The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has opened applications for its Lecture Tour Program 2025–2026, a prestigious mobility initiative that supports doctoral researchers and PhD candidates in Germany to present their work at institutions abroad — outside of major conferences.
Funded by Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, the program blends academic diplomacy, sustainable travel, and international knowledge exchange. It invites researchers to carry German innovation beyond borders, fostering meaningful collaborations through focused lectures and dialogues with global peers.
The Essence of the Lecture Tour Program
At its heart, the Lecture Tour Program is about visibility — not just for research, but for the people behind it. While large conferences often favor senior academics and established voices, this DAAD initiative gives emerging researchers the chance to stand in front of an international audience, on their own terms, with their own discoveries.
Unlike typical conference funding, this program specifically excludes congress participation. Instead, it funds individual invitations from host universities or research centers that wish to engage directly with a German researcher. The goal is to deepen bilateral academic relationships and to seed collaborations that grow into joint papers, exchange programs, or co-supervised projects.
It’s part of Germany’s broader academic outreach strategy — empowering researchers as cultural and scientific ambassadors who carry their expertise into lecture halls from Lisbon to Lagos, from Seoul to Santiago.
Why Apply for the DAAD Lecture Tour Program?
For early-career researchers, this program offers far more than travel funding — it’s a career accelerator. It enables doctoral scholars to:
- Present their work to international audiences
- Develop institutional partnerships that can lead to joint research or postdoctoral offers
- Gain recognition for their expertise at an early career stage
- Represent Germany’s research excellence abroad
- Travel sustainably with financial support
The Lecture Tour Program stands out as a direct bridge between German scholarship and global collaboration, particularly for those who wish to share specialized research with targeted institutions rather than through broad conferences.
Who Can Apply?
Applications are open to:
- Doctoral researchers and PhD students currently affiliated with a recognized German university or research institution.
- Both German and international scholars based in Germany are welcome to apply.
This inclusivity ensures that all emerging researchers working in Germany — regardless of nationality — have access to international engagement opportunities that enhance both their research profile and the global reputation of German academia.
Applicants must secure an invitation letter from a host institution abroad that details the lecture or seminar arrangement. The lecture should not coincide with an international congress or conference, as the purpose of this funding line is to promote direct institutional exchange.
What the DAAD Lecture Tour Program Funds?
The DAAD provides travel expense allowances based on the distance between the researcher’s location in Germany and the host institution abroad. To calculate this, applicants can use tools like luftlinie.org or distance.to to determine the “as-the-crow-flies” distance in kilometers.
The program has four funding categories:
1# Online Participation (Category 1): This category is not applicable for lecture tours but applies to some other DAAD travel programs.
2# Short-Haul Travel (Category 2) — Up to 600 km: This covers regional travel across nearby European destinations.
- Travel must be climate-friendly, using trains, buses, or long-distance coaches.
- Air and car travel are not funded under this category.
- Successful applicants receive a flat-rate allowance and a Green Mobility Top-Up of at least €50 for both outbound and return travel.
3# Medium-Haul Travel (Category 3) — 601 to 3,700 km (including the UK): This applies to travel across wider Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia or North Africa.
- Scholars can choose their mode of transport.
- DAAD offers a flat-rate allowance and eco-bonuses for sustainable travel modes.
- Those opting for flights can receive 50% reimbursement of voluntary CO₂ offset contributions.
4# Long-Haul Travel (Category 4) — Over 3,701 km: This covers intercontinental travel to destinations such as the Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, or Asia-Pacific.
- DAAD provides a travel expense allowance for air travel and covers 50% of CO₂ offset payments if voluntarily made.
- Important Update: As of September 10, 2025, the DAAD announced that Category 4 funding is temporarily closed for travel up to February 2026 due to high demand — the funding pool exceeded capacity by more than fourfold.
- Categories 2 and 3 remain open, allowing researchers to continue applying for short- and medium-distance lecture tours.
This sustainability-centered approach reflects DAAD’s commitment to responsible mobility, ensuring that international research collaboration does not come at the expense of the planet.
Additional Funding Rules
Researchers must use any third-party travel funding available before requesting DAAD support. If another organization provides climate-mobility support, the DAAD’s Green Mobility Top-Up or CO₂ reimbursement cannot be combined.
This ensures equitable distribution of DAAD resources and prevents overlapping sustainability incentives.
Application Process and Documents Required
Applications must be submitted via the DAAD online portal, following the official instructions titled “Create and Manage Portal Applications.”
A complete application package includes:
- DAAD Lecture Program Online Application Form
- V1: Questionnaire for Lecture Tour Program
- V2: Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- V3: Motivation Letter / Research Justification
- V4: Latest Academic Certificate (informal proof with grade accepted for recent PhD graduates)
- V5: Invitation Letter from Host Institution
- V6: Optional supporting documents (awards, travel grants, recognitions, etc.)
Applications may be written in German or English. If certificates or invitations are issued in another language, applicants must attach an informal English or German translation.
Application Deadline and Review Process
Applications can be submitted year-round, but must reach DAAD no later than 30 days before the planned lecture date.
Once received, the DAAD typically conducts a formal review within two weeks, followed by a content and budget evaluation. Final results are usually communicated two weeks before the scheduled lecture.
If you’re a doctoral candidate eager to expand your academic horizons and strengthen your international presence, this is a golden opportunity to take your research global under the DAAD banner.