PhD-Funding Guidance of the GGG

Information on funding measures

Information at this pages were updated in September 2021. We apologize that GGG cannot present more up to date information because of staff shortages.

At certain points during your PhD process you might need additional finances to cover extraordinary costs. For example:


  • if you have to conduct field research
  • if you need to spend some time abroad
  • if you plan to present your research findings at a conference
  • if you intend to network with other researchers of the same field
  • if you you need money to cover the living costs of the remaining months you need to complete your PhD thesis
  • if you plan to publish your dissertation


As many of your fellow PhD students are also confronted with these questions, GGG has collected in this file funding measures for PhD students at GGG. They are structured according to the situations or phases during your doctoral degree you might need funding for. The guideline is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather focusses on grants provided by institutions from Göttingen University and in particular by GGG's member faculties.

In addition, you will find several external funding options for different purposes in the section on the right hand side.

Information at this pages were updated in September 2021. We apologize that GGG cannot present more up to date information because of staff shortages.




1. Exposégrant/GranttoprepareanapplicationforaPhDgrant


Female PhD students at the Department for Political Science can apply for a three-month stipend for the completion of their PhD proposal if they plan to apply for a PhD grant. This three-month stipend is part of the department’s equal opportunities policy and aims at supporting women in the phase between the completion of their undergraduate studies and the start of their PhD program. Applicants have to be accepted as PhD candidates at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Amount of the stipend: €700/month

Length of the stipend: 3 months

Selection and approval: every 2 months

Further details: Stipend for the completion of PhD proposal










1. Conference travel grants for junior scientists by Unibund Göttingen

Junior scientists who want to attend conferences, other scientific events or visit other research institutions (except summer schools) can apply for a grant of Unibund Göttingen. As applicants have to participate actively and present research results this grant is not suitable for students at the beginning of their PhD. The Unibund conference grant only covers part of the costs, therefore both the applicant and their supervisor have to confirm they will share in the costs. For doctoral students, it is important that their supervisor confirms the academic quality of the research.

Deadline: at least 4 weeks prior to the travel

Amount of the grant: part of travel and conference costs

Further details: Conference grants Unibund (in German)




2. Conference grant for researchers of the Faculty of Economic Sciences

Young researchers employed at the Faculty of Economic Sciences can receive a grant of €400 per year to cover conference costs. Applicants have to participate actively in the conference and confirm that they exhausted other potential sources of funding. A conference grant can only be disbursed to the cost center of a chair.

Amount of the grant: up to €400

Deadline: after the conference, an expense report is submitted via the chair and the chair’s cost center is reimbursed

Further details: Conference grant Economic Sciences




3. Grant to cover travel expenses of accompanying children during a research stay or a conference provided by the Faculty of Economic Sciences
Researchers who are accompanied by their children during a research stay or conference can apply for funding from equal opportunities measures of the Faculty of Economic Sciences. The funding will come up for the travel expenses of the children. If one decides to take a caregiver to look after the children, the money can alternatively be used to cover this person’s travel costs.

Amount of the grant: €500/child (up to €1000 per person and year)

Further details: Equal opportunities policy Economics (in German)




4. Grant for active participation in training courses, (inter-)national conferences, summer schools, (methodological) workshops of the Faculty of Social Sciences
In the framework of its measures for funding doctoral studies, the Faculty of Social Sciences provides funds for PhD students who want to participate in a training course, an (inter)national conference, a summer school or a (methodological) workshop. If doctoral students are affiliated with a chair, it is expected that the professorship shares in the costs. If the application exceeds €200 a proof of a parallel application to an external funding party should be provided.

Deadlines: April 1st / June 1st / October 1st / December 1st

Further details: Measures for promoting doctoral studies (unfortunately the documents are in German)




5. Travel grants for students and PhD students of the Faculty of Social Sciences rearing small children
PhD students at the Faculty of Social Sciences who are planning to attend e.g. a conference can apply for a grant to cover their accompanying children’s travel expenses. This grant will come up for travel, care-taking and accommodation costs of the children.

Amount of the grant: contribution to travel, care-taking and accommodation costs of accompanying children

Further details: Equal opportunities policy Social Sciences (in German)




6. DAAD travel grant for attending a congress or giving a lecture
PhD students participating in an international scientific event in a foreign country can apply for a grant of DAAD in the framework of the exchange service’s travel grants for congresses and lectures. Active participation in the conference is required.

Amount of the grant: travel allowance and in the case of conferences additionally an allowance to conference and accommodation costs

Deadline: 4 months prior to the first day of the conference respectively 1 month before departing for the lecture

Further details: DAAD – Kongress- und Vortragsreisenprogramm (in German)




7. FAZIT-Foundation
The FAZIT-Foundation offers travel grants for PhD students of all subjects. But to be eligible for a grant proof of financial need is required. That means funding from other potential sources (own savings, parents, partner or institute) is not possible and the travel could not take place without the FAZIT-Foundation’s support. Applicants must not be older than 28 years at the beginning of their PhD studies (not the date of application).

Amount of the grant: up to €3.000 (for conference, travel and accommodation costs)

Deadline: 6 weeks prior to the departure

Further details: FAZIT-Foundation (in German)












1. Promotion of the internationalization by the Faculty of Social Sciences

In the framework of its measures for funding doctoral studies, the Faculty of Social Sciences provides funds for measures of internationalization (e.g. initiation of incoming and outgoing international liaisons). If doctoral students are affiliated with a chair, it is expected that the professorship shares in the costs. If the application exceeds €200 a proof of a parallel application to an external funding party should be provided.

Deadlines: April 1st / June 1st / October 1st / December 1st

Further details: Measures for promoting doctoral studies (in German)




2. Allowances for business and research trips of young female researchers of the Faculty of Economic Sciences (especially for travels abroad)

Female PhD students at the Faculty of Economic Sciences can apply for subsidiary funding for business and research trips (especially for travels abroad). These grants are part of the Faculty’s equal opportunities policy.

Further details: Equal opportunities policy Economics (in German)




3. One-year scholarship of DAAD for doctoral candidates

German doctoral candidates (under certain circumstances this also applies for international PhD students) who plan to undertake a research stay abroad or want to upgrade their academic qualifications can apply for a one-year scholarship of DAAD. Applicants should not have started their doctorate more than three years prior to their application.

Duration of the grant: 7 up to 12 months (funding for a longer period of time is possible if stated reasonably in the application)

Amount of the grant: monthly rate and allowance to travel costs (amount depending on the host country), insurance, monthly allowance for research and conference costs, allowances for children and partners possible

Further details: DAAD – one-year scholarship




4. Short-term scholarships of DAAD for doctoral candidates

German doctoral candidates (under certain circumstances this also applies for international PhD students) who plan to undertake a research stay abroad or want to upgrade their academic qualifications can apply for a short-term scholarship of DAAD. The research can be undertaken in cooperation with a university, at a non-university scientific institute or in an industrial laboratory. In particular, DAAD supports research stays at libraries and archives, test series as well as field research.

Duration of the grant: 1 up to 6 months

Amount of the grant: monthly rate and allowance to travel costs (amount depending on the host country), insurance, monthly allowance for research and conference costs, allowances for children and partners possible

Further details: DAAD – short-term scholarships




6. Funds for PhD students taking part in language courses provided by DAAD’s Program for the enhancement of the Mobility of German Students (PROMOS)

PhD students who want to attend a language course abroad can apply for funding by PROMOS. Funding can only be provided for language courses at public or private universities abroad and the minimum amount of lessons has to be 25 hours/week.

Deadlines: March 31 (for project start from July 1 of the same year), September 30 (for project start from January 1 of the following year)

Duration of the grant: 6 weeks up to 6 months

Amount of the grant: monthly rate and/or an allowance to travel costs and/or a contribution to the costs of the language course of €500

Further details: PROMOS respectively PROMOS regulations




7. Funds for PhD students for specialist seminars and training courses provided by DAAD’s Program for the enhancement of the Mobility of German Students (PROMOS)

PhD students who want to attend a special seminar or a training course can apply for funding by PROMOS. Eligible for funding are e.g. summer schools at universities abroad.

Deadlines: March 31 (for project start from July 1 of the same year), September 30 (for project start from January 1 of the following year)

Duration of the grant: 5 days up to 6 weeks

Amount of the grant: monthly rate and/or an allowance to travel costs and/or a contribution to the costs of the language course of €500

Further details: PROMOS and PROMOS regulations




8. Funds for study trips for groups of at least five doctoral candidates provided by DAAD’s Program for the enhancement of the Mobility of German Students (PROMOS)

Study trips for groups of at least five doctoral candidates which are accompanied by at least one professor or faculty member can be financially supported by PROMOS.

Deadlines: March 31 (for project start from July 1 of the same year), September 30 (for project start from January 1 of the following year)

Duration of the grant: up to 12 days

Amount of the grant: a daily rate of €30 for countries of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey
a daily rate of €45 for all other countries

Further details: PROMOS and PROMOS regulations




9. Funds for groups of doctoral candidates who want to attend an international scientific contest provided by DAAD’s Program for the enhancement of the Mobility of German Students (PROMOS)

Groups of at least five doctoral candidates who want to attend an international scientific contest can apply for funding by DAAD’s Program for the enhancement of the Mobility of German Students (PROMOS) if they are accompanied by at least one professor or faculty member

Deadlines: March 31 (for project start from July 1 of the same year), September 30 (for project start from January 1 of the following year)

Duration of the grant: up to 12 days

Amount of the grant: a daily rate of €30 for countries of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey a daily rate of €45 for all other countries

Further details: PROMOS and PROMOS regulations

10. ENLIGHT Mobility

To support joint activities between the nine ENLIGHT universities in the area of teaching and learning, research and administration the University of Göttingen will fund, with support of the DAAD and BMBF, different projects for affiliates of the University of Göttingen and its ENLIGHT partners. Besides mobility schemes and windows, resources for the organisation and implementation of various learning formats and other events that are part of the ENLIGHT portfolio are eligible measures for funding.
Both, new and established collaborations or projects are welcome for application. In any case, but especially when developing teaching and learning offers or exchange opportunities, it will be helpful to consult your International Office in order to make use of existing agreements or to identify potential synergies with departments at ENLIGHT partner institutions.

Deadline: 18.07.2021 (for further deadlines see the ENLIGHT website)

Duration of the grant: Short-term stay (3 - 5 days), Long-term stay (14 days - 3 months)

Amaount of the grant: max. 300 Euro per mobilty (3 days - 3 months), max. 100 Euro (3 - 5 nights), max. 900 Euro (14 days - 3 months)

Further details: ENLIGHT












1. Completion grants for international PhD students at GGG

International PhD students who came from abroad to Göttingen for their PhD thesis can apply for a completion grant of GGG. To be eligible for the grant the PhD thesis has to be close to finalization. It has to be realistic to complete the thesis within the period of the grant.

Duration of the grant: 3 to 6 months

Amount of the grant: €1.200

Deadline: Mid of January and end of April (for accurate deadlines please see our website)

Further details: Completion grant











1. FAZIT-Foundation

The FAZIT-Foundation offers travel grants for PhD students from all disciplines. But to be eligible for a grant proof of financial need is required. That means funding from other potential sources (own savings, parents, partner or institute) is not possible and the research could not be conducted without the FAZIT-Foundation’s support.

Amount of the grant: up to €3.000 (for conference, travel and accommodation costs)

Deadline: 6 weeks prior to the departure

Further details: FAZIT-Foundation (unfortunately, the information is not available in English)




2. Support of research trips to prepare a dissertation at the Faculty of Social Sciences

In the framework of its measures for funding doctoral studies, the Faculty of Social Sciences provides funds for research trips that PhD students can apply for. If doctoral students are affiliated with a chair, it is expected that the professorship shares in the costs. If the application exceeds €200 a proof of a parallel application to an external funding party should be provided.

Deadlines: April 1st / June 1st / October 1st / December 1st

Further details: Measures for promoting doctoral studies (in German)




3. Allowances for business and research trips of young female researchers of the Economics (especially when traveling abroad)

Young female PhD students at the Faculty of Economic Sciences can apply for subsidiary funding for business and research trips (especially when traveling abroad). These grants are part of the Faculty’s equal opportunities policy.

