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HessenFonds Scholarships
for Refugee Students and Researchers At Risk
As part of the HessenFonds, the Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and the Arts provides scholarships for exceptionally talented and high achieving university students and researchers with refugee status nd for researchers at risk at state universities in Hessen. The funding shall enable them to continue their studies or their scientific career at a state university in Hessen. Students are to be supported primarily in the introductory phase of their studies. The scholarship is not intended as a permanent doctoral, study or research scholarship. Follow-up funding opportunities (e.g. via other scholarship programs) should be examined at an early stage.
Current call for proposals
Applications for a funding from Ocotber 2024 to September 2025 are possible from now on. All relevant documents can be found below. The application deadline is July 31, 2024. A maximum of 10 people can be nominated, including a maximum of 4 doctoral candidates or researchers. Please note: the decision on the scholarship may take until mid-November!
Funding line: refugee students, doctoral students or researchers
Requirements
- Eligible for asylum or status as a recognized refugee (usually according to §25 para. 1 or 2 or §24 Residence Act) or residence according to §22 Residence Act. (Exception: follow-up funding in the Philipp Schwartz Initiative, 3rd funding year). The asylum procedure must have been completed.
- Eligible applicants are not longer than four years registered in Germany, i.e. the asylum request has not been submitted longer than for four years ago and the continuous stay in Germany does not exceed five years. Exception: for periods of parenting max. 7 years since entry and does not apply to subsequent applications.
- Follow-up applications are generally possible, but must be justified separately. A maximum of one follow-up grant is possible.
Students
- Enrollment at Philipps-Universität Marburg
- outstanding academic achievements
Doctoral students
- Acceptance as doctoral candidate incl. confirmation of supervision at Philipps-Universität Marburg (Acceptance by the doctoral committee as well as the supervisor's report including an assessment of the nominee's academic achievements)
- outstanding scientific achievements
Researchers and scholars
- guarantee of a research or teaching placement as well as supervision promise from Philipps-Universität Marburg (in the form of an expert opinion or letter from the host, including an assessment of the nominee's scientific achievements, also with regard to integration in the research field)
- outstanding achievements in research and/or teaching
Scope of funding
The HessenFonds scholarship includes the following scholarship rates:
- Students: 300 euros/month
- Doctoral students: 1,200 euros/month
- Researchers: 2,300 euros/month
A family allowance is possible.
Funding periods
For 12 months from April or from October
Funding line: doctoral students and researchers at risk
Requirements
- nomination is open to individuals who face a threat in their country of origin based on ethnic, sexual, gender, or religious identity, or political or civic engagement based on liberal democratic principles and striving to contribute to positive, social change
- Threats may include threats to personal well-being or security (e.g., physical violence, arrest, denial of civil and educational rights, loss of employment/promotional position for political reasons, or the like), and armed conflict in the country of origin
- Applicants must be residing in their country of origin or in a third country outside the EU at the time of application if they have already had to leave their country of origin for the above reasons
- Follow-up applications are generally possible, but must be justified separately. A maximum of one follow-up grant is possible. Funding recipients should therefore seek follow-up funding (e.g. from other scholarship providers) in good time. This applies in particular to doctoral projects or academic projects lasting several years.
Doctoral students
- Acceptance as doctoral candidate incl. confirmation of supervision at Philipps-Universität Marburg (Acceptance by the doctoral committee as well as the supervisor's report including an assessment of the nominee's academic achievements)
- outstanding scientific achievements
Researchers and scholars
- guarantee of a research or teaching placement as well as supervision promise from Philipps-Universität Marburg (in the form of an expert opinion or letter from the host, including an assessment of the nominee's academic achievements, also with regard to integration in the research field)
- outstanding achievements in research and/or teaching
The HessenFonds scholarship includes the following scholarship rates:
- Doctoral students: 1,200 euros/month
- Researchers: 2,300 euros/month
- A family allowance is possible.
- Note: Applying for a visa and preparing for departure is the responsibility of the applicant
Application and selection procedure
For the application please use only the attached forms, further documents to be submitted can be found in the forms. Applications must be submitted in full, in electronic form and in a compressed PDF document, to the International Office of Philipps-Universität Marburg by the deadline. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.
The subsequent selection process consists of two steps. In the first step, Philipps-Universität Marburg nominates qualified applicants in a ranking list via the President at the Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and the Arts. The internal university nomination procedure is regulated by Philipps-Universität Marburg. A maximum of 10 people can be nominated per university, including a maximum of 4 doctoral candidates and/or researchers (including refugees and/or persecuted persons). Accordingly, Philipps-Universität Marburg reserves the right to make a selection.
In the second step, the Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and the Arts makes the final selection of scholarship holders according to the award criteria. Please refer to the call for applications for the award criteria.
Important: the selection process can take up to three months and scholarships may be awarded at short notice and retroactively.There is no legal claim to the granting of a scholarship.
Please note the information collected in this document.
Overview of documents to be submitted
1. doctoral candidates and researchers: Table of contents
2. application form incl. letter of motivation and from doctoral candidates and researchers: Brief description of the research project
3. only from refugees: Proof of residence status (copy of residence certificate); only for persons at risk: description and (if available) proof of the threat situation
4. complete curriculum vitae in Europass format, max. 3 pages and, for academics, list of max. 10 most important publications
5. students: Letter of recommendation from lecturer; doctoral candidates and researchers: Letter of recommendation from supervisor that provides information about academic aptitude
6. students: Certificate of enrollment
Doctoral candidates: Certificate of acceptance as a doctoral candidate from the department
Researchers: Confirmation of supervision and confirmation of research and teaching position co-signed by the dean's office and timetable for the research or teaching project7. graduation certificates, additional for students: transcript of records
8. proof of German or English language skills, or confirmation from supervisor; not required for students from German-language degree programs
9. any other relevant documents, e.g. proof of voluntary work
The following documents are required for an application for an extension:
1. current application form with current letter of motivation with status of research and timetable
2. current expert opinion from a lecturer/ the supervisor
3. for students: current transcript of recordsContact
Pia Schöngarth
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Dez VI – Internationale Angelegenheiten und Familienservice
Tel.: 06421 – 28 26 813
Call for proposals and application documents - Refugees
Call for proposals and application documents – researchers at risk