Funding Hardship grants for international doctoral researchers

International doctoral researchers who are experiencing critical situations during their research project, preferably at the completion stage, may apply for a hardship grant to help with financial difficulties.

• Hardship grant as interim financing provides temporary financial support for a period of up to 6 months during the advanced stages of an ongoing doctoral project. It is not intended for the beginning phase of the research. Applicants must provide a clear and compelling plan demonstrating how they intend to continue their studies beyond the interim funding period.
• Hardship grant as completion financing provides financial support for up to 6 months to facilitate the completion of a doctoral project. Funding is available until the end of the month when the dissertation is submitted for evaluation. Applicants must submit a concrete plan for completing their doctoral training by the end of the funding period.

ou are eligible to apply for a hardship grant if you meet the following criteria:

• You are a doctoral researcher from abroad (i.e., you are not a German citizen).
• You are residing in Germany during the requested funding period.
• You have completed a university degree that qualifies you to pursue a doctoral degree (in Germany, this is usually a Diplom, Magister, or master's degree).
• You have been officially admitted to one of the 13 Faculties at Heidelberg University.*
• You do not have adequate means to finance your ongoing doctoral training. This includes not receiving or planning to receive equivalent funding (e.g., a full or part-time scholarship from a German or international institution or funding organization) or any form of employment. Exceptions are only made in special cases.
  *Note: Medical students who are writing their doctoral thesis during their medical studies, before completing their degree (studienbegleitende Promotion), are not eligible to apply.

For more details, see "FAQs / Guidelines".

Important:

• The hardship grant is only available to doctoral researchers whose training is at an advanced or final stage. It cannot be awarded for the initial stages of the project. Its primary purpose is to provide financial support when the successful completion of the dissertation is at risk.
• If you are applying for support, you must demonstrate that your doctoral training is already well advanced and present a clear plan to submit your dissertation by the end of the funding period. Alternatively, you may provide a convincing plan outlining how you intend to stabilize your situation during the funding period and secure financing for the remainder of your project.
• Eligibility for funding ends at the end of the month in which you submit your dissertation for evaluation, or when your doctoral research at Heidelberg University ends (e.g. termination of your doctoral research or transfer to another university to pursue doctoral research). Eligibility for funding ends at the beginning of the month in which you take up employment or in which you start receiving an equivalent grant or funding for your doctoral research from private or public sources.
• Please note this grant will be awarded only in cases of exceptionally difficult situations and should not be considered as a substitute for the heiDOCS 2.0 bridging grant available within the heiDOCS 2.0 program. Each application will be considered on its merits and funding will not be awarded if the financial need is due to inadequate planning or failure to meet the heiDOCS 2.0 bridging grant deadlines.

Applications can be submitted to the Graduate Academy at any time. Funding decisions will be announced approximately 2 weeks after the receipt of the complete application. Please note that an additional 2-4 weeks are required before the payment is received. 

Funding can only start on the first day of the month and finish on the last day of the month.

The hardship grant can be applied for a period of up to 6 months. The maximum funding amount is 995 Euro per month. 

Child benefits

If you have one or more children, you can apply for child benefits. The amount paid out is 400 Euro for the first child and 100 Euro for each additional child. Please make sure to indicate on the online registration form if you have children.