CAPES-Humboldt Research Fellowship

Eligibility requirements

• Natural scientists and engineers: good knowledge of German or English is sufficient.
• Scholars in the humanities and social sciences: should have knowledge of German if it is necessary to carry out the research successfully. In this case, a German language certificate confirming proficiency must be submitted. Otherwise, a good knowledge of English is sufficient.
• Physicians: If the research involves work with patients, the candidate must have a good knowledge of German (language certificate required). Otherwise, a good knowledge of English is sufficient.
• No, an English language certificate is not required.
• The relevant date is that of completing the final academic part of the doctoral process (e.g., defence of thesis, doctoral viva). This date will usually be included on your doctoral certificate alongside the date of issue. The key date for calculating the period following your doctorate is the date on which your application is received by the Humboldt Foundation.
• In the case of multiple doctorates, the effective date is that of the first doctoral degree (PhD/CSc.).
• Yes. You should, however, already have your own clearly recognisable research profile and be working at the level of at least assistant professor, lecturer or head of an independent research group.
• We cannot consider your application if you obtained your doctorate more than twelve years ago. If you have missed the deadline, an exception may be made in well-founded cases (e.g. recognition of parental leave).
• No, a language certificate is not required.
• You are eligible to apply if you hold a research doctorate or a comparable academic degree. In addition, please read our Admission Questionnaire for Physicians (MD / Dr. med.) for detailed information. If you have several research doctorates, the above mentioned FAQ on the subject of "several doctorates" applies.
• Applicants must reside in Brazil at the time of application. Further, in the 18-month-period prior to the submission of the application, eligible applicants must not have stayed in Germany for more than a total of 90 accumulated days. Any time spent in Germany within those 18 months is taken into account, regardless of duration or reason.
• Individuals who in the last 18 months have earned their living with funding from German institutions or have worked on a doctoral project at an institution in Germany for more than 90 days, are not eligible to apply, regardless of their place of residence. German citizens and/or educational residents* (see following FAQ) are generally ineligible to apply if they have been in Germany within the last 18 months prior to receipt of their application or are already in Germany at the time of applying.
• The aim of the programme is to enable highly qualified academics from abroad to come to Germany to conduct a research stay here. German citizens/educational residents are thus not the target group of this funding programme (Educational residents are individuals who have completed their school education and a university degree, or a university degree and their doctorate in Germany).
• You are however eligible to apply if you are permanently working in Brazil and intend to return to Brazil immediately following the requested research stay.
• We consider these preconditions as fulfilled if your habitual place of work and residence has been located in Brazil on the assumption of permanence for at least five years and if in addition you either have:
• a. Brazilian nationality

“You must be a Brazilian national or have permanent resident status in Brazil.”