General Information
for Applicants and Beneficiaries

General Information for Applicants and Beneficiaries

Please take note of our criteria regarding the applications for a research scholarship:

The funding activities concentrate basically on German and foreign academics in the fields of historical humanities. Candidates can apply regardless of their nationality and place of work.

The most important criteria when deciding if a grant should be awarded are the academic significance and the quality of the research project. Also precise planning of costs and schedule of the proposed project are absolutely essential.


Research projects in the following fields are supported in particular:

  • Archaeology
  • History of Art
  • Historical Islamic Studies
  • History
  • History of Science
  • History of Law
  • Prehistory and Early History

For some years now, the Foundation has also increasingly addressed issues of relevance to contemporary life and the future, above all as part of its special programme "Forced Migration" and its “Democracy as Utopia, Experience, and Threat” and “Lost Cities. Perception of and Living in Lost Cities in the World’s Culture” funding initiatives. As part of the Lisa Maskell Fellowships, since 2014 the Foundation has been supporting young scholars in the humanities in both Africa and Southeast Asia. Starting in 2015, the Foundation has with its “Patrimonies” funding initiative focused more strongly on the preservation of cultural heritage, specifically in regions experiencing crisis.

These programmes also provide support for research projects in the following fields

  • Heritage Studies
  • Research in the History of Architecture
  • Conservation Studies
  • Cultural Studies
  • Political Science
  • Jurisprudence
  • Restoration Studies
  • Social Sciences


Funds are provided for:

  • specific temporary research projects by way of grants for personnel, travel and material expenses
  • research and PhD scholarships for German and foreign scholars (not for studies under PhD level)
  • publications of particularly successful projects supported by the Foundation

If not part of the thematic special funding programmes, support cannot be provided for projects and persons in the following fields:

  • Medicine
  • Natural and Engineering Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Linguistics and Literature Studies
  • Drama or Film Studies
  • Economics

Support is not provided for:

  • final projects of bachelor and master students
  • studies under PhD level
  • positions (temporary or permanent)
  • academic institutions by way of endowments
  • festschrifts or dictionaries
  • annual meetings and academic anniversaries
  • publications which are not related to projects already being supported by the Foundation
  • excursions
  • conferences that are not initiated by the Foundation
  • individual trips to attend scholarly conferences outside the scope of the projects receiving funding
  • exhibition projects which are not related to projects already supported by the Foundation

Applications which the Foundation has turned down cannot be resubmitted, even for a different funding initiative or in a revised version.

Compilation of Application Documents

  • Please ensure that your application documents are complete and submit only those documents as requested by the particular programme.
  • Proposals may be written in English or German. For the special programme "Forced Migration", proposals will only be accepted in English language.
  • We kindly ask you to use at least font size 11 and line spacing 1.5.

Calculation of Travel and Material Expenses

  • Travel expenses include all financial expenditures which the beneficiary incurs in undertaking journeys which are closely related to the subject of the project being funded (e.g. accommodation, travel). Travel expenses will be covered on the basis of the cost calculation submitted with the initial application. Overnights should be planned in light of the principle of using funding responsibly and take their cue from what counts locally as cost-efficient accommodation. For longer stays in one location favourably priced accommodation (sub-tenancy, rental of a flat) should be preferred to a lengthier stay in a hotel. The maximum possible grant for a single hotel overnight is € 140 per night. In the case of stays outside the applicant’s own country in one single location and of more than four weeks duration, the bonus sum for foreign stays shall apply. If travel plans change, the Foundation must be informed. As a rule, only travel costs will be covered for the beneficiary themselves. The Foundation shall not cover any accommodation costs for that period if an overseas bonus has been granted. No flat-rate daily allowance or hotel expenses shall be paid.
  • Should a recipient of a scholarship leave the country of her/his principal residence and spend more than four weeks abroad for research purposes, the Foundation shall grant a flat-rate overseas bonus. This should be seen as an extension to the scholarship, intended to cover the extra costs of food and accommodation. The Foundation shall not cover any accommodation costs for that period if a bonus for foreign stays has been granted. The bonusses for foreign stays shall be listed in the budget.
  • Material expenses include all expenses incurred by the scholarship holder in connection with purchasing, processing and archiving information which are closely related to the subject of the project being funded (e.g. charges for using libraries and archives, copies, making films, technical equipment). Material expenses will be covered on the basis of the cost calculation submitted with the initial application. Beneficiaries must seek the Foundation’s approval in advance, should there be any substantial changes in the use of the material expenses grant provided.

