Scholars at risk

The University of Münster is committed to supporting threatened researchers who have been forced to flee their home countries. The support programmes designed to assist these scholars are bundled within the department Researchers & Staff of the International Office (Welcome Centre). The Welcome Centre offers competent, personal and individualised counselling services, providing assistance with scholarship applications and residence permits, finding accommodation, promoting integration and offering career perspectives for the future. The offer is aimed at researchers themselves and equally at host departments.

15th call for applications by the Philipp Schwartz Initiative

Unfortunately, the next call for applications does not yet have a start date. However, if you are generally interested in applying for the next round or supporting researchers at risk, please feel free to contact the University of Münster's Welcome Centre for more information.

For further details and application documents, visit the Philipp Schwartz Initiative website.

  • Scholarships

    Philipp Schwartz Initiative (PSI)

    • for highly qualified researchers (Dr/PhD-level and higher)
    • applicants require a mentor at the University of Münster
    • applications submitted via the Welcome Centre (please note: the Welcome Centre cannot provide assistance with finding a suitable mentor)
    • submission deadline for applications
    • 2-year funding period, additional one-year extension is possible


    Programme website: Philipp Schwartz Initiative

    Walter Benjamin Programme

    • for highly-qualified researchers (Dr/PhD-level and higher)
    • applicants require a mentor at the University of Münster
    • applications submitted via the Welcome Centre (please note: the Welcome Centre cannot provide assistance with finding a suitable mentor)
    • 2-year funding period, extensions are possible to a limited extent
    • applications can be submitted at any time

    Programme website: Walter Benjamin

    Scholar Rescue Fund

    • for highly-qualified researchers (Dr/PhD-level and higher)
    • applicants require a mentor at the University of Münster
    • applications submitted via the Welcome Centre (please note: the Welcome Centre cannot provide assistance with finding a suitable mentor)
    • applications can be submitted at any time
    • 1-year funding period, extensions are possible

    Programme website: Scholar Rescue Fund

    Eastern Europe Programme by the Carl Friedrich von Siemens foundation

    • for highly-qualified researchers (Dr/PhD-level and higher) from Eastern Europe
    • applicants require a mentor at the University of Münster
    • applications submitted via the Welcome Centre (please note: the Welcome Centre cannot provide assistance with finding a suitable mentor)
    • applications can be submitted at any time
    • 1-year funding period

    Programme website: Osteuropa-Programm der Carl Friedrich von Siemens Stiftung

  • Partnerships

    • Scholars at Risk network: The University of Münster is a member of the Germany Section.

  • For mentors

    We are pleased that you would like to support threatened researchers who have been forced to flee their home countries. If you require further information or have questions, please contact us via email at international.researchers@uni-muenster.de.