Berlin University Alliance

Fellows Club

The Fellows Club is the Alliance’s community for international grantees and visiting researchers from across disciplines and career stages. It offers an opportunity for scholars to strengthen their academic network in Berlin, creating connections that remain valuable no matter where their path takes them next. The Fellows Forum, taking place each academic semester, is an opportunity for scholars to exchange on their research and solidify their international Berlin University Alliance community.

Postdoc Academy

The Postdoc Academy supports early-career researchers in navigating their next academic or professional steps. It offers a comprehensive program that empowers postdocs to reflect on their career trajectories, sharpen their skills and expand their networks within and beyond academia. With a strong focus on interdisciplinary exchange and personal development, the Academy provides access to workshops, mentorship opportunities and cross-institutional peer engagement, helping postdoctoral researchers thrive in one of Europe’s most dynamic research environments.

Berlin Leadership Academy

Designed for academic leaders and senior research managers, the Berlin Leadership Academy enhances leadership skills across the Berlin University Alliance. It offers training, coaching and strategic development programs in German and English to equip professors and senior-level managers with tools for effective governance in academia. The Academy provides a supportive space to grow as a leader in science and academia—whether you're new to leadership or looking to deepend your existing skills.

Oxford-Berlin Research Partnership

This unique partnership brings together the University of Oxford and the Berlin University Alliance to jointly cultivate world-class research that transcends borders and disciplines. Researchers from all career stages can access flexible funding, mobility grants and collaborative project support through initiatives like the Flexible Funds or the Oxford Berlin Early Career Mobility programme. Networking events and an annual symposium offer opportunities from both locations to connect and exchange ideas.

Berlin Center for Global Engagement

The Berlin Center for Global Engagement is the Alliance’s hub for research cooperation with partners in the so-called Global South, as well as for academic freedom and science diplomacy. It supports collaborative projects addressing global challenges, hosts visiting scholars and offers training on international research practices. The Center’s projects and events promote research partnerships based on openness, reciprocity and responsibility, while innovative formats such as podcasts and theater initiatives make global research more accessible. The Center equips researchers with the tools to navigate the complexities of global academic collaboration.

Diversity and Gender Equality Network

The Diversity and Gender Equality Network is the Alliance’s heterogeneous competence platform for researchers and practitioners committed to advancing diversity and gender equality in academia. With over 270 members, the network facilitates expert exchange, working groups and strategic dialogue across disciplines and institutions. It builds on Berlin’s leading position in gender equity among professorships and aims to foster inclusive research environments that reflect the city’s rich diversity. The Network welcomes international scholars and practitioners seeking to engage with progressive academic communities on structural equality and inclusion.

Digital Network for University Collections

The Digital Network for University Collections connects over 100 diverse academic collections housed within the Berlin University Alliance partner institutions. This initiative promotes access, digitization and cross-disciplinary use of these valuable resources for teaching, research and public engagement. International researchers can benefit from the platform’s centralized database, IT support and curated content, while also contributing to knowledge transfer and heritage preservation. The project fosters community-building among collection holders and supports collaborative exploration of Berlin’s academic archives.

Laboratory for Transdisciplinary Research

The Laboratory for Transdisciplinary Research serves as the central platform for fostering transdisciplinary research in Berlin. It supports collaborative research processes that bring together scientists, civil society actors and practitioners to address complex, real-world problems. The Lab advances this research style through innovative methods, training programs and partnerships, facilitating the co-design and co-production of knowledge. Emphasizing diversity in approaches and the involvement of all participants throughout the research process, it champions a participatory model that integrates societal perspectives, aiming to create research that is both scientifically rigorous and socially impactful.

Student Research Opportunities Program^x

The Student Research Opportunities Program^x is BUA’s core program for strengthening the integration of cutting-edge research and academic teaching. Within this program, the X-Student Research Groups are designed to support early-career researchers, encouraging them to conduct projects with students based on their ongoing work. Researchers interested in setting up an X-Student Research Group can apply for funding twice a year by submitting a proposal. To highlight and connect student-driven research across Berlin, the program also hosts the Berlin Conference for Student Research, fostering visibility and dialogue within the academic community.