Invoicing Travel und Material Expenses

1. Receipts shall be provided as evidence of all travel expenses and materials bought. There is no need for any such expenses to be justified in detail if receipts have been provided. Should it not be possible to provide a receipt for a particular cost incurred, the Foundation expects a detailed explanation to be provided. The refunding of any such funds is then at the Foundation’s discretion.

2. No flat-rate daily allowance or hotel expenses shall be paid. Travel expenses and hotel expenses shall be settled upon presentation of receipts. If the Foundation has awarded a grant, it shall not be liable for any food expenses.

3. Car travel expenses shall be covered on the basis of a flat rate of €0.30/km for distances of up to 100 km; above and beyond this, the Foundation would request the submission of petrol-station invoices in order to cover petrol costs; in the case of e-cars the invoice for the charging station should be provided.

4. In addition to the provision of receipts, the Foundation requests that a list of all expenditures be provided, with all receipts allocated a number for the purposes of easy identification. The invoiced sum should be subdivided according to travel and material expenses.

5. Please convert all expenses into euros using the exchange rate of the day in question. This exchange rate should be provided in the invoice.

6. It is the Foundation’s assumption that all fellows possess a computer/laptop etc. Should the acquisition of a new device be necessary at any point during the funding period, a maximum of Euro 500,-- can be reimbursed.

7. Please note that all credit transfers and standing orders are being switched over to the pan-European SEPA system. Instead of a bank sort code and account number, the Foundation requires the IBAN and BIC details. You will find the corresponding information on your account statement and possibly on your bank card. Please send us these details or submit them with your next invoice.

General Terms and Conditions of Acceptance

Grants

  1. There shall be no employment relationship between the Gerda Henkel Foundation and the grant recipient; as such, the Foundation shall not be liable for social security costs. The Foundation recommends that the grant recipient takes out private medical insurance. The Foundation cannot make any contributions towards this.

  2. The Gerda Henkel Foundation emphasises that, subject to § 3 clause 44 of the Income Tax Act, Foundation grants are not liable to income tax. As a Foundation that sponsors the humanities, the Gerda Henkel Foundation is exempt from paying corporation income tax by the corporation income tax exemption order dated 05/10/17 and issued by the Düsseldorf-Altstadt inland revenue office on the basis of existing exclusively and directly for non-profit-making purposes in accordance with § 5 para. 1 clause 9 KStG (Corporation Income Tax Law).

  3. Scholarships and other support funding provided can in justified individual cases also be disbursed to the institutions involved in the project. The Foundation will not conclude any further contracts with partners receiving support or their institutions over and above the grant approval letter itself.

  4. On accepting the grant, the grant recipient is obliged to
    • inform the Foundation without delay of any changes which may have a bearing on the granting of the funding or the sum of the grant;
    • obtain the Foundation’s approval for having any teaching posts or sideline employment that exceeds an average of five working hours a week.
  1. Subsequent to funding for the purposes of completing a doctorate, the Foundation requests that it be informed as to whether a doctorate was conferred and with what grade, and also requests that a copy of the (provisional) PhD certificate be provided.

Invoicing travel and material expenses

  1. Receipts shall be provided as evidence of all travel expenses and materials bought. There is no need for any such expenses to be justified in detail if receipts have been provided. Should it not be possible to provide a receipt for a particular cost incurred, the Foundation expects a detailed explanation to be provided. The refunding of any such funds is then at the Foundation’s discretion.

  2. No flat-rate daily allowance or hotel expenses shall be paid. Travel expenses and hotel expenses shall be settled upon presentation of receipts. If the Foundation has awarded a grant, it shall not be liable for any food expenses.

  3. Car travel expenses shall be covered on the basis of a flat rate of € 0.30/km for distances of up to 100 km; above and beyond this, the Foundation requires that petrol station receipts be provided.

  4. If funds were granted to procure technical equipment, then a max. 500 Euros can be provided as reimbursement for buying a PC or laptop. 

  5. In addition to the provision of receipts, the Foundation requests that a list of all expenditures be provided, with all receipts allocated a number for the purposes of easy identification. The invoiced sum should be subdivided according to travel expenses and material costs.

Overseas bonus

If an overseas bonus has been awarded for extended periods abroad, the Foundation requests that the grant recipient informs the Foundation of the starting date and duration of any such stay abroad in good time in advance, i.e. at least four weeks ahead of the trip. As the overseas bonus constitutes an increase in the grant awarded and is not to be seen as part of the travel expenses, this sum shall be transferred together with the regular grant instalments.

Interim reports

Interim reports are to be submitted six weeks before the first full year of funding expires. The report should give details of the progress made in the first year of funding including provisional results and future project plans. The Foundation shall not provide any guidelines concerning the length of the report.

Final reports

Final reports are to be submitted at the latest six weeks after expiry of the funding period. The Foundation shall not provide any guidelines concerning the length of the report.

 

Publications/PR work

  1. The Foundation requests that it please be informed in advance about any publications resulting from funding awarded. The Foundation shall receive two specimen copies of each book publication (monograph / collection of essays) and possibly three further copies on request, as well as one offprint of every article that is published.

  2. Please inform the Foundation should journalists wish to write an article about your project.

  3. Please always seek to ensure mention of the funding received (including in any press releases published).

  4. We request that press clippings and recordings of radio or television coverage/ reports (incl. the date, source and reference number provided in each case) be sent to the Foundation immediately after publication/broadcasting/posting. Should press coverage have taken place, publications have come out, or reports have been broadcast/posted during the funding period, we request that you list these in your interim and final reports.

Printing expenses

As a rule, grant recipients are also entitled to apply for a printing allowance from the Foundation following the funding period for the purposes of publishing their research results. However, we would like to stress that a printing allowance cannot be guaranteed for projects that have received funding, as the Foundation currently only has a very limited budget for this. For information on applying for a printing allowance, see our website (www.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de).

 

Revocation

The Gerda Henkel Foundation reserves the right to revoke a grant/the granting of project funds and to make a claim for reimbursement if

  • the terms of appropriation are not adhered to or the Foundation has other good reason for revoking its grant
  • the grant was obtained on the basis of incorrect or incomplete details
  • conditions imposed by the Foundation are not met at all or are not met within the deadlines set by the Foundation
  • the grant has not been claimed one year after having been awarded and no reason has been given for this
  • the funds have not been used for the direct purpose stated
  • the funds have not been accounted for in time, as agreed or completely

Overpayment of a grant/funds must be reimbursed post-haste.

 

Other

The Gerda Henkel Foundation will send information about the Foundation’s activities and invitations to events organized by the Foundation by post or email to project partners and scholarship holders. If you do not require such information, please inform us accordingly.

 

(As at: April 2021)

Publications and PR work

  • Please inform the Foundation should journalists wish to write an article about your project.
  • Please always seek to ensure mention of the funding received (including in any press releases published).
  • We request that press clippings and recordings of radio or television coverage/ reports (incl. the date, source and reference number provided in each case) be sent to the Foundation immediately after publication/broadcasting/posting. Should press coverage have taken place, publications have come out, or reports have been broadcast/posted during the funding period, we request that you list these in your interim and final reports.

Grant Approval Rate

Due to the ever-increasing number of applications, the administrators of the Gerda Henkel Foundation have decided to publish the grant approval rates – i.e. the percentage of applications received which were awarded grants by the Board of Trustees – in the individual categories. The Foundation thereby hopes to give its partners an idea of the statistical chances of a grant being awarded to their project.

In brief, the situation is as follows (in 2023):


In the field of PhD scholarships, the approval rate was 18,8 percent. The percentage of research projects and research scholarships approved in the committee meetings was 18,8 and 16,6 percent respectively.  

29,7 percent of applications were endorsed for research grants in the so-called “reserve funds” category, a shorter procedure to support smaller projects.

As for the Special Programme Forced Migration, the approval rate was 13,5 percent, for the Funding Programme Lost CitiesPerception of and living with abandoned cities in the cultures of the world, the approval rate was 5,9 percent and for the Funding Programme Democracy, it was 17,6 percent in subsection I and 16,7 percent for the subsection II. 

Logo of the Foundation

When making reference to the support provided by the Foundation, funding and cooperation partners of the Gerda Henkel Foundation are welcome to use its logo in the following formats/colours:

  • PDF (CMYK), for colour prints
  • PDF (monochrome), for single-colour prints
  • PDF (Pantone), for special colour prints
  • JPG (sRGB), for use fin web, screen and beamer presentations

PDFs can be adapted to different sizes without impairment in quality and, if necessary, be re-saved to any other format.

The logo must always be on a white background.

We kindly request that you provide us with a specimen copy.

Grants

Choose a Funding Programme

General Information for Applicants and Beneficiaries

Frequently asked questions

General questions regarding the application

Does the Foundation provide funding for master students?
No, the Foundation does not provide support for studies under PhD level.

Can I apply for a research project also if I have not received my PhD yet?
No. Applications for research projects can be made by universities, other research institutes or comparable institutions as well as by one or several Postdocs or scholars with Post Doctoral Lecture Qualification. It is necessary to provide a (preliminary) PhD certificate.

Can I apply with one and the same research project for support from several of the Foundation’s programmes?
A simultaneous application with different research projects is in principle possible as long as no scholarship is earmarked for the applicant him/herself.

What is the difference between a research project and a research scholarship?
Applications for research projects can be made by universities, other research institutes or comparable institutions as well as by one or several Postdocs or scholars with Post-Doctoral Lecture Qualification. By contrast, a research scholarship should be applied for by one scholar alone for a project that he conducts himself. Applications for research scholarships can be made directly by Postdocs or scholars with Post-Doctoral Lecture Qualification. A research scholarship is usually applied for by one scholar who will work on a specific project on his own.

Can I apply if my project belongs to another field than the academic disciplines cited on the website?
No. But please have a look at the thematic requirements of the funding programmes “Democracy“ and "Lost Citiess", as well as the special programme "Forced Migration".

What shall I do if I’m not sure whether my subject is eligible for funding from the Foundation?
Please send us a short project summary by email (info@gerda-henkel-stiftung.de). We will be in touch within a few days to let you know whether you can apply.

Are foreign academics allowed to apply for funding programmes?
The funding activities concentrate basically on German and foreign academics in the fields of historical humanities. Candidates can apply regardless of their nationality and place of work.

In which languages does the Foundation correspond?
German and English.

Should application documents and references be submitted in English or German?
The Foundation accepts both, although German is preferred where possible.

Are there formal requirements on how the application documents should be compiled?
The project description should not be longer than 8 pages. Documents should have at least font size 11 and line spacing 1.5. Please read carefully all instructions in the section general references.

Are there any substantial requirements for the structure or form of the description of the research project?
No, there are no substantive requirements. Applicants for a research scholarship should make sure that in addition to the content presentation, information on the method, the state of research, the sources and research relevance are included in the description, especially if the transcript of the study is in the foreground.

Should the proposal include a detailed list of publications or is it enough to note the cited references in footnotes? Is an additional list of publications with for the project relevant references necessary?
It is sufficient to note the references of the proposal in footnotes. A list of publications with for the project relevant references can but must not be submitted.

What should my working plan and schedule include?
They should include detailed information about the work stages planned for the period of funding, including research trips and their planned duration.

Can I apply for financing for my own post instead of a research grant?
No. The Foundation is not providing funding for posts at research institutions.

Can project staff be funded via posts?
No. Project staff can only be financed by doctoral or research grants. A fundamental precondition for a grant is that project staff conduct their own research, which is published under their name.

Do I have to include the scholarships for the staff members in the cost calculation of the research project or do they have to apply separately for a PhD or research scholarship?
Please budget the scholarships as part of the research project funding. The staff members do not have to apply separately for a PhD or research scholarship.

What do you require for travel and material expenses claims?
We require a list of costs with each individual expense in as much detail as possible. Please have a look at the information provided under http://www.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/calculation_travel-material-expenses.

Does the Foundation pay for childcare during the period for which a stipend is awarded?
Foundation stipend holders working on Ph.D. or research projects receive a family grant on presentation of the child’s/children’s birth certificate(s). The grant is paid for children who have not yet turned 18.

What is the Foundation’s policy is a stipend holder becomes a parent during the period for which a stipend is awarded?
The period of support for Foundation stipend holders working on Ph.D. or research projects can be extended by up to 12 months if the holder becomes a parent during the period covered by the stipend and has an entitlement to maternity or parental leave. Individual arrangements must be discussed with the Foundation’s administrative office.

Does the Foundation cover overhead costs?
No, the Foundation does not cover overhead costs.

Can anyone request funding for printing?
Publishing aid can only be claimed for projects which are already receiving funding from the Gerda Henkel Foundation. However, not all projects will be awarded funding for printing as the current budget for publishing aid is extremely limited.

Does the Foundation sponsor individual journeys to participate in scientific conferences?
At present travel expenses are only paid for larger research projects or PhD and research scholarships. Funding applications for independent trips to participate in conferences/congresses are in principle not considered.

Can I change anything in my electronic application form after having sent it to the Foundation?
No, that is not possible. Please inform us about any differing information when sending us your application documents or fill out a new application form and let us know you have sent a new form in a short note or email.

What happens to my submission if it is incomplete?
Incomplete submissions will not be considered and will be put back to the next selection round. Incomplete applications for PhD scholarships will not be considered any more after the expiration of one year.

Does the Foundation provide reasons for refusing applications?
The Academic Committee’s deliberations are confidential so the Foundation does not provide detailed reasons for refusals.

General questions regarding the applications for scholarships

Can I continue to work during the time of my scholarship?
No, the simultaneous receipt of salary and a scholarship is not possible.

Can I continue to draw a retirement pension during the time of my scholarship?
No, the simultaneous receipt of a retirement pension and a scholarship is not possible.

In which case can I apply for an overseas bonus?
Should a recipient of a scholarship leave the country of her/his principal residence and spend more than four weeks abroad for research purposes, the Foundation shall grant a flat-rate overseas bonus. This should be seen as an extension to the scholarship, intended to cover the extra costs of food and accommodation. The Foundation shall not cover any accommodation costs for that period if an overseas bonus has been granted.

Can I apply for funding of college or tuition fees?
No, the Foundation does not cover college or tuition fees.

If I am given a doctoral grant, do I have to start my doctorate immediately?
Doctorates must be started within twelve months of the grant being agreed.

Questions regarding letters of recommendation

Who can write letters of recommendation?
Applicants are free to choose a relevant expert. The Foundation does not make recommendations in this regard.

What should be included in letters of recommendation or references and what form should they take?
The Foundation has no specific requirements as far as references are concerned. Referees generally provide an assessment of the quality of the project and the applicant’s qualifications.

In what form should letters of recommendation be submitted?
Letters of recommendation must be uploaded via the online recommendation form by their authors with a personal signature. Please do not additionally send the documents by email and/or postal mail.

Can authors send their letters of recommendation to the Foundation via email?
Letters of recommendation can be uploaded via the online recommendation form. They must in all cases be signed by the author.

Should letters of recommendation be submitted in English or German?
The Foundation accepts both, although German is preferred where possible.

Do you accept letters of recommendation from abroad?
Yes.

Do you accept letters of recommendation from other subject areas?
Yes.

Does the second letter of recommendation for an application for a phd scholarship have to be compiled by the person who later acts as second examiner for the Ph.D. thesis?
No.

Specific questions regarding the PhD-Scholarships

Can doctoral students from overseas apply for a doctoral grant?
Yes.

Can students write their doctorate overseas?
Yes.

