DAAD €7,000 Scholarships to Attend Conference with Funded Travel Inviting Applications
Young researchers working on academic freedom, university governance, integrity in higher education, and democracy in academia now have a rare international recognition opportunity to compete for in Europe. Germany’s German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has officially opened applications for the Fundamental Academic Values Award 2026, an international competition designed to honor early-career scientists researching the future of higher education and academic values across the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
Unlike conventional scholarship programs focused only on grades or technical research output, this award specifically targets scholars examining the foundations that keep universities independent, credible, democratic, and academically free. The initiative is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), and this year’s edition will once again select three international winners.
What Makes This DAAD Award Different?
At a time when universities around the world are facing debates over freedom of expression, institutional independence, academic censorship, and public trust in higher education, the DAAD award is positioning itself as more than just a cash prize. It is becoming a platform for emerging scholars to shape future European academic policy discussions.
The award revolves around the “fundamental academic values” promoted within the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education Area. According to the official DAAD announcement, the recognized values include:
- Academic freedom
- Academic integrity
- Institutional autonomy
- Participation of students and staff in higher education governance
- Public responsibility for higher education
- Public responsibility of higher education institutions
The initiative has already completed two previous editions in 2022 and 2024, where three researchers were awarded during each cycle. The 2026 edition now aims to attract a broader global pool of young researchers from multiple academic disciplines.
Prize Money and Benefits for Awardees
The DAAD Fundamental Academic Values Award 2026 offers significant financial and academic recognition benefits.
The three selected winners will receive:
- First Prize: €7,000
- Second Prize: €6,000
- Third Prize: €5,000
In addition to the monetary prize, all awardees will also receive:
- Invitation to present their research at a public conference in late 2026 or early 2027
- Fully funded travel expenses
- Covered accommodation costs for the conference event in Germany
For many young researchers, this conference presentation opportunity could become equally valuable as the financial award itself, especially for building academic visibility and networking within European higher education policy circles.
Who Can Apply?
The competition is open internationally and accepts applicants from all academic disciplines and nationalities. However, applicants must qualify as early-career researchers. According to DAAD, eligible candidates include:
- Researchers holding a Master’s degree or Doctoral degree
- Graduates whose degree was completed in 2021 or later
- Applicants from any nationality or academic background
The organization also clarified that exceptions may be granted in special circumstances such as maternity leave, illness, disability, or displacement caused by conflict.
What Type of Research Can Be Submitted?
Applicants must submit one academic publication directly linked to fundamental academic values in higher education.
DAAD stated that the publication must clearly contribute to academic debates connected with the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Research focused on unrelated human rights issues or broader political rights without a higher education connection will not qualify. Accepted publication formats include:
- Journal articles
- Conference papers
- Book chapters
- Dissertation chapters
- Entire theses or books
- Anthology contributions
Importantly, the publication must have been published in 2021 or later.
Can Co-Authored Research Be Submitted?
Yes. DAAD confirmed that multi-author publications are acceptable. However, applications must be submitted individually, and applicants must clearly explain their principal contribution to the work.
Similarly, researchers with multiple publications may only submit one publication for consideration.
Documents Required for Application
Applicants must prepare a complete application package in English, including:
- Motivation letter (maximum 800 words)
- Publication abstract (maximum 400 words)
- Original publication
- Additional 2,000-word summary if the publication is not in English or exceeds 20 pages
- Academic CV without chronological gaps
- Publication list with bibliographic details
- Optional proof of volunteer or governance activities.
Application Deadline
The last date to apply for the DAAD Fundamental Academic Values Award 2026 is 22 June 2026 (midnight CEST). Applicants selected for the award will be informed of results in October 2026.
Why This Opportunity Matters?
For many early-career researchers, funding opportunities are usually concentrated around STEM innovation, engineering, AI, or business research. Opportunities focused specifically on protecting academic systems, governance ethics, and university independence remain relatively rare.
This DAAD initiative stands out because it rewards research that examines how universities themselves function in democratic societies — an area becoming increasingly important globally amid debates surrounding academic freedom, research independence, and public trust in higher education institutions.
Researchers working in education policy, sociology, political science, law, ethics, governance, international relations, or university administration studies may find this award especially relevant.