than 12 months after completing the initial stay.

Research fellows may apply for conference allowances to help them attend academic conferences in Germany if they play an active part in these conferences, for example by delivering lectures/posters etc.

The purchase of scientific equipment should make it possible for Humboldtians in countries with limited foreign currency reserves to continue research projects started in Germany at an institute abroad after their stay in Germany has come to an end. In this way, collaboration with academic hosts or other specialist colleagues should be sponsored well beyond the duration of the initial stay.

Printing subsidies towards the cost of publishing the results of research work carried out in connection with the research fellowship can be applied for at the Humboldt Foundation.

Research fellows are eligible to apply for donations of academic literature. Individual applications should not usually exceed € 1,000. The books donated will be given to the research fellow's institute and are designated first and foremost for the fellow's research work. Institutions from countries with limited foreign currency reserves should be given priority.