The program aims to support research stays for highly qualified early-career German researchers in the field of artificial intelligence, as well as computer science and related fields, at a partner institution
Funding is available for research stays in the aforementioned fields at an IFI partner institute. Currently, collaborations exist with the following partner institutes:
- International Computer Science Institute (ICSI), Berkeley, USA
- National Institute of Informatics (NII), Tokyo, Japan
- Mila – Institut québécois d´intelligence artificielle – Montréal, Canada
Ideally, research stays can be organized as research groups consisting of an IFI-funded postdoc and one or more IFI-funded doctoral candidates.
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IFI Research Fellowship Postgraduate Scholarship
Aim and Benefits of IFI Research Fellowship Postgraduate Scholarship
- Monthly scholarship rate : This consists of a basic amount of €2,188 and a country-specific foreign allowance and applies, subject to possible changes, to scholarships awarded for funding in the 2026/2027 academic year:
- USA: €3,800
- Japan: €4,225
- Canada: €3,175
- Monthly allowance for material costs (flat rate) of 313 euros for the purchase of specialist books, attendance at specialist conferences, etc.
- Travel allowance ( lump sum ) for the outward and return journey
The following additional services can be applied for via the DAAD portal:
- Monthly child allowance for accompanying children under 18 years of age amounting to 400 euros for the first child and 100 euros for each additional child.
- Childcare : Reimbursement of documented childcare costs for accompanying children under 12 years of age up to a maximum of €2,188 per month.
- Monthly partner allowance of 200 euros for accompanying spouses or registered civil partners.
- Travel allowance (lump sum) for arrival and departure for accompanying spouses, partners and children, if they accompany the beneficiary abroad for at least one month.
- A grant is available to cover the costs of conference and lecture trips that are thematically related to the research project of the grantee. The assumption of such costs should primarily be agreed upon with the supervisor or the head of the partner institution; secondarily, a corresponding grant application can be submitted to the DAAD once per funding period (for funding of 3-6 months) and a maximum of twice per scholarship year (for funding of 7-24 months).
- Subsidy for travel expenses (flat-rate travel allowance) and accommodation costs (60.00 euros per day) for attending job interviews at universities and non-university research institutions in Germany (from the 7th month of funding, provided that no cost coverage from another source is possible); the subsidy can be granted up to three times.
- Subsidy for travel expenses (flat-rate travel allowance) and accommodation costs (60.00 euros per day) for conducting research visits to universities or non-university research institutions in Germany for the purpose of planning joint projects or preparing for professional reintegration in Germany (from the 7th month of funding, provided that cost coverage by the partner institution is not possible); the subsidy can be granted up to two times; there must be a time interval of at least six months between the research visits; the stays should, if possible, be combined with participation in an alumni meeting.
- Up to 6-month return scholarship (after returning from a scholarship stay of at least one year, provided there is no job prospect in Germany yet) for working on a specific research project at a German university or non-university research institution, which serves to continue the cooperation with the foreign partner institution; the selection committee decides on the award on the basis of an application that explains the research project and the planned reintegration in Germany.
Benefits during the return scholarship:
- Monthly scholarship rate of 3,150 euros.
- Monthly child allowance of €400.00 for the first child and €100.00 for each additional child (upon application)
- Monthly research grant of 800.00 euros to the host university in Germany
- Subsidy for travel expenses (flat-rate travel allowance) and accommodation costs (EUR 60.00 per day) for carrying out a one-time research visit to a university or non-university research institution in Germany, which serves reintegration in Germany, provided that cost coverage by the host institution is not possible.
- A grant is available to cover the costs of conference and lecture trips that are thematically related to the research project of the grantee. Reimbursement of these costs should primarily be arranged with the partner institution; as a secondary measure, a one-time application may be submitted to the DAAD during the return grant period.
Requirements for IFI Research Fellowship Postgraduate Scholarship Qualification
- Highly qualified candidates in the relevant fields who have completed their doctorate with excellent results (at least magna cum laude or very good) before the start of the scholarship are eligible to apply.
- Only candidates with above-average scientific qualifications can be considered.
- The doctoral thesis must be completed with a very good result (at least magna cum laude/very good for doctoral studies in Germany) before the scholarship is awarded.
- The doctorate should not have been awarded more than four years prior to the application date.
- Applications from abroad are generally only considered for a stay in another country.
In the following exceptional cases, further funding in the host country is possible.
- They had not stayed in the host country for more than one year at the application deadline.
- You have completed your doctorate in the host country and there are compelling reasons for funding a further project in the host country. Condition: The project will not be carried out at the institution in the host country where you completed your doctorate.
Interview date, Process and Venue for IFI Research Fellowship Postgraduate Scholarship
- Funding decisions are made by an independent selection committee comprised of leading computer scientists from both university and non-university research institutions.
- Committee members are appointed in consultation with the program's Scientific Advisory Board.
- Selection is made without personal interviews, based solely on the submitted documents.
Important criteria include:
- Professional qualifications, which you document through the presentation of your course of study, academic achievements, expert opinions and publications.
- Quality and scientific rigor of the research project
- Concept of implementation
- Expertise of the host institute in the field of work
In evaluating the application, decisive emphasis is placed on a clear and detailed justification of the research project. The justification should address the applicant's own preliminary work and the significance of the project for German research. Furthermore, the added value of conducting the research project at the proposed institute should be explained.
From the reviewers' perspective, the following are also of central importance:
- Documentation of previous research achievements in publications. Besides the number of publications and the author's own contribution (if multiple authors are involved), the quality of the journal or publisher is also an important criterion. The duration of previous research activity and the specific publication culture of the respective field are taken into account.
- The scientific independence of the applicants. This should be demonstrated by the selection of a new research focus and a new research environment following the doctorate or with the planned project. If these conditions are not met, we recommend explaining the reasons in the supplementary information.
Check also:
Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027
Global Korea Scholarship 2027
Application Deadline
Not SpecifiedHow to Apply
Interested and qualified? Go to
DAAD on www2.daad.de to apply
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