PhD & Research Funding, Gerda Henkel Foundation
Main fields: Historical humanities, including Historical Islamic Studies
Application Deadline: 31 October 2026

The Gerda Henkel Foundation is a German foundation supporting research in the historical humanities. Its priority areas include history, archaeology, history of art, history of law, history of science and Historical Islamic Studies. Its funding programs cover researchers at different stages, from doctoral candidates to postdoctoral scholars.
The Foundation’s PhD Scholarship supports highly qualified doctoral candidates whose research shows exceptional academic promise. Historical Islamic Studies is explicitly listed among the priority fields. Applicants must have been admitted to a doctoral program, and the scholarship is intended for the research phase of the dissertation rather than for completing a PhD after other funding has ended.
The scholarship provides a €1,920 monthly base stipend for 12–24 months, with a possible extension of up to 12 additional months in justified cases. Additional support may include travel funding, research materials, an overseas allowance and family allowances. Around 50 PhD scholarships are currently awarded each year.
The PhD program is aimed at exceptionally qualified early-career researchers in the historical humanities. Applicants must already have admission to doctoral studies. The Foundation’s current requirements also include an age and academic-performance criterion: candidates must not yet have turned 28 at the time of the qualifying degree, and the overall degree grade generally must be 1.5 or better under the German grading system.
For scholars who have already completed a PhD, the Foundation offers Research Scholarships for independent research projects. Historical Islamic Studies is again explicitly included among the priority fields. Postdoctoral researchers receive €2,760 per month, with funding normally lasting 1–24 months. Applicants with a PhD generally must have received it within the previous 10 years.
The Foundation also supports larger or more specific research projects through its Research Grants program. Funding can support research-related personnel, travel, materials and other project costs. Smaller grants of up to €30,000 can be submitted at any time, while larger applications are considered through the Foundation’s regular selection process.