The German Historical Institute Warsaw (GHI) offers scholarships to researchers whose work aligns with the Institute’s research objectives and available budget resources. We support research in German and East Central European history that requires a stay in Poland, Lithuania, or the Czech Republic. The grants are intended primarily for non-tenured, early-career scholars, and are awarded for periods ranging from one to four months (depending on the research project). We do not provide write-up grants.
The chief criterion for selection is excellence. An additional factor is the degree to which the research project is thematically linked to the current research priorities of the GHI. Funding is only available for projects that are at an advanced stage. The scholarships are designed to cover the additional expenses incurred by recipients during their research stays in Poland, Lithuania, or the Czech Republic. Generally, individuals living in the country where the research takes place are not eligible for funding. If scholarship holders have other income or receive another scholarship, they alone are responsible for meeting any obligations arising from this (e.g., duty to report to employers/scholarship providers, taxation). There is no entitlement to a scholarship from the GHI, and the awarding of the scholarship is contingent upon logistical feasibility.
The German Historical Institute in Warsaw determines the scholarship amount at its sole discretion, taking into account living expenses and the scholarship rates established by German funding institutions. Currently, these amount to 1,300 EUR per month for doctoral students and 1,800 EUR for postdoctoral researchers. In justified cases, we may cover childcare expenses either partially or fully for the duration of the stay.
Applications must be submitted to the deputy director of the German Historical Institute in Warsaw, Dr. Jan Musekamp, by March 31 for scholarships beginning between July and December of the same year or by September 30 for scholarships beginning between January and June of the following year. The application must be sent as a single PDF file (max. 5 MB) to dhi(at)dhi.waw.pl and should include the following elements:
- Cover letter with information about the desired scholarship period
- CV
- List of publications
- Project description: five pages (1.5-line spacing, 12-point font) or a maximum of 2,500 words (including topic, research questions, methodological approach, current status of the project, work program, detailed plan for the scholarship period, sources, and literature).
- Information about previous/current funding of the research project from third parties
- Consent to data processing
We kindly ask doctoral students to submit the following additional documents:
- Copy of previous university degrees
- Recommendation letter from doctoral advisor/supervisor
- Information on language skills in Polish/Czech/Lithuanian (as applicable to the proposed research)
Please note that we are only able to process complete applications.
We invite scholarship holders to attend meetings in their respective research areas and participate in GHI events (lectures, colloquia, conferences) and to contribute to discussions at the institute. They are encouraged to provide regular updates to the Institute (to the deputy director or an assigned research fellow within the relevant research focus) on the progress of their research and must submit a detailed final report no later than two months after the conclusion of the scholarship. The GHI kindly requests a copy of all publications resulting from the funded research project for its library.
(2/2025)
Download Scholarshop Program DE
Download Scholarship Program EN
The German Historical Institute in Warsaw offers interested parties the opportunity to complete internships in their respective fields of work. This opportunity is available both in the academic field and in the Institute's library. Internships in the academic field are aimed at students in higher semesters whose studies focus on German-Polish relations and Polish or East Central European history and culture. Students of library science and library studies with a focus on academic libraries can apply for an internship in the library. The duration of the internships can be determined individually, but should be at least six weeks.
Interns in the academic field will be assigned to one of the institute's five research areas, where they will perform various tasks (e.g., compiling bibliographies, conducting Internet research, editing and translating academic texts, making copies and scans, working with microfilm readers) for 4–5 hours during the institute's opening hours. A dedicated computer workstation is available for this purpose. In addition, interns will gain insight into other areas of the institute's work (library, administration, secretarial work, reception, event management) and have the opportunity to devote part of their internship to furthering their own professional development or working on their own research topic. The prerequisite for the latter is that the work assigned during the internship is completed properly and on time. Interns are invited to discuss their research interests and any planned theses with staff members and to participate in events organized by the institute (colloquia, lectures, etc.). Any absences from the institute during opening hours must be agreed in advance with the internship supervisor and reported to the office.
During the library internship, interns should become familiar with all areas of library work as far as possible: ordering, access processing (inventorying books and journals), technical book processing, cataloging, catalog maintenance, subject indexing, user services, subject specialization, IT use including online information retrieval and CD-ROM technology, and maintenance of website content. There is also the opportunity to familiarize yourself with other important libraries in Warsaw. Interns at the library will be provided with their own computer workstation. Any absences from the institute during opening hours must be agreed in advance with the internship supervisor and reported to the office.
All interns should have a basic knowledge of Polish (for German applicants) or German (for Polish applicants) and computer skills. For library internships, knowledge of the Resource Description Access (RDA) rules and allegro-C is an advantage. During the internship, you must be enrolled at a German or Polish university. The institute assumes that you have proper health insurance. The internship does not entitle you to insurance through the institute.
If the internship lasts at least 6 weeks and the intern makes a useful contribution to the work of the internship position, they will receive 450 EUR per month. The institute has two guest rooms with a shared kitchen, which are usually made available to interns from outside the area free of charge.
