The Walter Benjamin Programme enables researchers in the post-doctoral phase of their academic careers to carry out their own research projects independently at a location of their choice. Securing funding for an independent research project lays the foundation for a future, increasingly independent academic career and reinforces the desired sense of personal responsibility amongst particularly qualified postdoctoral researchers.
Only researchers at an early stage of their academic careers are eligible to apply. Funding is conditional upon having completed academic training (including a PhD). The aim of the programme is to support the mobility and further development of research topics that are relevant at this stage of a researcher’s career. Consequently, the programme typically involves a change of institution. The research project may be carried out at a research institution in Germany or abroad, with the host institution providing support for the project.
