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Philipp Schwartz Initiative

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

Due to his Jewish faith, the Austrian pathologist Philipp Schwartz lost his professorship in Frankfurt in 1933. He emigrated to Switzerland and founded the “Notgemeinschaft deutscher Wissenschaftler im Ausland” – Emergency Society of German Scholars Abroad. In 2015, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Federal Foreign Office chose to name the programme they launched after him: the Philipp Schwartz Initiative. The programme allows researchers who are subject to significant and continuous personal threat in their country of origin to continue their work at German universities and research institutions.

In the context of the Initiative, the Humboldt Foundation cooperates closely with international partner organisations such as the Scholars at Risk Network, the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund and the Council for At-Risk Academics. The Initiative is financed by the Federal Foreign Office, the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, the Gerda Henkel Foundation, the Klaus Tschira Foundation, the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the Stifterverband and the Stiftung Mercator.

Our sponsorship

The Philipp Schwartz Initiative enables universities and research institutions in Germany to host researchers at risk on the basis of a full fellowship. Accordingly, host institutions receive funding which is composed of two components:

Fellowship amount: Sponsorship covers a fixed-amount fellowship. It is earmarked for a period of up to 24 months; application may be made during the initial fellowship period for an extension of up to 12 months in the framework of a co-financing model.

Allowance for host institution: The host institution receives a lump sum allowance of € 20,000 for each individual sponsored.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. 🏅 Outstanding Academic Track Record

Approval rates vary by programme: ~35% for the Humboldt Research Award, 20–25% for Research Fellowships, and 20–25% for Georg Forster Fellowships .

Reviewers expect evidence of high-impact publications, groundbreaking discoveries, and a strong international reputation .

2. 📡 Original, Career-Advancing Research Proposals

Applications must clearly describe innovative, independent research that goes beyond previous doctoral work, offering new direction and demonstrating originality .

Host alignment in Germany should be strategic and complementary to the applicant’s profile

3. 🕒 Timing & Appointments Matter

For postdoc fellowships: PhD awarded within the last 4 years; for experienced candidates: within 12 years .

Allow at least 2 years between applications for major resubmissions after rejection .

4. 🗂 Complete & Polished Submissions

Every document is essential. Incomplete applications are rejected without review .

Required components: PhD certificate, CV + publication list, host statement, two expert reviews, and language proof where necessary .

5. 🌍 Strong Host Institution Commitment

German hosts must provide detailed mentorship plans and confirm resource availability, workspace, and project feasibility .

Pooling host support early ensures a strong, structured application.

6. 🤝 Independent Development & International Mobility

Avoid proposals that continue the same PhD research or same academic setting—AvH seeks genuine independence and international progression .

Inclusion of these elements demonstrates growth and readiness for independent research.

7. 🔍 Peer-Led Assessment & Feedback Opportunity

Fellowships are evaluated via external peer review and a selection committee.

Unsuccessful candidates can request feedback ~4–6 weeks post-selection, and they may reapply after significant progress .

🎯 To Maximize Your Chances:

Build a strong publication record in internationally recognized forums.

Craft a novel, well-choreographed research proposal separate from your PhD work.

Engage a well-matched German host early and include an explicit mentoring agreement.

Follow all instructions precisely, ensuring every required file is present.

Time your application correctly—PhD timing, mobility, and reapplication windows matter.

If rejected, use feedback and reapply after developing your track record.

✅ Summary Table

Success Factor	What to Demonstrate/Do
Academic excellence	Impactful publications & evidence of high-quality research
Innovative proposal	Original ideas, clear independence, host alignment
Career eligibility	PhD timing & mobility per scheme
Complete application	All documents submitted correctly and on time
Host support	Structured mentorship & workspace commitment
International trajectory	New institutions, avoid continuity with PhD host
Strategic resubmission	Use feedback and wait before reapplying

Specialties

Pathology

Eligibility Requirements

Applications may be submitted by the following categories of academic institutions in Germany only:

public and state-recognised universities
Max Planck Institutes, Helmholtz Institutes, Leibniz Institutes, Fraunhofer Institutes
federal and federal state research institutions
other research institutions that can convincingly demonstrate their research portfolio and structures

Institutions that would be interested in hosting researchers at risk but do not have anyone specific in mind can approach the Scholars at Risk Network and Council for At-Risk Academics, which may be able to help find suitable candidates.To this end, Scholars at Risk has published a list of researchers with confirmed risk who are currently seeking placement in Germany: https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/scholars-seeking-germany/

Please note that researchers cannot apply for this programme directly. Interested researchers should contact potential host institutions in Germany that can then make an application.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Jean-Paul-Strasse 12 53173 Bonn GERMANY

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