The Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS) at the University of Freiburg, Germany, has opened applications for its Early Career Fellowship Programme 2027/28, offering early career researchers an opportunity to spend between four and ten months conducting independent research in an international and interdisciplinary academic environment.
The programme is open to researchers from all nationalities and disciplines that can be supported at the University of Freiburg. The application deadline is 18 September 2026 at 13:00 CET, making this an important opportunity for eligible postdoctoral researchers planning their next major research project.
About the FRIAS Early Career Fellowship
FRIAS is the international research college of the University of Freiburg. Its fellowship programmes are designed to provide researchers with dedicated time to focus on their research while becoming part of an international academic community.
For the 2027/28 academic year, Early Career Fellowships will run for four to ten months between 1 September 2027 and 31 August 2028. Fellows are expected to be present full time at FRIAS during the fellowship because interdisciplinary exchange and interaction with other researchers form an important part of the programme.
The programme is not restricted to a particular academic discipline. Researchers whose projects can be supported by the University of Freiburg are eligible to apply. This makes the fellowship potentially relevant to scholars working in law, humanities, social sciences, economics, political science, technology and other research areas.
Fellowship Benefits
The FRIAS fellowship provides researchers with an opportunity to concentrate on their proposed research project without the usual pressures of their regular academic environment.
According to FRIAS, selected fellows receive either a fellowship contract with the University of Freiburg or alternative compensation depending on their circumstances. Fellows also receive a research cost contribution and reimbursement of travel costs for inbound and outbound journeys where applicable.
FRIAS also provides office space, access to University of Freiburg services and research infrastructure, and personalised organisational support. Assistance may include matters relating to accommodation, childcare and visa applications.
The fellowship therefore combines financial support with an academic environment designed to help researchers develop their projects and build international connections.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is intended for early career researchers who have completed their doctoral studies.
Applicants for the 2027/28 cycle must have a completed PhD and no more than eight years of postdoctoral experience. The programme is open to researchers of any nationality and to applicants based in Freiburg, elsewhere in Germany or abroad.
Applicants must also have at least four peer-reviewed publications since 1 January 2022. In addition, they must have at least six months of research or study experience at an academic institution in a country different from the country where they obtained their first academic degree by the time of application.
The international experience requirement is particularly relevant for researchers seeking to develop an international academic profile.
FRIAS also states that applications are evaluated through a highly competitive, strictly merit-based selection process. The expected success rate for eligible applications is approximately 5 percent, demonstrating the importance of submitting a strong research proposal and clearly presenting the significance and originality of the proposed project.
Research Proposal
The research project is one of the most important components of the application.
Applicants must submit a project proposal of no more than 3,000 words, including footnotes, headers, footers and bibliographical references. The application materials also include an abstract, a layperson’s abstract, a motivation statement and an ethical issue table.
The proposal should demonstrate that the research is academically significant, innovative and suitable for development within the University of Freiburg’s research environment.
For applicants from the legal field, this could provide an opportunity to develop projects involving areas such as constitutional law, human rights, international law, technology law, comparative law, environmental law, criminal justice or other areas that fit within Freiburg’s academic strengths.
Documents Required
Applicants are required to complete the online application and provide information about their academic background and proposed research.
The application requires contact details for two evaluators who know the applicant personally and are willing to provide an evaluation.
Applicants must also upload a project proposal, a CV in the prescribed tabular format, a publication list, and a copy of their PhD diploma. Additional documents concerning a host laboratory and experimental timetable apply only to experimental scientists.
The publication list may contain a maximum of eight publications, with four of those publications required to have been published after 1 January 2022 and to be peer reviewed.
A Competitive International Research Environment
One of the major attractions of the FRIAS fellowship is its interdisciplinary character. Researchers are able to work on their own projects while becoming part of a broader community of scholars from different disciplines and countries.
FRIAS describes its fellowship community as a global network of more than 1,000 scholars. Fellows also receive access to University of Freiburg resources and research infrastructure.
For early career researchers, such an environment can be particularly valuable for developing collaborations, receiving feedback on research ideas and establishing international academic connections.
Important Dates
The fellowship period for the 2027/28 cycle will fall between 1 September 2027 and 31 August 2028, with individual fellowships lasting between four and ten months.
The application deadline is 18 September 2026 at 13:00 CET.
Applicants should therefore begin preparing their research proposal, publication list, CV and other supporting documents well before the deadline.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted through the official FRIAS application process. Interested researchers should carefully read the programme information and application manual before submitting their materials.
Official application and programme information: FRIAS Early Career Fellowship Programme 2027/28
The official FRIAS website confirms that the deadline for the 2027/28 Early Career Fellowship is 18 September 2026 at 13:00 CET.
Conclusion
The FRIAS Early Career Fellowship Programme 2027/28 offers an attractive opportunity for recently qualified researchers who want to dedicate several months to an ambitious independent research project in Germany.
With funding, research support, access to University of Freiburg resources and an international interdisciplinary environment, the fellowship can provide an important platform for researchers seeking to strengthen their academic profile and develop internationally relevant research.
For law researchers and advocates pursuing academic research, the programme may be particularly valuable where the proposed project connects legal scholarship with broader social, technological, political or interdisciplinary questions. Given the highly competitive selection process, prospective applicants should focus carefully on the originality, international relevance and academic quality of their proposed research.