Further details: Equal opportunities policy Economics (in German)




4. Grant to cover travel expenses of accompanying children during a research stay or a conference provided by the Faculty of Economic Sciences

Researchers who are accompanied by their children during a research stay or a conference can apply for funding from equal opportunities measures of the Faculty of Economic Sciences. This funding will come up for the travel expenses of the children. If one decides to take a caregiver to look after the children, the fund can be used to cover this person’s travel costs.

Amount of the grant: €500/child (up to €1000 per person and year)

Further details: Equal opportunities policy Economics (available in German)















1. One-year scholarship of DAAD for doctoral candidates

German doctoral candidates (under certain circumstances this also applies for international PhD students) who plan to undertake a research stay abroad or want to upgrade their academic qualifications can apply for a one-year scholarship of DAAD. Applicants should not have started their doctorate more than three years prior to their application.

Duration of the grant: 7 up to 12 months (funding for a longer period of time is possible if stated reasonably in the application)

Amount of the grant: monthly rate and allowance to travel costs (amount depending on the host country), insurance, monthly allowance for research and conference costs, allowances for children and partners possible

Further details: DAAD – one-year scholarship




2. Short-term scholarships of DAAD for doctoral candidates

German doctoral candidates (under certain circumstances this also applies for international PhD students) who plan to undertake a shorter research stay abroad or want to upgrade their academic qualifications can apply for a short-term scholarship of DAAD. The research can be undertaken in cooperation with a university, at a non-university scientific institute or in an industrial laboratory. In particular, DAAD supports research stays at libraries and archives, test series as well as field research.

Duration of the grant: 1 up to 6 months

Amount of the grant: monthly rate and allowance to travel costs (amount depending on the host country), insurance, monthly allowance for research and conference costs, allowances for children and partners possible

Further details: DAAD – short-term scholarships




3. Support of research trips to prepare a dissertation at the Faculty of Social Sciences

In the framework of its measures for funding doctoral studies, the Faculty of Social Sciences provides funds for research trips that PhD students can apply for. If doctoral students are affiliated with a chair, it is expected that the professorship share in the costs. If the application exceeds €200 a proof of a parallel application to an external funding party should be provided.

Deadlines: April 1st / June 1st / October 1st / December 1st

Further details: Measures for promoting doctoral studies (in German)




4. Allowances for business and research trips of young female researchers of the Economics (especially when traveling abroad)

Female PhD students at the Faculty of Economic Sciences can apply for subsidiary funding for business and research trips (especially when traveling abroad). These grants are part of the Faculty’s equal opportunities policy.

Further details: Equal opportunities policy Economics (in German)



5. Grant to cover travel expenses of accompanying children during a research stay or a conference provided by the Faculty of Economic Sciences

Researchers who are accompanied by their children during a research stay or a conference can apply for money from equal opportunities measures of the Faculty of Economic Sciences. The funding will come up for the travel expenses of the children. If one decides to take a caregiver to look after the children, the fund can be used to cover this person’s travel costs.

Amount of the grant: €500/child (up to €1000 per person and year)

Further details: Equal opportunities policy Economics (in German)













1. Stipend for the completion of a PhD proposal for female PhD students at the Institute for Political science

Female PhD students at the Institute for Political sciences can apply for a three-month stipend for the completion of their PhD proposal they use to apply for a PhD grant. This three-month stipend is part of the institute’s equal opportunities policy and aims at supporting women in the phase between the completion of their undergraduate studies and the start of their PhD program. Applicants have to be accepted as PhD candidates at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Amount of the stipend: €700/month

Length of the stipend: 3 months

Selection and approval: every 2 months

Further details: Stipend for the completion of PhD proposal




2. Allowances for business and research trips of young female researchers of the Economics (especially when traveling abroad)

Young female PhD students at the Faculty of Economic Sciences can apply for subsidiary funding for business and research trips (especially when traveling abroad). These grants are part of the Faculty’s equal opportunities policy.

Further details: Equal opportunities policy Economics












1. Family-oriented completion grant by GGG

PhD students who are a member of GGG and take care of their children or of other persons in the family context can apply for a family-oriented completion grant of GGG.

