Argelander Scholarships for doctoral candidates from universities in Africa, Latin America and South/ East Asia

The aim is to provide funding for doctoral candidates from countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia in order to promote scientific exchange with partners, particularly in regions that have been relatively marginalized in terms of scientific production and to promote international cooperation in the priority regions indicated in the partnership strategy. The funding is for a period of at least 3 and not more than 12 months.

This funding line is intended to intensify collaborations between scientists in Bonn and their partners in the above- mentioned regions, and expand such collaborations with respect to the promotion of early-career researchers.

When the application is submitted, a formal or informal cooperation agreement should already exist between the home institute of the doctoral candidate and the host institute in Bonn. The host researchers in Bonn act as applicants.

Preference is given to international doctoral candidates pursuing a doctoral degree at a university or a research institute in Africa, Latin America or Asia. Doctoral candidates who are already pursuing their Ph.D. at the University of Bonn are not eligible for funding. Recipients of funding should finish their doctorates at their home university (to avoid brain drain).

Persons already funded

The funding can cover the following:

• A travel allowance (depending on country of origin/Osingle payment at the start of the subsidy)
• A scholarship of €1,500 per month (additional funds for accompanying family members: up to €300 for a spouse and €250 per child)
• A research expense allowance of up to €300 per month 

The funding is for a period of at least 3 and not more than 12 months. When calculating costs, please note the instructions in the financing plan (and use the following Excel table, download here¹).

Project proposals are evaluated in two categories:

1. Academic Quality and Mutual Benefit: quality of the research project to be worked on during the stay in Bonn;  relevance of the research topic to developments in the region of origin; scholars’s contribution to academic life in Bonn (e.g. via public lectures, seminars or colloquiums); scholars’s integration into the host institute (place of work, integration into existing teaching and research activities) and into an effective supervision concept 
2. Strategic Relevance and Potential for Future Cooperation: Intensity of the existing cooperation; plans for long-term research relationships between the scholar and the host institute in Bonn; connection to Bonn’s research profile ; how the research will be shared with broader academic communities 

In the case of a tie between two proposals, preference will be given to the project with a higher score in the category ‘academic quality and mutual benefit’.

Selection Process

• Pre-assessment: anonymous by independent experts from the University of Bonn
• Final decision: a committee made up of representatives from all of University of Bonn’s faculties will discuss the shortlist and select the fellowships.
• Depending on the requested amounts, up to five projects can be funded
• Approval rate 2022: 8 proposals, 5 grants

• Online form
• Project description (PDF of max. 8 pages), consisting of:

1. An outline of the research project to be worked on during the person’s stay in Bonn;
   please write your proposal for a multidisciplinary audience
2. Reasons for the host to invite the doctoral candidate
3. An outline of how the doctoral candidate will be integrated at the host institute (place of work, participation in the institute’s teaching and research activities), and an outline of how the project will be supervised in Bonn
4. Justification by the home university regarding the academic goal of the research stay in Bonn
5. Information on the current status of the doctorate and the planned completion of the doctorate in the home country 

• CV and motivational letter of the doctoral candidate (PDF)
• A financing plan (please use the following Excel table, download here¹)