ZUKOnnect 2026 Fellowship (Germany): Fully Funded Short Research Stipends for Early-Career Scholars from Africa, Asia & Latin America 

ZUKOnnect 2026 Fellowship (Germany): Overview

The ZUKOnnect Fellowship Programme 2026 at the Zukunftskolleg, University of Konstanz (Germany) invites applications from early-career researchers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The fellowship provides up to 8 short-term on-campus research stays (3 months, extendable to 4 months) combined with a 12-month digital affiliation beginning 1 August 2026.

The fellowship offers an excellent gateway into the German and European academic landscape, including opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, career development, and access to world-class research environments. Doctoral students in their final year and researchers who completed their PhD after 15 February 2024 are encouraged to apply.

Application Deadline: 1 February 2026 (12:00 CET)
Start of Digital Affiliation: 1 August 2026
Preferred On-site Start: 1 October 2026

ZUKOnnect 2026 Fellowship (Germany): Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be born in AND working in Africa, Asia, or Latin America.

• Hold a PhD completed after 15 February 2024, or be a final-year doctoral student.

• Have completed or be completing their PhD at a university in Africa, Asia, or Latin America.

• Not hold a permanent professorship, habilitation, or equivalent qualification.

• Have a research project aligned with one of the 13 departments at the University of Konstanz.

• Apply through:

  • Track A: Free application (up to 4 scholarships) – must name a Konstanz researcher to collaborate with.
    (No need to contact the researcher in advance.)

  • Track N: Nomination by a Konstanz (Junior) Professor (up to 4 scholarships).

Preference given to:

• Applicants collaborating with current Zukunftskolleg Fellows, or researchers within the Politics of Inequality or Collective Behaviour Clusters.

• Applicants from countries not yet represented in the fellowship community.

ZUKOnnect 2026 Fellowship (Germany): Benefits

Financial Support

• €1,300/month (doctoral students)

• €2,000/month (postdocs)

• Economy-class round-trip travel reimbursement

• Up to €750 research allowance

• Up to €900 lump sum for digital affiliation

• Family support available (budget permitting)

Additional Benefits

• Access to:

  • Library and IT services

  • Research support services

  • Zukunftskolleg events and interdisciplinary forums

• German language course

• Weekly Career Kit Plus workshops

• “Fellows Go Local” integration programme

• Eligibility for a Research Return Visit by a Konstanz scholar to the fellow’s home institution.

Fellowship / Program Components

A. On-Site Fellowship (3–4 months)

• Live in Konstanz or the surrounding areas

• Conduct research within the selected department

• Participate in weekly Jour Fixe meetings

• Present your research publicly

B. Digital Affiliation (12 months total)

• Extended mentorship and collaboration

• Online events, training, and networking

• Continued inclusion in the Zukunftskolleg community

Application Requirements

All documents must be submitted in English and uploaded as separate PDFs:

• Letter of Motivation (max 2 pages)

• Summary of Research Project (max 3 pages incl. references)

• Work & Time Plan for on-site stay (max 2 pages)

• Curriculum Vitae

• Certificates:

  • PhD certificate OR supervisor’s letter confirming PhD status

• Track A: One academic reference letter

• Track N: Nomination letter (sent directly by nominating professor)

🔹 Extra documents not listed will be removed and not considered.

Selection Criteria

Candidates will be evaluated on:

• Academic quality and originality of the research project

• Relevance to the University of Konstanz’s research fields

• Potential for long-term collaboration

• Contribution to international diversity within the fellowship

• Career stage and alignment with programme goals

Application Process

Step 1

Confirm eligibility and identify the appropriate track (A or N).

Step 2

Prepare all required documents in PDF (English only).

Step 3

Submit via the official online application portal using reference number 2025/251.

Step 4

Await communication from Zukunftskolleg on selection results.

Important Dates