Funding options for doctoral students

The Saarland Graduate Research and Arts Funding Programme

The Saarland Graduate Research and Arts Funding Programme GradUSaar provides scholarships that can support academic research projects and artistic projects at Saarland University, the University of Art and Design Saar (HBKsaar), the University of Music (HfM Saar) and the University of Applied Sciences (htw saar).

1. Basic scholarship:
   A basic scholarship supports academic or artistic projects from the start.
2. Completion grant:
   A completion grant supports academic or artistic projects that are expected to be completed within one year.
3. Start-up or bridge funding grants:
   In certain cases, funding may be awarded as start-up grant or interim support – either to help launch a project or to bridge a gap in funding for an ongoing project.

Next application deadline: 15 May each year; funding is scheduled to start in the following October.

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GradUS global
The 'GradUS global' programme aims to strengthen internationalization in the university's doctoral research landscape and to support doctoral students by offering funding for conference trips and research stays at academic institutions abroad.

Applications must be received no later than 

• 1 November for activities taking place between 1 January and 30 June of the following year
• 1 June for activities taking place between 1 July and 31 December of the same year
   

GoOut! Service Center
International Office, Campus Center, Building A4 4
Tel.: +49 681 302-71138
outgoing(at)uni-saarland.de 
You can book a consultation session online using the  online appointment scheduler.

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Internationalization Fund
Saarland University is evolving into a multilingual university with strong ties across Europe and throughout the world. This process is being driven by the commitment of those who see internationality as a core component of their day-to-day work and who foster and support the further internationalization of the university through their international teaching and research activities and through innovative transnational projects and services. The Internationalization Fund has been created by Saarland University as an instrument to encourage and support these internationalization initiatives. The Senate's Internationalization Committee, which is chaired by the Vice-President for Internationalization and European Relations, can provide funding for internationalization projects in three main funding categories.

1. Internationalization in practice
2. Strategic partnerships
3. Flagship projects

An overview of the funding categories, eligibility criteria and application deadlines is provided in this video.

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UniGR
Many of the partner universities within the University of the Greater Region network (UniGR) have collaboration seed grants available to help you establish or strengthen ties to other researchers within UniGR, as well as mobility funds to help you collaborate in-person and access resources at UniGR partner institutions.

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Publication services
The Saarland University and State Library provides several publication services on behalf of Saarland University: 

• It hosts the SciDok publication server, which offers free online access to electronic documents produced by members of Saarland University.
• It manages the publishing house universaar (Saarland University Press), through which researchers can publish their academic work. A free electronic open-access version will be made available online; if requested by the author, a printed version (charges apply) can also be produced for retail purchase.
• It hosts the SaarDok archive server for archiving, indexing and making available regional electronic documents. Each document that is archived is assigned a permanent and unique identifier, which ensures that is permanently citable.

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Publication grants
Saarland University does not currently offer dedicated funding to cover publication costs. The Research Management Division has compiled an overview of funding opportunities available in Germany for printing dissertations, habilitation theses and other publications. If you have questions, please contact the Research Management Division directly or the relevant funding bodies. 

Overview (PDF)

The Early Career Office supports doctoral researcher-led, collaborative and transdisciplinary activities that foster networking and support academic and related career development. Activities supported include:

• internal or external retreat-style meetings for doctoral researchers
• peer-organized workshops or working groups
• participation in renowned interdisciplinary exchange formats (e.g. the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting)
• academic excursions involving doctoral researchers from different disciplines
• visits to research-relevant cultural or economic institutions
• visits to job and career fairs for early-career researchers
• participation in transdisciplinary information events and professional development activities

How to apply
You can apply informally at any time by email or by post. Please address your application to the Early Career Office. A decision is usually made within a few days of receiving your application. 
Your application should include at least the following information:

• a brief description of the activity (or activities) to be funded
• the names of the doctoral researchers involved
• a breakdown of the (estimated) costs involved and the amount of funding being sought

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