DAAD PRIME – Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience
DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)
Application deadline
Check the official page
Overview
PRIME is a fellowship from DAAD (the German Academic Exchange Service) for postdoctoral researchers who want to build a long-term research career in Germany. It is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).
What makes PRIME different is that you are not given a scholarship. You get a real job. A German university employs you on a fixed-term contract for 18 months: 12 months of research at a host institution abroad, followed by a 6-month integration phase back at the German university. Both phases are compulsory and cannot be swapped.
Anyone with above-average qualifications from any subject area may apply, and there is no restriction on nationality or current residence. However, you must have studied or worked in the German higher education or research system for at least three of the past five years, and you must have finished your doctorate with excellent results before funding starts. You may apply up to six years after your first PhD. There is no age limit.
Pay is on the German TV-L E13 scale, about EUR 5,000 to EUR 6,400 per month before tax, plus an expatriate allowance of roughly EUR 1,500 to EUR 2,800 per month while you are abroad, plus a lump-sum travel allowance.
You apply online through the DAAD application portal. You must arrange your own German host university and your own host abroad before applying. The next call is expected in Autumn 2026, with the portal opening in January 2027.
At a glance
| Who can apply | PhD |
|---|---|
| Streams | Any |
| Category | All |
| Age | — |
| Income limit | — |
| Gender | — |
| States | All India |
| Benefit / amount | Salary on the German pay scale TV-L E13, roughly EUR 5,000–6,400 per month before tax, plus an expatriate allowance of about EUR 1,500–2,800 per month during the 12 months abroad, plus a lump-sum travel allowance. Exact amounts depend on experience and place, and rates are subject to change. |
| Duration | 18 months in total – a 12-month research stay abroad plus a 6-month (re)integration phase at a German university. Both phases are compulsory. |
| Renewable | No |
| Last date | See official page |
| Opened | — |
Documents you'll need
- Curriculum vitae in tabular form following EU standards (europass template recommended), with no gaps
- Research project proposal and time schedule
- Letter of recommendation (or a separate statement from your doctoral supervisor if the PhD is not yet finished)
- Letter of invitation from the foreign host institution
- Binding declaration from the German host university (Form 1), signed by an authorised university official
- Invitation from the German host (Form 2)
- Ethics Issues Checklist (Form 3)
- Checklist of Application Documents (Form 4)
- Language certificate, only if the language needed for your project is not your mother tongue or English
How you're selected
Every application first goes through a formal check (eligibility, completeness, deadline). DAAD tells all applicants within 8 weeks whether their proposal has moved to review. Applications that pass are reviewed independently by external experts from around the world. An interdisciplinary selection committee then decides the final rating and makes a ranking list; available funds decide how many candidates are selected. Evaluation criteria are (1) academic performance, (2) quality of the proposed project and (3) long-term career perspectives. Committee meetings are held in late September and results are usually announced in October. DAAD states the success rate has been about 12 per cent lately.
FAQs
Who can apply? Postdoctoral researchers from any subject area with above-average qualifications. DAAD says there are no restrictions on nationality or current residence, but you must have been studying or working in the German higher education or research system for at least three of the past five years. You must finish your doctorate before funding begins, and you may apply up to six years after your first PhD.
Is there an age limit? No. DAAD states clearly that PRIME does not have an age limit, although reviewers may look at your "scientific age". Career breaks and time spent outside research are not counted in the six-year window, and parents get extra time (2 years per child for mothers, 1 year per child for the second parent).
How much do I get? You are employed by a German university and paid on the German TV-L E13 pay scale. DAAD says to expect roughly EUR 5,000 to EUR 6,400 per month before tax, plus an expatriate allowance of about EUR 1,500 to EUR 2,800 per month during the 12 months abroad, plus a lump-sum travel allowance. Exact amounts depend on your experience and destination, and DAAD notes the rates can change.
How long is the funding? 18 months in total: 12 months of research abroad and a 6-month integration phase at the German host university. You cannot spend all 18 months in one place.
What is the last date to apply? DAAD has not published an exact date for the next round. Its timetable says the call will be published in Autumn 2026, the portal opens in January 2027, and the application deadline is "Mid-April 2027", with funding starting between 1 April and 1 September 2028. The portal closes at 11:59 pm CET on deadline day and is never reopened. Please check the official DAAD PRIME page for the confirmed date.
How do I apply? First find a German host university and a host institution abroad yourself. DAAD does not do this for you, but it lists universities with PRIME contacts. Then apply online through the DAAD application portal (the only accepted route), register, choose English, and open the "personal funding" tab. Your German host must complete Form 1 and Form 2, so contact them early.
Can I renew or reapply? The 18-month fellowship is not renewable. If you are unsuccessful you must speak to DAAD first; reapplications are rarely successful, and you may reapply only once with an improved project.