Can I apply for a doctorate grant if I have finished my undergraduate degree but not officially graduated?
No, to make sure all applicants are treated equally, we do require a written confirmation of your degree results. The Foundation will however accept provisional attestation from the university showing individual grades and the overall grade.

Can I submit an application for doctoral funding if I have not yet been formally registered by the university or not yet had my place confirmed?
Yes.

Which documents do I have to submit for funding if I have already started my doctorate?
Please submit the same documents as for a standard doctorate grant.

Can I apply for funding for the completion of my doctorate ("final scholarship")?
No, the Foundation will not grant scholarships for the final completion of Ph.D. projects. A final scholarship is either a grant that succeeds another grant exceeding 12 months and bestowed by a different party and/or the application for a scholarship not exceeding 12 months.

Can all applications for doctoral funding include an application for travel or material expenses?
Yes, as long as the foreseen expenses are directly linked to the doctorate.

Which certifications should be submitted when I am applying for a PhD scholarship?
Please send in certificate(s) of the university degree qualifying for PhD studies (or seminar attendance certificates for direct doctorates). Please send us copies, references do not have to be attested. Please do not send certificates of High School Leaving, Bachelor certificates, internships, seminar grades (only necessary for direct doctorates) and employment references.

Can I apply with a 1.5 grade or does the grade have to be better than 1.5?
For an application to be considered in the selection process the overall master grade awarded must be at least 1.5 or above in Germany (comparable with grade A in other countries).
We will check any applications with degrees obtained outside Germany before deciding whether to put them through into the next stage.

What does the Foundation mean by its age limit of 28?
The age limit refers to obtaining a degree. If you were 25 when you obtained your master degree, you could apply for doctoral funding at the age of 35, for example. Exceptions will be made to take the following situations into account: night school, bringing up children, military or civil service, work experience and other exceptional circumstances. If there are no extenuating circumstances, applications from those older than 28 cannot be accepted.

Are there any interviews? Can I present my subject to the Foundation in person?
No, decisions are based solely on the application submitted.

Can I ask when the Foundation’s quarterly committee meetings are held?
No, the Foundation does not provide any information about when the committees meet to assess applications. Once all necessary documents have been submitted (incl. reference), you should expect to wait approximately six months for our decision.

Can I reapply if my application has already been refused?
Yes, a second application is possible. However, all the documents must be submitted again.

Specific questions regarding research scholarships

Can I apply for a research scholarship when I have not yet finished my PhD?
No. Applications for research scholarships can only be made by Postdocs or scholars with Post Doctoral Lecture Qualification.

Do the criteria also apply to the special programme "Security, Society and the State" and the two funding programmes "Democracy" and "Lost Cities"?
No, the criteria only apply to applications for a general research scholarship.

Do the criteria also apply to applications for short-term research scholarships (max. 30,000 Euros)?
Yes, the criteria also apply to applications for short-term research scholarships.

Does the rule that candidates must have received their doctorate no longer than ten years ago also apply to academics with a German ‘habilitation’ qualification or equivalent qualification (Associate Professor, Full Professor, Distinguished Professor, Senior Lecturer or Reader/Professor)?
No, this rule does not apply to academics with a postdoctoral lecturing qualification or an equivalent qualification.

What is  the definition for "Post Doctoral Lecture Qualification"?
The higher grant rate is approved after successful conclusion of the professorial examinations (habilitation) process and/or alternatively at the earliest after positive interim evaluation for a junior professorship. For applicants from academic systems that do not envisage habilitations, the Foundation recognizes holding a tenured position as an associate professor or as a full professor or distinguished professor (in the US system) or as a senior lecturer or as a reader/professor (in the Commonwealth system) as an equivalent of passing junior professorial examinations. The administration of the Foundation can in individual cases assess other national qualification levels.

Must my dissertation be published even though I obtained my PhD abroad?
Yes, for PhDs obtained abroad the dissertation must also have been published prior to application.

Which forms of publication are accepted?
The dissertation should be published as an electronic or printed monograph and be freely accessible. Essays published on the dissertation, printed specimen copies or the submission of a publishing contract will not be accepted.

I have already received a doctoral scholarship from the Foundation and would now like to apply for a research grant. Does the same waiting period of five years also apply to me?
You are welcome to apply for a research scholarship at any time. The waiting period of five years only applies to previous funding through a research scholarship.

I have received only a research scholarship fo a few months in the area of “smaller grants”. Does the same time span of five years also apply to me?
Yes, you can only apply for another research scholarship after a period of five years. The relevant date for calculating the timeframe is the date on the final report.

I have withdrawn my application for a research scholarship. Does the time span of three resp. five years also apply to me?
No, the time spam does not apply to you. A reapplication for a research scholarship is possible at any time.

I submitted the application for a supported research project, but have not received a research scholarship myself. Does the same waiting period of five years apply to me?
Providing you have not received a research scholarship, you are welcome to apply at any time.

Can I apply for a research scholarship although an application for a research project was rejected which I was to work on?
Yes, if you were only meant to work on the project and were not listed as the applicant. The criterion for previously rejected applicants applies only to previous own applications for a research scholarship.

An application I made for a research project was rejected. Can I still apply for a research scholarship?
Yes, you may still apply for a research scholarship, if you had not requested a research scholarship for yourself within the rejected research project.

An application I made for a research scholarship for only a few months in the area of “smaller grants” was rejected. Must I still observe the waiting period of three years?
Yes, you must wait three years before submitting an application for a regular research scholarship. The relevant date for calculating the timeframe is the date on the rejection letter.

Is the resubmission of my application for a smaller funding amount (max. 30,000 Euros) possible, although my application was rejected in the general research grants category?
No, a resubmission of the application for a smaller funding amount (max. 30,000 Euros) is not possible, if the same research project was rejected in the general research grants category.

Questions regarding grants in general

What should I do once I have received the letter of approval?
Please let us know by postmail whether you accept the grant and the terms of appropriation. If you do accept, please also supply your current bank details and include when you wish payments to start. Please note that all credit transfers and standing orders are being switched over to the pan-European SEPA system. Instead of a bank sort code and account number, the Foundation requires the IBAN and BIC details. You will find the corresponding information on your account statement and possibly on your bank card.

What are my obligations if I accept the funding?
You must inform the Foundation of any changes which have a bearing on the payment of the grant or the amount paid. Teaching positions and other employment must be agreed with the Foundation if they exceed an average of 5 hours a week.

Can I work during the grant period?
Yes, as long as the employment does not exceed an average of five hours a week.

How should references be made to the Foundation in my work?
We ask that the Foundation be mentioned in any publications that arise from the funded project. The Foundation should also be included in the imprint of any publications for which publishing aid was supplied. For other media, such as conference posters or flyers, please use the logo available on our website. Please also mention the Foundation at events and in any contact with journalists (e.g. via your university’s press office), including in any press releases.

Can the grant or parts thereof be used for other purposes?
No. The grant is only to be used for the purposes detailed in the letter of approval.

Can grants be transferred to overseas accounts?
Yes. Please supply your SWIFT/BIC code and IBAN. We would however prefer to make transfers to a German account.

Do I have to take out insurance if I am awarded a grant or does the Foundation cover those costs?
As grant recipients are not technically employed by the Foundation, national insurance contributions are not paid. The Foundation recommends that all grant recipients take out medical insurance. No additional funding is available for these costs.

Invoices

What kind of information about my bank account do I have to submit?
Please note that all credit transfers and standing orders are being switched over to the pan-European SEPA system. Instead of a bank sort code and account number, the Foundation requires the IBAN and BIC details. You will find the corresponding information on your account statement and possibly on your bank card. Please send us these details or submit them with your next invoice.

Do original receipts have to be sent?
Generally yes. Should third parties need the originals for billing purposes (e.g. university offices), please submit copies and ensure that the originals are held for at least ten years in case they need to be checked.

Will my family’s costs be reimbursed for research trips?
No. These must be covered by the grant recipient.

General questions

What is the phone number for Henkel AG & Co. KgaA in Düsseldorf?
+49 (0)211 7970