Candidates must be under 35 and hold a university degree in the humanities, in the social sciences, or in the natural sciences. Applications for 2026 should include a CV, a two-page project proposal, and two letters of recommendation. All documents must be received by May 15, 2025.

At the end of the fellowship period, the fellow will be expected to present his or her project in a public lecture at the Einstein Forum and at the Wittenstein Foundation. The Einstein Fellowship is not intended for applicants who wish to complete an academic study they have already begun.
A successful application must demonstrate the quality, originality, and feasibility of the proposed project, as well as the superior intellectual development of the applicant. It is not relevant whether the applicant has begun working toward, or currently holds, a PhD. The proposed project need not be entirely completed during the time of the fellowship, but can be the beginning of a longer project.

PLEASE NOTE THAT NO FELLOWSHIPS WILL BE GIVEN FOR DISSERTATION RESEARCH. THE PROPOSED PROJECT MUST BE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT IN CONTENT, AND PREFERABLY FIELD AND FORM, FROM THE APPLICANT’S PREVIOUS WORK.

For the online application form, visit: /
Für die Bewerbungen nutzen Sie bitte folgendes Formular: application form

For more information, call the Einstein Forum at:
phone: +49-331-271780

The Albert Einstein Fellowship supports creative, interdisciplinary thought by giving young scholars the chance to pursue research outside their previous area of work. The fellowship, previously awarded by the Einstein Forum and the ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius (2007 – 2009), from 2010 until 2022 together with the Daimler and Benz Foundation and now together with the Wittenstein Foundation: