postgraduatefully funded (stipend of 10,000 euros, accommodation, and travel expenses) Verified active 2 days left

Einstein Fellowship (Six-Month Research in Germany)

Last verified 12 May 2026 by the Scholarships for Africans editorial team

The Einstein Fellowship supports outstanding young thinkers, under 35 years old, who wish to pursue a project in a different discipline, following Albert Einstein's example. This fully funded six-month fellowship includes accommodation in Einstein’s summerhouse in Caputh, Germany, a stipend of 10,000 euros, and travel expense reimbursement.

Provider: AIMS — Next Einstein Forum (Structured Masters)
Host country: Pan-African
Deadline: May 15, 2026

Visit official site

Topics

About this scholarship

## About the Einstein Fellowship The Einstein Fellowship, generously supported by the Wittenstein Foundation, offers a unique opportunity for exceptional young thinkers to step outside their primary discipline and explore a new project. Inspired by Albert Einstein's interdisciplinary approach, the fellowship encourages original thinking and intellectual development beyond conventional academic research. The program provides a supportive environment for fellows to develop their ideas, culminating in a public presentation of their project at the Einstein Forum and the Wittenstein Foundation. ## Benefits and Support This fully funded fellowship provides comprehensive support for the six-month research period in Germany. Key benefits include: * **Accommodation:** Fellows reside in the garden cottage of Einstein’s historic summerhouse in Caputh, Brandenburg, offering a serene and inspiring environment within easy reach of academic institutions in Potsdam and Berlin. * **Stipend:** A generous stipend of 10,000 euros is provided to cover living and project-related expenses throughout the fellowship duration. * **Travel Expenses:** Travel costs to and from Germany are reimbursed, ensuring accessibility for international applicants. While family members are welcome to accompany fellows, their travel expenses are not covered by the fellowship. ## Eligibility and Application Requirements To be considered for the Einstein Fellowship, applicants must meet the following criteria: * **Age:** Candidates must be under 35 years old. * **Education:** A university degree in the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences is required. * **Project Originality:** The proposed project must be distinct from previous academic work, including master's theses or dissertation research. It should demonstrate originality, intellectual rigor, and feasibility within the six-month timeframe. * **Application Documents:** Submissions must include: * A comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV). * A two-page project proposal outlining the project's quality, originality, and feasibility. * Two letters of recommendation. These can be included in the application or sent directly by the referees. All application documents must be submitted in English. The application should be completed via the official online form. TOEFL/IELTS scores are not required, as mastery of English is expected to be evident in the application materials. ## Important Considerations * **Project Scope:** The proposed project should be well-defined and achievable within the six-month fellowship period, even if it represents the beginning of a larger endeavor. The Einstein Forum does not provide specialized infrastructure such as laboratory facilities, supercomputing resources, or other technical equipment. * **Fellowship Period:** While exact dates are flexible, the ideal time for the six-month fellowship typically falls during spring, summer, and/or fall. * **Reapplication:** Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply in subsequent years, provided they still meet the eligibility criteria, but are encouraged to submit a new project proposal.

What's covered

The award components below were extracted from the sponsor's published description. Always cross-check the exact figures, ceiling amounts and conditions on the official site before you budget around them.

Monthly stipend
Accommodation
Return airfare

Eligibility criteria

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

Candidates must be under 35 and hold a university degree in the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences. Applicants from all nationalities are welcome. The proposed project must be significantly different in content, and preferably field and form, from the applicant’s previous work, and is not meant to fund dissertation research.

Required documents

A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.

Valid international passport (bio page scan)
Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
Financial-need declaration or family-income statement (sponsor-specific template)
Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders

How to apply

A practical, sponsor-agnostic sequence used by >95% of international scholarship applicants. Adapt to the sponsor's specific portal — the order rarely changes.

1
Confirm eligibility on the official site
Open https://www.einsteinforum.de/en/about/fellowship/ and verify your country, level of study and English-language status against the current call. Sponsor rules change between intakes — never rely on third-party summaries alone.
2
Secure a study place or admission offer
Apply to the host university or programme first where required, and obtain a conditional admission letter. A growing number of sponsors only fund applicants who already hold an offer.
3
Sit required tests and gather documents
Register for IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo (or SAT / GRE where required), request official transcripts, brief two or three referees, and prepare passport and identity documents at high resolution.
4
Draft your essays and statements
Write a 500–1,000-word personal statement and any additional essays the sponsor specifies. Anchor each essay in concrete examples and tie your goals back to the sponsor's mission.
5
Complete the online application
Create an account on https://www.einsteinforum.de/en/about/fellowship/, fill in every field, and upload the required documents in the formats specified (PDF, max file size, single-file vs multi-file). Save progress frequently — most portals time out after 30–60 minutes.
6
Submit at least one week before the deadline
Sponsor portals routinely slow or fail in the final 24 hours. Submit early, download the confirmation receipt, and screenshot the submission timestamp. Late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.
7
Prepare for shortlist interviews
If shortlisted, AIMS — Next Einstein Forum (Structured Masters) will contact you within 4–12 weeks. Re-read your essays, rehearse 3–5 likely questions out loud, and confirm your time zone for any video interview.

Deadline timeline

Working backwards from the sponsor's stated deadline (May 15, 2026). Dates assume a smooth, single-attempt timeline — start earlier where you can.

12 months out
20 May 2025
Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.
6 months out
16 Nov 2025
Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.
3 months out
14 Feb 2026
Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.
1 month out
15 Apr 2026
Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
Application deadline
15 May 2026
Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.

Editorial verification note

Retry pass: resilient fetch with alt-URL + search fallback.

Last checked 5/12/2026

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the Einstein Fellowship (Six-Month Research in Germany)?+

Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the postgraduate level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by AIMS — Next Einstein Forum (Structured Masters), and be able to relocate to Pan-African for the duration of the programme.

Is the Einstein Fellowship (Six-Month Research in Germany) fully funded?+

Funding model: fully funded (stipend of 10,000 euros, accommodation, and travel expenses). Where listed as fully funded, the award typically covers tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Always confirm the latest funding breakdown on the sponsor's official page.

When is the application deadline?+

The application deadline is May 15, 2026. Submit at least one week early — sponsor portals frequently slow or fail in the final 24 hours, and late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.

What documents do I need to apply?+

At minimum: passport bio page, academic transcripts, CV, personal statement, two to three references, and an English-language test score (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo). Research-led Masters and PhD applications also require a research proposal and a writing sample.

How can I improve my chance of winning?+

Apply early, tailor every essay to the specific sponsor (do not recycle a generic statement), secure at least one reference who knows your work in detail, and apply to two or three additional scholarships in parallel — never rely on a single application.

Guides for this scholarship

Explore related programmes

Long-form sponsor guides, country pages and category pages connected to this scholarship.