Funding Opportunities & Calls for Application

Funding of research groups through the Rhineland-Palatinate Research Initiative 2024-2028 

The Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate’s research funding will be continued in 2024 -2028 through its Research Initiative. Proposals can be submitted to the following research programmes:

Strategic Research Fund I: start-up funding for new research ideas for collaborative research projects (funding volume up to 10.000 €)

Eligible applicants are professors (junior professors with tenure track included). Applications can be submitted any time. Funding decisions are expected four times a year (in February, April, June and October).

Strategic Research Fund II: start-up funding for the development of applications for collaborative research projects within the university‘s internal competition

The selection of research projects will be made through a university-internal competition, and in accordance with the procedure established in 2022/2023.

Start-up Funding for Research Projects

The start-up funding of research projects is financed by the Research Fund of Trier University.

Funding programme “Career Goal: Professor – Boost Fund to Prepare for Professorship”

The funding programme supports outstanding female postdoctoral researchers and junior professors without a tenure-track position who are employed at Trier University in developing an independent academic profile. Funding is provided in particular for measures to strengthen eligibility for appointment to a (junior) professorship. The grant amounts to up to 50,000 € for one year and can be used flexibly, e.g. for staff, teaching leave, networking, research stays, coaching and equipment.

Travel expense funding for travel to conferences and congresses

PhD and habilitation candidates of Trier University that participate in an international conference abroad with their own contribution/paper can apply for this funding by the Research Fund.

Funding of Scientific Events

The university supports initiatives for workshops, conventions or conferences held at Trier University.

Applying to the Nikolaus Koch Stiftung

The Nikolaus Koch Stiftung is committed to fostering early, school, vocational and advanced education in the Trier region.

The foundation’s guiding principle is to seed fund individual projects, while refraining from full funding. In accordance with the foundation’s statutes, the funding is restricted to the former administrative district of Tier.

Within the scope of the foundation’s statutes, research projects are eligible for funding, so long as they are explicitly practice-oriented and show measurable benefits or applicability. Basic research needs to be in line with the foundation’s purpose.

See the foundation’s website

Applying to the Herbert and Veronika Reh Stiftung

The foundation’s purpose consists in the support of youth and the elderly, as well as of the welfare system. This includes the care of vulnerable people, be it on account of their age (elderly and children, adolescents and young individuals), state of health or their social/economic situation, as well as the fostering of science, research and education, including student support.

See the foundation’s website

Start-up funding for Postdoc Qualification Projects

The Trier University calls for applications to a start-up funding for the preparation of Postdoc Qualification Projects, which is financed by the Rhineland-Palatinate Research Initiative.
The main objective of the funding program is to foster outstanding postdocs during the preparation of a proposal exposé to funding institutions.

Start-up funding for the Initial Stage of a Doctorate

Trier University grants start-up funding for the initial stage of the doctorate, which is financed by the Rhineland-Palatinate Research Initiative.
The main objective of the funding programme is to foster outstanding graduates of Master, Diploma, Magister and state examination programmes in their endeavour to prepare their dissertation project at Trier University (e.g.  the preparation of a proposal exposé to funding institutions.

Short-term Funding for the Final Stage of a Doctorate

Trier University grants funding for PhD candidates in the final stages of their doctorate to finish their dissertation, including its submission or to prepare the oral exam, which is financed by the Rhineland-Palatinate Research Initiative.
Only outstanding PhD candidates will be eligible.
The applications can be submitted to the Research Support Office upon their supervisor’s recommendation only.

Applying to the Association Freundeskreis Trierer Universität e. V.

The Association Freundeskreis Trierer Universität e. V. supports the university’s research, teaching and culture. It funds smaller projects, conferences, excursions, field-related student activities, as well as events that carry cultural and public impact.

Applications to the Association Freundeskreis Trierer Universität e. V. can only be submitted through the Team Transfer and Innovation.

Every two years, the Association Freundeskreis Trierer Universität e. V. confers an Award for International Commitment, dedicated to outstanding contributions for the internationalisation of Trier University..

Applying to the Wissenschaftsallianz Trier e. V.

The Wissenschaftsallianz Trier e. V.’s main task is to strengthen and expand already existing and new cooperation between universities, research institutes, municipal and clerical institutions as well as companies, administrations, chambers, associations and initiatives. It funds smaller research projects, conferences and events. The cooperation of at least two institutions of the Scientific Alliance is a prerequisite for funding.

Applications to the Association Wissenschaftsallianz Trier e. V. can only be submitted through the Team Transfer and Innovation.

Teaching Incentive Fund (TIF)

The Teaching Incentive Fund (TIF) of the Teaching Support Office (AGIL) supports the redesign, improvement and consolidation of innovative teaching and learning formats at Trier University. To this end, the fund allocates funding with the total amount of 30.000 EUR for the development or evolution of course or module structures in accordance with their demand. The new development of courses with high innovative potential, the initiation of pilot schemes that lead to third party funding in course development, as well as the revision and evolution of already existing courses/modules that are already embedded in the curriculum

The TIF is directed towards teaching staff of all Faculties and Subjects that possess autonomous teaching responsibility..

Funding of student initiatives and groups with an international context

The Trier University promotes student initiatives and groups that either show special commitment towards the internationalisation of teaching or give a sustainable on-site contribution concerning  Diversity at Trier University. The funding per project is limited to a maximum of 7,500 €. The maximum accessible funding per year amounts to 20,000 €..

This is a fixed-term programme of 3 years which expires on 31 July 2026. Each yearly funding period starts on 1 August and ends on 31 July of the following year.

Further funding opportunities for PhD candidates at Trier University

Apart from counselling, professional development and networking, the Graduate Centre of Trier University (GUT) offers various funding opportunities: The programme “PhD Candidate and Parent” aims to help reconcile the students’ efforts in conducting research projects with their childcare responsibilities (especially for single parents)..

Once a year, the GUT confers the  GUT Publication Award. PhD candidates and postgraduates can submit their publications (no proposal procedure required).