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Updated December 2001 by Michael Wala
Hypertext version by Raimund Lammersdorf
Scholarships for Study and Research in the United States
Scholarships for Study and Research in Germany
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Perhaps the most prominent tasks of the German Historical Institute (GHI) in Washington, D.C., are to further academic relations between Germany and America and to promote the exchange of ideas between historians and social scientists in both countries. For this reason, the support of German and American graduate students and younger scholars has always been an important part of the GHI's mission. To date, several hundred students have benefited from GHI programs, and we currently support six fellowship and workshop programs for younger historians and social scientists.
After the Institute was founded in 1987 our goal was to publish a comprehensive guide to the numerous academic exchange programs, grants, and fellowships that are of interest to historians and social scientists, from graduate students to established scholars. The result was the German-American Scholarship Guide for Historians and Social Scientists, edited by Jürgen Heideking and Anne Hope, published in 1989. Five years later, Manfred Berg and Janine S. Micunek produced an updated and enlarged edition, titled the German-American Scholarship Guide: Exchange Opportunities for Historians and Social Scientists 1994/95.
Both guides have been in high demand over the years. However, because much of the information provided in those guides is now outdated, which is inherent in the very nature of such things, the GHI is proud to present this third, updated edition.
There are three main differences between this edition and earlier ones. First, it is more comprehensive, incorporating over 100 new programs that offer a variety of research and funding opportunities. Among the new listings are those offered by the centers at Georgetown University, the University of California at Berkeley, and Harvard University that focus on German and European studies; some grants-in-aid programs from presidential libraries and other institutions; programs in specialized fields, such as Jewish history, Jewish studies, and art history; and programs concentrating on specific time periods. Furthermore, there are several new listings in the fields of contemporary social studies, international affairs, and peace studies.
In addition, we have included a number of exchange and research opportunities for undergraduate students. These programs include various internships and summer programs that are designed to improve specific skills or to impart knowledge from selected classes in various academic disciplines.
We also have included e-mail and Web site addresses where available. Indeed, the vast majority of organizations listed in this guide now have their own Web sites. Although the information in this guide describes each program in brief, we strongly recommend that applicants contact the sponsoring organizations directly for additional information. This is particularly important because many scholarships, fellowships, and grants are funded on a year-to-year basis.
The new title of this guide, Research and Funding (instead of Scholarship Guide), reflects the wide range of programs listed herein. Although scholarships still comprise nearly half the entries, there are numerous other programs, such as small grants, summer programs, and internships, that provide an opportunity for students and scholars to study overseas or at other universities or with organizations. In most cases, the programs listed below include funding for participants. Nevertheless, a few programs without funding (some internships, for example) are listed because these programs give American and German scholars the opportunity to study abroad.
The subtitle of the guide refers to "historians and social scientists." We have adopted the definitions of these academic disciplines in their broadest sense, thus including programs in international affairs, regional studies, and so forth; only the fields of literature and linguistics are excluded. In general, funding for programs that are designed to aid in gaining a specific degree (an MBA, for example) are not included, nor are teaching assistantships because these are generally awarded to native speakers in foreign language and literature departments.
Like its predecessors, this guide is organized in two parts: The first deals with programs available for study and research in the United States, and the second describes those available for study and research in Germany. Grants are listed alphabetically under the sponsoring organizations. All information is presented in English, but we have retained the German names of organizations that do not use an official English equivalent. We also have cross-referenced grants and names of organizations whenever appropriate.
It is important to note that in addition to the opportunities for study in Germany included here, support is also available through the various German state governments (Länder). These scholarships are administered by the foreign studies office (Auslandsamt) at individual universities, which have all the necessary information concerning eligibility, application procedures, and scholarship provisions. Similarly, for study in the United States, it would be wise to contact universities directly to find out about scholarships, grants, or work-study possibilities offered in addition to the programs listed here.
Other excellent resources for information about research and funding opportunities include guides published by the American Historical Association (Grants, Fellowships & Prizes of Interest to Historians), the German Academic Exchange Council (Studium, Forschung, Lehre: Förderungsmöglichkeiten im Ausland für Deutsche), the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (Fulbright Scholar Program: Grants for Faculty and Professionals), the Council for European Studies (Fellowship Guide to Western Europe), and the International Institute of Education (Academic Year Abroad et al.).
The best way to search for potential funding on the Internet is the Gardinet Web site, at www.aicgs.org/gardinet. This new GHI guide has benefited greatly from the quickly available descriptions on Gardinet and similar Web sites.
Furthermore, it should be pointed out that the Foundation Center, an independent nonprofit information clearinghouse, offers a wealth of materials and information on funding that cannot be found elsewhere. This is especially true for smaller and more specialized grants and awards. The Foundation Center (at www.fdncenter.org) operates libraries in five U.S. cities: Atlanta, Cleveland, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. The libraries are open to the public free of charge, and professional reference librarians are on hand to assist you in your search.
This edition of the guide has built on the work of the previous guides, and we would therefore like to express our gratitude to their editors. Many thanks also go to Stefan Aßmann and Uta Balbier, who painstakingly checked and double-checked the entries. W also are indebted to Annette M. Marciel, who copyedited and laid out this guide, thereby greatly improving its style and presentation. Finally, we would like to thank all institutions and individuals who contributed their time, effort, and knowledge to this publication.
The GHI is confident that this new guide will be a useful tool for researchers in both Germany and the United States, and that it will contribute to the fostering of transatlantic study, research, and exchange.
Washington, D.C., May 1999
Christof Mauch
Birgit Zischke