Centres for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences

Centres for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences are a special type of funding instrument specifically tailored to the working methods used in those disciplines.

Centres enable particularly distinguished researchers to collaborate for the purposes of further developing a research topic in the humanities and social sciences in a certain location.

The aim here is to tackle a topic so broadly defined that it ties into existing interests and strengths at the site, while remaining capable of providing a framework for the integration of different individual research concepts.

As special venues for research in the humanities and social sciences, Centres for Advanced Studies can underpin their distinctive profile and appeal based on the deliberate choice of a comparatively open-ended question or by organising an event of a distinctly novel character. There is no specific requirement in terms of thematic orientation, nor does the programme necessarily have to be interdisciplinary.

The key characteristics of Centres for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences are

  • intensive independent research usually performed by 2-3 responsible researchers – where applicable, made possible through leave of absence – and
  • a fellow programme for visiting researchers from Germany and abroad; these visiting researchers are to be invited for periods of up to two years and will maintain links with the centre once their visit is over.

The funding period is up to eight years. The proposal process is a multi-stage one. Draft proposals are accepted on the basis of a call for proposals. The submission of a revised draft application is possible once.

Once an advisory group has selected the most promising proposals, applicants are requested to draw up a full proposal.

Responsibility for Centres for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences and for advising interested researchers lies with the programme directors of the relevant subject area.

Questions not related to a specific project and general aspects of Centres for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences can be addressed to the coordinators for the funding scheme:

For administrative and organisational questions, please contact