Looking to advance your academic career through international research collaboration in Germany? The Berlin University Alliance Visiting Opportunities offer a wide array of prestigious short-term fellowships, professorships, mobility funding, and research partnerships designed to attract global talent to Berlin’s top institutions: Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. These programs are ideal for researchers, professors, and university staff seeking academic mobility, joint project development, or safe haven through initiatives like the Philipp Schwartz Initiative or Einstein Fellowships. Whether you're pursuing Open Science, interdisciplinary exchange, or academic freedom support, the Berlin University Alliance connects you to well-funded, impactful programs at the heart of Europe’s innovation capital.

Berlin University Alliance Visiting Opportunities

The Berlin University Alliance offers a range of short-term and visiting programs designed to foster international collaboration and exchange across disciplines and career stages. These opportunities are generally accessible once a host institution within the Alliance—Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, or Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin—has been established. Whether through fellowships, professorships, mobility funding, or binational research partnerships, these programs support researchers in building meaningful connections and advancing shared knowledge on a global scale.

The Berlin University Alliance Fellowship Program to advance Research Quality and Value offers both Incoming and Outgoing Fellowships to support research quality and Open Science. Incoming Fellowships invite international experts to conduct research and contribute to academic initiatives at BUA institutions. Outgoing Fellowships enable researchers and science support staff based at these institutions to spend 1–3 months at partner institutions in Germany or abroad, exploring new theoretical and methodological approaches. Applicants must already be affiliated with a BUA institution or be nominated by one.

The Audre Lorde Visiting Professorship for Intersectional Diversity Studies, named after the influential writer and activist, is a prestigious short-term professorship for internationally renowned scholars working at the intersections of diversity, sustainability, postcolonial theory, and social justice. Hosted by one of the Berlin University Alliance institutions, the program prioritizes nominations of scholars from the Global South whose work bridges theory and practical impact. Scholars are nominated through the Diversity and Gender Equality Network, with the next round hosted by Technische Universität Berlin in 2026.

Administered by the Berlin Center for Global Engagement, these Flexible Travel Funds support short-term research mobility between Berlin University Alliance institutions and partners in the Global South. Both Incoming and Outgoing funding are available to deepen existing collaborations in research or capacity building. Applicants must be postdocs or professors affiliated with a Berlin University Alliance university and are expected to pursue joint outcomes such as co-authored publications or third-party funding proposals. Applications for 2025 close in April, with mobility possible from June to November of the same year.

The Oxford Berlin Research Partnership is a flagship collaboration between the University of Oxford and the Berlin University Alliance, supporting joint research across national and disciplinary boundaries. It offers a variety of funding schemes, including Flexible Funds for project development, Seed Funding for emerging collaborations, Early Career Mobility grants, and the Einstein BUA/Oxford Visiting Fellowships for longer-term visits. These programs are open to researchers at all career stages and are designed to foster enduring, high-impact collaborations between Berlin and Oxford-based scholars.

Visiting Opportunities at BUA Universities and Charité

In most cases, departments themselves administer visiting appointments, so it is highly recommended to inquire directly with the relevant academic unit:

• Freie Universität Berlin offers multiple funding routes for hosting international scholars, including central and departmental guest researcher funds, test stays for potential doctoral candidates, and the Global Faculty Program. Departments often manage their own resources, so reaching out to your intended host unit is essential to explore options.
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin supports visiting scholars through guest researcher grants. Interested researchers should consult HU's International Department and their intended faculty partner to learn about applicable funding and hosting possibilities.
• Technische Universität Berlin provides stipends for visiting scholars, doctoral candidates, and professors through departmental applications. These are typically used to support short-term research stays and foster international collaboration. Applications must be submitted through the respective TU department, which oversees guest invitations.
• Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, through Stiftung Charité, offers the prestigious Visiting Fellows Program, supporting established researchers in developing collaborative projects or launching research groups. Scholars interested in this program should coordinate closely with a host unit to align goals and prepare a joint application.

Humboldt Research Fellowship

The Humboldt Research Fellowship, offered by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, supports exceptionally qualified researchers from around the world for independent research stays in Germany lasting between 6 and 24 months. Open to both postdoctoral and experienced researchers from all disciplines, the fellowship provides generous funding (€2,700/month for postdocs and €3,200/month for experienced researchers), additional family and travel allowances, and access to a wide-ranging alumni support network. Applicants must secure a host at a German research institution and are encouraged to prepare thorough, compliant applications, as only about 20–25% are approved. The fellowship fosters global collaboration, career development, and long-term engagement through flexible terms and strong institutional support.

Einstein Visiting Fellowship

The Einstein Visiting Fellowship program, funded by the Einstein Foundation Berlin, enables distinguished international researchers to establish a long-term presence in Berlin’s academic landscape by setting up a working group in collaboration with a local host institution—such as one of Berlin’s universities or Charité. Unlike typical short-term fellowships, this program fosters lasting integration into Berlin’s research ecosystem and sustained collaboration with the Fellow’s home institution. With funding of up to €750,000 over a period of up to four years, the program supports research personnel, operational costs, and a modest allowance for the Fellow. Open to non-resident researchers (including German nationals abroad), the fellowship offers a strategic opportunity to deepen cross-border research ties in a structured and impactful way.

The Berlin University Alliance for Scholars at Risk

The Berlin University Alliance is strongly committed to supporting international scholars whose academic freedom is under threat. Each institution provides its own structures and dedicated advisory support for at-risk researchers, offering pathways for academic continuation, safety, and integration in Berlin’s academic community.

The Berlin University Alliance has hosted hundreds of scholars at risk through various channels, including the Philipp Schwartz Initiative of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Einstein Guest Researcher Program for Academic Freedom, among other internal and external funding schemes. Collectively, the universities participate in national and international advocacy for academic freedom, including sustained involvement in the Scholars at Risk Network. If you are a scholar at risk, the best course of action is to reach out directly to the university most aligned with your field for tailored guidance on eligibility and support:

• Freie Universität Berlin
  • Contact: Stefan Rummel, Tel.: +49 30 838-73402,
  • Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
    • Contact: Neda Soltani, Welcome Centre, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin or int.refugees@hu-berlin.de, Tel.: +49 30 2093 20087
    • Technische Universität Berlin
      • Offers for Scholars at Risk (DE only)
      • Contact: Christina Stahlbock
      • scholarsatrisk@international.tu-berlin.de
      • Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin: International Affairs
        • Contact: international@charite.de

The Philipp Schwartz Initiative, launched in 2015 by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the German Federal Foreign Office, offers fellowships to researchers who face serious personal threats in their home countries. Named after Austrian pathologist Philipp Schwartz—who fled Nazi Germany and created the Emergency Society of German Scholars Abroad—the initiative enables at-risk scholars to continue their research at German institutions under secure conditions.

Universities of the Alliance are active hosts of Philipp Schwartz Fellows. The fellowship typically supports researchers for up to 24 months, with a possible 12-month extension via co-funding. The program partners with organizations like the Scholars at Risk Network and the Council for At-Risk Academics to match scholars with host institutions. Interested researchers cannot apply directly but must be nominated by eligible German institutions; those seeking placement should approach a potential host university to explore nomination possibilities.

The Einstein Guest Researcher Program, funded by the Einstein Foundation Berlin, provides two forms of support to researchers whose academic freedom is restricted or who face threats to their safety. Scholars can apply for Immediate Support—a short-term scholarship for up to 12 months while still abroad—or for Advanced Support, which offers a salaried position and research funding for up to two years for scholars already in Germany or a safe third country.

To apply, prospective fellows must secure a host at one of the eligible Berlin institutions, including those in the Berlin University Alliance. Applications are submitted through the host university, not directly to the Einstein Foundation. The program strengthens Berlin’s standing as a hub for academic freedom and welcomes scholars across disciplines to continue their research free from external pressures.

Erasmus+ at the Berlin University Alliance

Professors, researchers, and university staff interested in academic exchange and collaboration can pursue short-term teaching or training stays at one of the four institutions of the Berlin University Alliance: Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Through the Erasmus+ programme, staff from universities outside Germany can engage in international mobility to deliver guest lectures, lead workshops, participate in research development, or take part in structured training and professional development activities such as staff weeks or job shadowing.

Erasmus+ mobility is open to staff from universities that hold a formal Erasmus+ inter-institutional agreement with one of the Berlin institutions. These agreements allow visiting academic and administrative personnel to spend time at a partner university abroad while receiving support for travel and living expenses. Mobility stays typically range from a few days to a couple of months and must be clearly defined in terms of academic or training objectives. Applications must be made through the home institution, in coordination with both the sending and receiving universities.

Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany’s largest university hospital, is jointly operated by Freie Universität and Humboldt-Universität. As such, Erasmus+ mobility involving Charité is administered through either FU or HU, depending on the agreement and departmental affiliation. Technische Universität Berlin also participates actively in Erasmus+ and independently coordinates its own incoming and outgoing mobility. Each of the universities provides institutional support to help visitors navigate the application process, prepare necessary documentation, and organize their stay in Berlin.

To participate, staff must first ensure that a cooperation agreement exists between their home institution and the relevant Berlin university. Once confirmed, they will work with local Erasmus+ coordinators to prepare a mobility agreement outlining the purpose and content of their visit. Additional documents typically include proof of employment, confirmation of insurance coverage, and other administrative forms that vary by institution. The focus of the visit may relate to teaching, joint project development, curriculum design, or gaining insight into institutional practices.

To get started, prospective visitors should consult the Erasmus+ or international pages of the relevant university:

• Freie Universität Berlin
• Humbolt-Universität zu Berlin
• Technische Universität Berlin
• Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin