The call for applications is open to early-career researchers from all academic disciplines who completed an outstanding doctoral dissertation in 2026 that is of particular societal significance. With three top prizes of €25,000 each, the German Study Award is one of Germany’s most highly endowed awards for early-career researchers.

Award recipients also benefit from a wide range of support opportunities, including mentoring for an academic career, a fund for conference participation, and the opportunity to take part in the Max Planck Startup Programme.

The deadline for applications is 1 March 2027.

Important: German language skills are required

If your dissertation was written in English, you may submit the dissertation itself and the expert reviews in their original language; no translation is required. However, the competition entry and the abstract must be written in German. If your entry is shortlisted and you are invited to present your work in person to the jury, you must also deliver your presentation in German.

Further information on how to apply, as well as answers to frequently asked questions, is available here.