Information for At-Risk Scholars
The Welcome Services offer comprehensive advising and support for at-risk researchers, including:
- Early-stage contact and administrative assistance prior to arrival
- Support with everyday matters and settling in after arrival
- Referral to further support services within and beyond Paderborn University
- Identification of and outreach to potential host researchers or institutions
- Information on available funding opportunities
Funding Programmes
Through the Philipp Schwartz Initiative, universities and research institutions in Germany can host at-risk scholars within the framework of a fellowship lasting up to 24 months (with the possibility of a one-year extension under certain conditions). Scholars from all academic disciplines and countries of origin may be considered for funding, provided they can demonstrate that they are at risk.
Please note that individual scholars cannot apply directly to this program. Instead, they should contact potential host institutions, which are responsible for submitting the application. At Paderborn University, the Welcome Services assist with the application process.
If you are interested or have any questions, please get in touch with us.
Further information is available on the website of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
The Gerda Henkel Stiftung offers support to scholars who have been forced to leave their home countries due to acute crises and who wish to reorient their academic careers. Funding is available for researchers working in the historical humanities, the disciplines traditionally supported by the foundation. In addition, topics and fields covered by the foundation’s current special programmes and funding priorities are also eligible.
Funding requests may be submitted at any time by affected scholars or by representatives of potential host institutions.
Further information is available on the website of the Gerda Henkel Stiftung.
With funding from the Federal Foreign Office (AA), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers the Hilde Domin Programme. This scholarship programme supports students and doctoral candidates worldwide who are at risk and who are formally or de facto denied the right to education and/or other basic rights in their home countries.
The programme enables them to begin or continue their studies in Germany with the goal of obtaining a degree or doctorate at a German higher education institution.
Further information is available on the DAAD website.
The German Research Foundation (DFG) supports at-risk scholars from their home countries by facilitating their participation in research projects and the application process for the Walter Benjamin Programme (option for a Walter Benjamin position, not a fellowship).
Displaced researchers can apply for a project of their own to be carried out in Germany through the Walter Benjamin Programme (Walter Benjamin position).
Further information is available on the DFG website.
Other Funding Programmes
A comprehensive overview and presentation of funding opportunities for at-risk and displaced researchers can be found on the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation website.
For Ukrainian Researchers: The DAAD consolidates extensive information and various support offerings from German academia for Ukrainian students and researchers on the National Academic Contact Point Ukraine website.