Amount of the grant: €1.200 plus €400 with one child under the age of 12 respectively with one person in care, plus €100 for each other child

Duration of the grant: 4 up to 6 months

Deadline: January 15 and June 15

Further details: Family-oriented completion grant




2. Parent-child-subsidiary grant of the Faculty of Law

Doctoral candidates working at the Faculty of Law can apply for a subsidiary grant if they take care of at least one child under the age of 12. The grant is part of the equal opportunities policy of the Faculty of Law and will supplement the salary from the employment at the faculty.

Duration of the grant: 12 months (extension for 6 more months possible)

Further details: Parent-child-subsidiary grant (in German)



3. Grant to cover travel expenses of accompanying children during a research stay or a conference provided by the Faculty of Economic Sciences

Researchers who are accompanied by their children during a research stay or a conference can apply for money from equal opportunities measures of the Faculty of Economic Sciences. This funding will come up for the travel expenses of the children. If one decides to take a caregiver to look after the children, the fund can be used to cover this person’s travel costs.

Amount of the grant: €500/child (up to €1000 per person and year)

Further details: Equal opportunities policy Economics (in German)






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4. Travel grants for students of the Faculty of Social Sciences with small children

PhD students at the Faculty of Social Sciences traveling e.g. to a conference can apply for a grant to cover their accompanying children’s travel expenses. This grant will come up for travel, care-taking and accommodation costs of the children.

Amount of the grant: contribution to travel, care-taking and accommodation costs of accompanying children

Further details: Equal opportunities policy Social Sciences (in German)




1. Dissertation completion stipend provided by the Faculty of Social Sciences for female doctoral candidates and PhD students responsible for small children

Female doctoral candidates and PhD students responsible for small children studying at the Faculty of Social Sciences can apply for a three-month grant for finishing the dissertation. The grant is part of the equal opportunities policy of the faculty. As the grant is intended to support the completion of the dissertation one should have finished a raw version of the dissertation when applying.

Amount of the grant: €700

Duration of the grant: 3 months

Further details: Equal opportunity plan Social Sciences




2. Completion grants for international PhD students at GGG

International PhD students who came from abroad to Göttingen for their PhD thesis can apply for a completion grant of GGG. To be eligible for the grant the PhD thesis has to be close to finalization. It has to be realistic to complete the thesis within the period of the grant. Applications can be handed in for the start of the funding in the next 9.

Duration of the grant: 3 to 6 months

Amount of the grant: €1.200

Deadline: Mid of January and end of April (for accurate dates please see our website)

Further details: Finishing grant




3. Family-oriented completion grant of GGG

PhD students who are a member of GGG and take care of their children or of other persons in the family context can apply for a family-oriented completion grant of GGG.

Amount of the grant: €1.200 plus €400 with one child under the age of 12 respectively with one person in care, plus €100 for each other child

Duration of the grant: 4 up to 6 months

Deadline: January 15 and June 15

Further details: Family-oriented completion grant












1. Grants for proofreading/editing of papers written by non-native speakers at the Faculty of Social Sciences

In the framework of its measures for funding doctoral studies, the Faculty of Social Sciences provides funds for proofreading/editing of papers written by non-native speakers. If doctoral candidates are affiliated with a chair, it is expected that the professorship shares the costs. If the application exceeds €200 a proof of a parallel application to an external funding party should be provided.

Deadlines: April 1 / June 1 / October 1 / December 1

Further details: Measures for promoting doctoral studies (in German)




2. Grants for the submission of articles in peer-reviewed journals at the Faculty of Social Sciences

In the framework of its measures for funding doctoral studies, the Faculty of Social Sciences provides funds to submit publications to peer-reviewed journals (e.g. allowances for proofreading/correcting English-speaking papers, particularly for doctoral candidates not employed by the Faculty). If doctoral students are affiliated with a chair, it is expected that the professorship shares the costs. If the application exceeds €200 a proof of a parallel application to an external funding party should be provided.

Deadlines: April 1 / June 1 / October 1 / December 1

Further details: Measures for promoting doctoral studies (in German) br/>




3. Grants for writing advisory or language revision

GGG offers a grant for assistance with the linguistic revision of the completed dissertation or for writing advisory sessions for international PhD students.

Deadlines: January 15th and June 15th

Further details: Writing advisory/language revision