University Calls for Proposals
Are you looking for internal funding opportunities for your research, teaching, or next career step? The University of Bonn offers a diverse portfolio of programs ranging from individual funding and project grants to mobility support and worldwide collaborations—with a special focus on equal opportunity, research networks, and international collaboration.
Transdisciplinary Research Areas (TRA)
The six transdisciplinary research areas (TRAs) of the University of Bonn offer various funding opportunities for their members (and members-to-be).
University Funding Lines
Our funding platform allows you to discover the right call for your project, whether you are looking for career support or networking opportunities. You are welcome to filter the university funding lines by target group and type of funding to find the right offer even more conveniently.
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© Andrea Piacquadio von pexels
Individual Research Funding for Female Professors (STEP 3)The aim of the STEP Onboarding and Commitment program is to support a smooth start for a female researcher at the University of Bonn and to enhance the attractiveness of the professorship in the context of appointment and retention negotiations with female academics.
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© markmags (pixabay)
Open Call by TRA Modelling 2026TRA "Mathematics, Modelling and Simulation of Complex Systems" invites applications for the Open Call 2026. With the flexible Open Call 2026, we aim to support our members in their pursuit of establishing new collaborations and joint research projects. We also encourage all scientists, from early-career researchers to full professors, to explore novel topics through their TRA project ideas. Furthermore, we promote opportunities for networking and academic exchange.
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© Volker Lannert/Uni Bonn
SYNERGY BUBBLES of TRA MatterWith SYNERGY BUBBLES, collaboration within transdisciplinary, activity-oriented working groups in TRA Matter is promoted. Establishing a SYNERGY BUBBLE enables interdisciplinary teams to work on freely chosen topics - from research to teaching and beyond - and additionally opens up the opportunity to compete for the TRA Matter SYNERGY PRIZE.
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© geralt on pixabay; bearb. v. TRA1 & TRA4
Funding Opportunities of the TRA Individuals, Institutions and SocietiesThe TRA Individuals, Institutions and Societies supports inter- and transdisciplinary projects: Applications for the "Open Call" may be submitted by the members of TRA by September 1 for the following fiscal year and by March 1 for the current fiscal year.
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© geralt on pixabay; bearb. v. TRA1 & TRA4
Call for Proposals for the Transdisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Development of Projects (TRA Individuals & Societies)The TRA Individuals and Societies is offering one-time funding to support trans- and interdisciplinary projects with the aim of expanding projects to include interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary modules and, in the foreseeable future, submitting an application for (competitive) third-party funding, or initiating outstanding transfer activities.
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© Marc Thürbach
Support for Participation and Involvement (STEP 4)The goal is to enable female scientists to participate in and help shape university decision-making processes.
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Guest Female Professors Program (STEP 5)With the guest female professors funding, the University of Bonn actively encourages outstanding international female scientists to come for research and teaching stays and to strengthen the university's international profile.
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Conference Participation or Stay Abroad (STEP 5)The funding within the framework of STEP 5c aims to enable participation in scientific conferences as well as research stays abroad in order to present one's own research results in a lecture to an international audience and to discuss them with other (international) scientists.
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Funds for Organizing Workshops (STEP 5)Through this funding, we enable female researchers to organize engaging events—either in-person or online—on their own areas of expertise and to invite distinguished colleagues to participate.
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© Lannert / Uni Bonn
Funding for a Guest Stay (STEP 5)The goal is to enable female scientists to conduct joint research projects at the University of Bonn in cooperation with a visiting female scientist and to present these to the local academic community.
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CAPES Visiting Professorship Scheme, BrazilFunding for an exceptional team of researchers from Brazil for a stay at the University of Bonn.
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Return Grants for International Visiting ScholarsThe goal of this measure is to strengthen international networks and to include international visiting scholars in activities that support early-career researchers.
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© Volker Lannert/Uni Bonn
Bonn International FellowshipsInvitation of excellent researchers from all disciplines to Bonn for short stays (up to 12 days).
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© Pexels.com
Bonn Global Cooperation FundProject funding of the University of Bonn for joint international research and teaching projects.
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© University of St Andrews
St Andrews Joint Education FundJoint Education Fund between the University of Bonn and the University of St Andrews.
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© Bryan Meltz/ Emory University
Emory University CRGCollaborative Research Grant for joint research projects between the University of Bonn and Emory University.
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© Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University CRGCollaborative Research Grant for joint research projects between the University of Bonn and Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
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© University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne REFResearch Excellence Fund for joint research projects between the University of Bonn and University of Melbourne.
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© University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews CRGCollaborative Research Grant for joint research projects between the University of Bonn and University of St Andrews.
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© Volker Lannert / Uni Bonn
Argelander Starter-Kit Grant (A) “Stepping Stone”The aim of this funding line is to enable early-career researchers who would like to continue their academic career by moving to the University of Bonn to obtain a start-up position and to support them in securing third-party funding.
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Argelander Starter-Kit Grant (B) “Research Funds”The aim of the funding is to prepare postdocs at the University of Bonn for the start of an academic career in the transitional phase after the doctorate and to support them in the acquisition of third-party funding.
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Argelander Mobility GrantsThe funding covers a research stay for six to 12 months at a research institution abroad.
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Career With Family for Female Postdocs (STEP 1B)Ziel der Förderlinie Career with Family ist die Förderung und Unterstützung von Postdoktorandinnen mit Erziehungsaufgaben, die im Rahmen ihrer Qualifizierungsphase einen Auslandsaufenthalt planen.
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© Mira Zöller/Uni Bonn
Bonn SDG FellowshipsInvitation of scholars preferably from the Africa, Latin America and South(east) Asia for research on Sustainable Development Goals-related topics (for periods of 3–12 months).
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Support for Female Postdoctoral Researchers through Funding for Research Assistants (STEP 1A)This funding line supports female postdoctoral researchers in the qualification phase for a professorship by providing funds for student or research assistants.
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Qualification Support for Female Postdoctoral Researchers (STEP 3)The aim of this funding line is to support female postdoctoral researchers in the qualification phase for a professorship through bridging funding.
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Argelander International Conference GrantFunding for active participation in conferences to support postdocs in building international networks.
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© Barbara Frommann/ Universität Bonn
Bonn-St Andrews Joint PhD ProgramFunding for up to four joint PhD projects (supervisor-led competition).
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© Bernadett Yehdou/ Universität Bonn
Joint Doctoral Program St Andrews and BonnThe University of St Andrews and the University of Bonn publish annual calls for doctoral students in selected research fields.
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© Barbara Frommann/ Universität Bonn
Joint Doctoral Program Melbourne and BonnFunding for up to six joint PhD projects across three Bonn-Melbourne pairs of Principal Investigators, plus additional seed funding for PIs to support collaborative activities.
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Participation in International ConferencesThis grant supports conference participations abroad as well as the participation in summer or winter schools to further promote the internationalization of doctoral students.
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Santander International Exchange GrantsThe Santander International Exchange Grants support doctoral students in their international undertakings at a university abroad to further strengthen their international networks and raising their academic profile.
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© DAAD/ Oliver Reetz
Short-Term Mobility within Erasmus+The University of Bonn funds study- and doctoral-related traineeships in over 30 European countries lasting between 2 and 12 months as part of the Erasmus+ Programme.
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Doctoral Workshops with International Speakers in BonnThis funding line helps to finance a small workshop or other smaller event formats led by doctoral students to work on academic projects with visiting scholars.
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“Get finished” Scholarship for Doctoral StudentsScholarships for doctoral students at the University of Bonn from Africa, Asia and Latin America who are about to complete their doctoral dissertation project
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Short-Term Support for Parents in the Finishing or Qualification Phases of their (Doctoral) Degree ProgramThis measure offers parents in the finishing phase of their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral studies financial support for a limited period of time. The aim of this grant is to support parents in caring for their children and managing everyday chores so that they can dedicate more time to successfully obtaining their degree.
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© University of Bonn
Pathways to Research for Doctoral StudentsWith the Pathways to Research program, we support doctoral students through their studies at the University of Bonn with a range of activities and events.
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Invitation of International Second SupervisorThis funding line is aimed at doctoral students who want to invite their international second supervisor to their thesis defense or a supervisory meeting.
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Argelander Scholarships for Doctoral Students from Universities of the Global SouthResearch stays in Bonn (3–12 months) for doctoral students at universities from the Africa, Latin America and South(east) Asia.
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© Frank Homann/Uni Bonn
Distinguished Professors EmeritiRecruitment of retired international academics for long-term appointments at the University of Bonn (usually for two years).
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© Patrick Imbert/Collège de France
Ernst Robert Curtius Visiting ProfessorshipInvitation of faculty from the Collège de France for guest lectures at the University of Bonn.
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Funding for Innovative Product ValidationsThe university awards prototyping grants to promote scientifically based and innovative start-up ideas from the University of Bonn. These ideas are to be further developed toward market readiness during the funding period and achieve a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of at least 4. This ensures compatibility with important start-up funding programs.
Further Support
Funding Advisory for Your Third-Party Application
You are welcome to seek individual advice on all aspects of third-party funding. Please make an appointment with Research and Innovation Services.
Funding for Doctoral Students
Funding opportunities for doctoral studies – from doctoral scholarships to doctoral awards can be found here.
Funding for Postdocs
Argelander Grants support postdocs in their academic career development after their doctorate.
Contact
International Office
Research and Innovation Services
Address
Alte Sternwarte
Poppelsdorfer Allee 47
53115 Bonn
Also see
International Profile
We have a strong international network and extensive teaching and research collaborations around the world.
Research Profile
Our six Transdisciplinary Research Areas and six Clusters of Excellence form the core of our research profile.
Service for Researchers
Learn more about the numerous support offerings available for researchers and teachers at the University of Bonn.