To be eligible for a John F. Kennedy Memorial Fellowship, applicants must:
- Have German citizenship.
- Have completed all doctorate requirements and must have a PhD degree at the time of the application.
- Have completed their doctorate no more than 7 years prior to the application and may not hold a full professorship (W3 in the German case).
- Be a graduate of a German university or have an equivalent diploma.
- Be working on topics focusing on Europe and/or the United States in the fields of political science, contemporary history, economics, sociology, political economy, anthropology and international relations.
- Have excellent command of English.
Preference is given to applicants who intend to have academic careers in Germany. Applicants currently living in the United States are not eligible. Harvard graduates or recipients of previous residential fellowships are eligible to apply after seven years.
This fellowship is administered by the DAAD. The following application materials must be submitted directly to the DAAD:
- DAAD application.
- Curriculum vitae (in English).
- Research Proposal, 8 to 10 pages (in English).
- Two letters of reference from professor-rank scholars working in the same discipline (the letters should thoroughly discuss the applicant’s professional qualifications and research proposal). The applicant must submit the letters in sealed envelopes, or the referee can send them directly to DAAD, Section ST23, Kennedyallee 50, 53175 Bonn.
- DAAD–certification of the applicant’s knowledge of English or TOEFL.
- Copy of academic degrees (for example B.A., M.A., Diplom, Ph.D.)
Please consult the DAAD's website for more information: