Applications are now invited for the international Leo Baeck Fellowship Programme 2026/2027 (German academic year October 2026-September 2027).
The programme is open to PhD candidates worldwide. The deadline for application is February 1st, 2026.
About the programme
The Leo Baeck Fellowship Programme supports outstanding doctoral candidates pursuing research on the history and culture of German-speaking Jewry. It welcomes projects from a wide range of disciplines - including history, literature, philosophy and cultural studies - and embraces studies that extend beyond Europe to contexts such as Israel and the Americas.
The fellowship provides funding and international exchange. Fellows remain enrolled at their home universities but benefit from two intensive research workshops each year, jointly organised by the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, the Leo Baeck Institute London, and the Leibniz Institute for Jewish History and Culture - Simon Dubnow in Leipzig. These gatherings offer opportunities to present work, engage in discussion and build networks across disciplines and countries.
This programme combines financial support with intellectual community. All fellowships are funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
Each year, up to ten doctoral students are selected. The fellowship includes:
- A monthly grant of €1,650
- A monthly research allowance of €100
- Possible contributions towards health insurance, childcare, and tuition fees outside Germany
- Travel support for research trips and conferences
Working languages are German and English. After one year, fellows based at a German university may apply for an extension through the Studienstiftung’s doctoral programme, subject to available funds.
Applicants are expected to hold an excellent university degree, be formally accepted onto a doctoral programme, and pursue a project that makes a clear contribution to the study of German-Jewish history and culture.
Apply to the programme
Candidates are invited to submit the following documents in English or German:
- Application form
- Cover letter outlining the motivation for participation in the programme (1 page)
- Curriculum vitae with details on education, general interests and language skills
- Photocopy of university degree(s), including marks and if possible ranking
- Research proposal (max. 5 pages)
- Research schedule for the academic year 2026/27, including planned research trips
- Letter of recommendation by the supervisor of the PhD project
- Second letter of recommendation
These documents should be sent in the exact order listed above and combined into a single PDF file to leobaeck(at)studienstiftung(dot)de (Only letters of recommendation may be sent in a separate email. The applicant’s name must be included in the subject line.) Only complete application sets will be considered. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to two video-based interviews in April/May 2026.
The deadline for application is February 1st, 2026.
