The "Bridge Scholarships Iran" offer Iranians, who have left their home country due to the current political situation and are already in Germany, an opportunity to build or continue their academic career. The aim of the programme is to support researchers from Iran with bridge scholarships to start or continue their research project as part of a doctorate or postdoctoral phase at a state or state-recognised higher education institution resp. non-university research institution in Germany.
These grants are intended to enable them to initiate and prepare their academic future prospects in a secure environment, with the support of their respective host institution. In the long term, the aim is to integrate them into the education and labour market in Germany, if a return to Iran is not possible.

Researchers from Iran from all disciplines are eligible to apply,

• who have already been accepted as doctoral candidates at a state or state-recognised higher education institution resp. non-university research institution in Germany or who have a confirmation of supervision, or
• who have received a letter of invitation from a state or state-recognised higher education institution resp. non-university research institution in Germany as a postdoctoral researcher or university lecturer,
• who can prove that they have Iranian citizenship (no dual citizenship),
• who, as a rule, are already in Germany with a valid residence permit at the time of the application deadline,
• who, as a rule, have not been staying in Germany for longer than 15 months at the time of the application deadline. However, this does not exclude applications from Iranians who have come to the Federal Republic as part of their studies, a doctorate or other academic projects and have therefore been in Germany for some time.

Research projects with the aim of obtaining a doctoral degree or implementing a research project at a state or state-recognised higher education institution resp. non-university research institution in Germany.

Doctoral students

• individual projects under the supervision of a university teacher (doctoral supervisor) in Germany or
• participation in a structured doctoral programme

Postdoctoral researchers*

• individual projects in cooperation with a university teacher in Germany

* Status as postdoctoral researcher up to four years after obtaining the doctoral degree.

University lecturer

• individual projects in cooperation with a university teacher in Germany

3 months; the length of the grant is decided by the DAAD and depends on the project in question and the applicant's work schedule. The funding must be completed by 31 January 2024 at the latest.

Scholarship benefits in accordance with the respective current version of the scholarship guidelines of the Federal Foreign Office include:

• depending on the academic level, monthly payments of
  
  • 1,200 euros for doctoral candidates
  • 2,000 euros for postdoctoral researchers
  • 2,150 euros for (assistant) professors
• payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover

Under certain circumstances, scholarship holders may receive the following additional benefits:

• monthly rent subsidy
• monthly allowance for accompanying family members
• in the case of a disability or chronic illness: subsidy for additional costs that result from the disability or chronic illness and are not covered by other funding providers: Further information

Please note that while on a DAAD scholarship you must neither accept another DAAD scholarship, an Erasmus+ scholarship or other scholarships or awards from other German institutions, nor apply for support from the German national education assistance system - BAföG.
Additionally, it is important to note that while in receipt of the DAAD scholarship, full-time employment is not permitted. However, part-time employment will be considered, but any amount above 520 EUR (gross) per month will be deducted from the DAAD scholarship.

The selection of candidates will be carried out by a selection committees appointed by the section ST33 – Middle East, North Africa of the DAAD.

1) Academic qualification
Documented by the higher education certificate regarding the last qualifying degree for doctoral and postdoctoral candidates resp. academic achievements and recent publications which must be documented in the curriculum vitae and a list of publications for university lecturers)

2) Quality of the research project
Documented by an acceptance as a doctoral candidate (if applicable) and letter of recommendation resp. confirmation of supervision or letter of invitation, research proposal anda time schedule

3) Personal motivation for the scholarship
Documented by a letter of motivation describing the current personal risk situation as well as outlining the future prospects in Germany made possible by a scholarship

In addition, in order to ensure equal opportunities, the selection committee may take into account special life circumstances, about which the candidate can provide information in the application form. For more information on the selection procedure, go to Important Scholarship Information / Section E.

You can find a PDF of the Call for Scholarship Applications here.