Participation in International Conferences

The grant includes:

• A travel lump sum in accordance with DAAD standard [available in German only] - for in-person participation
• An accommodation lump sum in accordance with DAAD standards [available in German only] for a maximum of 5 days (depending on the duration of the conference) - for in-person participation
• Participation and abstract fees - for in-person or online participation

Funding will be granted according to lump sums determined for the destination country (not according to actually occurring costs). Please note that conferences taking place in Germany cannot be funded.

Funding cannot be awarded retroactively, i.e. for conferences taking place prior to the deadline to which an application is submitted.

• Importance of the conference participation for the applicant’s research progress and building of scientific networks
• Academic CV of the doctoral students¹

The decision on the award of funding will be made by an interdisciplinary selection committee of scholars. The Bonn Graduate Center supports the members of the committee in an advisory capacity. The members are:

Jun.-Prof. Dr. Alessandro Bismuto, Prof. Dr. Sabine Feist, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Lorenzen, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Marie-Christine Simon , Prof. Dr. Andreas Forstner and Jun.-Prof. Dr. Luna Rösinger.

¹ Family responsibilities, parental leave, illness and further breaks are, of course, taken into account. Please explain possible interruptions in your application.

The application should include:

• A concise statement of the applicant´s contribution to the conference that is comprehensible for laymen
• Acceptance letter provided by the conference organizers (can be handed in by e-mail to funding@verwaltung.uni-bonn.de until 4 weeks after the application deadline, otherwise the application won't be processed)
• Academic CV of the doctoral student¹
• Letter of support signed by the supervisor at the University of Bonn (see here ⁸for template)
• Written formal admission as a doctoral student from the faculty or confirmation of enrollment for visiting doctoral students

The review of the applications normally takes four to six weeks from the respective deadline (January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15). Please refrain from any inquiries in this regard during this period of time.

¹ Family responsibilities, parental leave, illness and further breaks are, of course, taken into account. Please explain possible interruptions in your application.

Can I apply before I know whether my contribution has been accepted for an event?

Yes, please apply as early as possible. You can submit the confirmation of acceptance of your contribution by the event organizers up to four weeks after the application deadline. The selection committee's funding decision is not dependent on acceptance to the event.

What do the specified deadlines mean?

Applications can be submitted at any time using the application form. All applications received before the next deadline, i.e., January 15, April 15, July 15, or October 15, will be formally reviewed after the deadline and then evaluated in a selection round by the interdisciplinary selection committee. 

Example: An application submitted on June 18 will be reviewed in the next selection round with a deadline of July 15.

Can I apply for an event that I have already attended?

No, funding cannot be granted retroactively, i.e., the event cannot take place before the deadline for submitting an application.

Example: You submit your application on March 10 for a conference taking place from April 5 to 10. The next deadline applying for the application is therefore April 15. As this deadline is after the conference, your application cannot be considered.

What does it mean that the event date must be after the next deadline?

You can apply for conference trips or participation in summer/winter schools that take place after the next deadline (January 15, April 15, July 15, or October 15). The decisive factor is the deadline for the call for applications, not the date on which you submit your application. 

Example: If you submit your application on March 10 for a conference taking place from April 5 to 10, it is not March 10 that is decisive, but the deadline for the call for applications, i.e. April 15. Since this date is after the conference, your application cannot be considered.

How often can I apply?

You can apply as often as you like; there is no limit to the number of applications. If your application is unsuccessful, you can reapply for the International Conference Grants in the same year, even for the same event for which your application was rejected. Please note, however, that the date of the event must be after the application deadline (see above). Only if your application is successful will you not be able to reapply for the International Conference Grants in the same calendar year.

How is the accommodation lump sum calculated?

The calculation of the accommodation lump sum according to DAAD standards is based on the exact dates of the event. This means that if your conference lasts three days, for example, you will receive an accommodation lump sum that applies to these three days. For events taking place outside Europe, half a day for arrival and half a day for departure are also included in the calculation of the accommodation lump sum. Regardless of the destination country or the duration of the event, the accommdation lump sum can only be granted for a maximum of 5 days.

Can I also apply with an event that takes place in Germany?

Since the funding line specifically supports doctoral students' travel to conferences and summer/winter schools abroad, events that take place in Germany are generally not eligible for funding.

What is meant by “active participation” (especially in summer/winter schools)?

In principle, only active participation in an event is eligible for funding, for example in the form of a lecture, poster, or presentation. With regard to participation in summer/winter schools, “active participation” can take various forms. If you are unsure whether your contribution can be considered “active participation,” please contact us before submitting your application. 

When can I expect a decision on my application?

The decision on your application will be sent to you by email approximately six weeks after the deadline for applications. The deadline for applications applies, not the date on which you submitted your application. Please refrain from making any inquiries during this period.

What do I need to know about receiving my grant?

Once you have submitted your payment details, it will take approximately six weeks for your grant to be paid out. You will receive the lump sums for travel and accommodation costs regardless of the actual costs incurred. This means that you do not need to submit any receipts to prove the actual costs. The fees for participating in conferences or summer/winter schools must be paid by you privately in advance. After submitting the organizer's invoice and your proof of payment, you will receive a refund for these costs. Both participation and abstract fees will be reimbursed. Please note that advance payments are not possible.