All non-cash benefits (e.g., free accommodation in guest rooms at the institutes) are offset against the internship remuneration or expense allowance at the non-cash benefit values specified in Section 2 of the Social Security Remuneration Regulation (Sozialversicherungsentgeltverordnung). Payments that are not subject to income tax (e.g., reimbursements under the Federal Travel Expenses Act (BRKG)) are not considered non-cash benefits. Currently (since January 1, 2020), the value in kind for a guest room is €265 per month. If the expense allowance or remuneration is less than €313, please note: in accordance with Sections 26 and 17 of the BBiG, no more than 75% of the expense allowance or remuneration may be offset as non-cash remuneration.
Reimbursement in accordance with the Federal Travel Expenses Act (BRKG) may be paid for the first journey to and last journey from the internship location. However, this does not apply if the interns receive other funding that already includes a lump sum for travel expenses (e.g., DAAD funding).
The expense allowance or remuneration rate of EUR 450 per month is below the exemption limit set by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for its scholarships, which it uses to fund internships at foreign institutions. Therefore, our payment does not conflict with DAAD scholarships. The institutes will inform their interns of this funding program in good time. For both types of internship, a short-term scholarship can be applied for from the DAAD for a duration of at least six weeks. Further information is available in the relevant DAAD guidelines and on the DAAD application portal. Further information can also be found on the Max Weber Foundation website.
Applications for internships at the German Historical Institute in Warsaw are accepted twice a year (by March 15 and September 15). In addition to the application letter, you should include a tabular CV, copies of your certificates (high school diploma, intermediate exams), information on foreign language skills, a certificate of enrollment (if possible, already for the internship period applied for), a letter of recommendation from a university professor, and (only for internships in the academic field) information on a work topic to be pursued during the stay at the institute. They should be addressed to the Deputy Director of the German Historical Institute:
Dr. Jan Musekamp
German Historical Institute Warsaw/Niemiecki Instytut Historyczny w Warszawie
Pałac Karnickich
Aleje Ujazdowskie 39
PL-00-540 Warsaw
Tel.: +48-22-5258300
dhi(at)dhi.waw.pl
By accepting the internship, interns undertake to use their stay at the Institute for the intended purpose and to concentrate fully on their work; to inform the Institute's administration of any circumstances that may be relevant to the completion of the internship; to meet in person with the director, the head of the library, and the administrative management at the beginning and end of the internship period; to acknowledge and comply with the general rules of the institute and to participate in the meetings of the research staff and the scientific events of the institute (applies only to interns in the scientific field).
The selection of interns is the responsibility of the institute's management in consultation with the research departments or the library. Applicants have no legal claim to an internship. The internship approval may be revoked at any time if there are valid reasons for doing so.
At the end of the internship, the intern will receive a certificate of completion. The intern is required to write a short final report.
(Last updated: 1/2024)
Once a year, the Max Weber Foundation (MWS) confers Gerald D. Feldman Travel Grants to internationally oriented researchers in the humanities and social sciences who are in the qualification phase. The call for applications usually takes place in June with a deadline for applications in October.
Next deadline: October 5, 2025.
The scientists conduct a self-chosen research project in at least two and at most three host countries which are home to MWS institutes and branches (please note the current reference below) or at the Richard Koebner Minerva Center for German History in Israel. Placements (at most one month per host country, shorter stays are possible) are to be used for research, especially in libraries and archives. Academics are expected to produce transnational and transregional studies, providing research with new and original ideas.
The Prague branch of the German Historical Institute Warsaw (GHIW) offers research stays at its Prague apartment. Eligible are advanced junior scholars, working on their first or second books, whose projects align with the Institute’s research objectives. With this program, we support research in German and East Central European history that requires a stay in Prague/Czech Republic. The residence program is intended primarily for non-tenured, early-career scholars and is awarded for periods ranging from one to three months (depending on the research project).
The chief criterion for selection is excellence. In addition, we welcome applications from scholars working on topics related to the history of East Central Europe from the Middle Ages to the present, whose research profile corresponds to one or more of the GHIW’s key thematic areas: Memory, Violence, Mobility, and Space. Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate an interest in engaging with local academic institutions such as the Czech Academy of Sciences or Charles University.
We particularly draw your attention to the possibility of combining the residency with a short internship at the Institute for Contemporary History of the Czech Academy of Sciences (ÚSD AV ČR), one of the leading institutions in the field of modern history. Applicants interested in this opportunity should indicate it in their application. If selected for the program, they will discuss internship options as part of your individual residency plan.
The residency is designed to supplement additional funding that will not cover housing costs (e.g. Max Weber Foundation’s Gerald D. Feldman Travel Grants, etc.). Individuals residing in the Czech Republic are not eligible. Prospective scholars are obliged to indicate other income or other scholarships related to their research stay. They alone are responsible for meeting any obligations arising from this (e.g., duty to report to employers/ scholarship providers, taxation). They are fully responsible for any damage caused during their stay to the apartment and its furnishings and may be asked to provide financial compensation for any damage resulting from their negligence.
There is no entitlement to granting the residency from the GHIW, and it is contingent upon budgetary and logistical feasibility.
Deadline for applications 2025: July 31, 2025
