Leo Baeck Fellowship

Fellowships for doctoral researchers around the world working in the field of German-Jewish studies.

The Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes (usually referred to as ‘Studienstiftung’) is the oldest and largest programme for talented scholars in Germany. It supports the education of young scholars whose excellent scientific or artistic skills and personality are likely to benefit the general public. The choice of scholarship holders is made independently of political, ideological or religious views. The Studienstiftung’s main source of funding is the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), although it also receives donations from other Ministries, companies and individuals.

The international Leo Baeck Fellowship Programme awards fellowships to doctoral students who carry out research into the German-Jewish studies on history and culture. Projects on any period or field are welcome (including literature, philosophy, history, musicology), and any region (such as Europe, Israel, the Americas).

In addition to financial support for one year, the programme provides opportunities to exchange ideas with peers from around the world. All fellows remain at their home institution, but come together for two workshops in the course of the fellowship, which are jointly organised by the Studienstiftung, the Leo Baeck Institute London and the Leibniz-Institute for Jewish History and Culture – Simon Dubnow Leipzig.

The programme bears the name of Rabbi Dr Leo Baeck, who was one of the most important personalities of German Jewry in the twentieth century.

Up to 10 fellows will be selected for the programme in the academic year 2024/25. Regular workshops and an intranet platform provide support for fellowship holders and enable them to present their research and discuss methodologies and findings with other fellows. Working languages are German and English.

The Studienstiftung runs the programme with financial support from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).