Funded Humboldt Residency Programme

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation brings together twelve people each year, from research, journalism, the arts, politics and civil society, for a six-week residency in Brandenburg and Berlin. The 2027 theme is "Oceanic Horizons: Navigating the Future of Our Blue Planet": ocean health, the blue economy, coastal adaptation and who speaks for the ocean. Participants work side by side every day and then take their ideas to audiences beyond academia through debates, media, workshops and publications.

What you get:

• A monthly allowance during the six-week residency (researchers at the usual Humboldt fellowship rates; civil society, journalism and arts participants receive an honorarium)
• A travel allowance for the trip to and from Germany, which also covers visa costs
• Accommodation paid for: two weeks at Schloss Wiepersdorf and four weeks at an aparthotel in Berlin
• A budget for public events or end-of-year outputs
• Family accommodation and help arranging childcare in Berlin for participants travelling with dependants

What you'll do:

• Join a virtual kick-off on 29 June 2027
• Spend two weeks at Schloss Wiepersdorf (2 to 13 August 2027), then four weeks in Berlin (13 August to 10 September 2027), with excursions to institutions in Northern Germany and along the North and Baltic Sea coasts
• Meet in shared working spaces Monday to Thursday, usually 9am to 3pm, with a cohort from many disciplines
• Choose and deliver formats that carry the group's ideas to the public, such as stakeholder debates, media appearances, bar talks, workshops, blogs or publications
• Finish outputs remotely in September and October 2027 and attend a virtual wrap-up on 26 October 2027

Key dates:

• Online info session: 24 November 2026, 2:00 to 3:00pm CET
• Applications close 14 December 2026 (applications are evaluated on a rolling basis)
• Selection committee meets mid-February 2027; decisions end of February 2027
• Virtual kick-off: 29 June 2027
• Residency: 2 August to 10 September 2027 (Wiepersdorf, then Berlin)
• Virtual wrap-up: 26 October 2027

More information:

• An application FAQ is linked from Humboldt's call page
• Questions go to the Humboldt Residency team at residency@avh.de

• Apply in one of three tracks: Humboldt alumni, early career researcher, or civil society practitioner
• Early career researchers must be doing a PhD or have finished it less than four years before August 2027 (parental leave and similar breaks can be credited)
• Researchers (alumni and early career) must hold an academic position and not be based in Germany
• Civil society practitioners must not hold an academic position, and can apply wherever they live, including Germany
• A clear connection to the theme "Oceanic Horizons" through your work or other engagement
• Strong English: all programme communication is in English
• Full in-person attendance for the whole residency, 2 August to 10 September 2027, is mandatory
• Submit online: a CV (max. 3 pages, PDF) and a self-introduction video of up to 60 seconds shared via a Smash link
• No letters of recommendation needed