Herzog August Bibliothek (HAB) Fellowships 2026
- Omran Aburayya
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
If you’re looking for a richly immersive research opportunity in the heart of early‑modern cultural studies — the applications are now open for the 2026 fellowship cycle at the Herzog August Bibliothek (HAB) in Wolfenbüttel, Germany. This internationally renowned institution offers several fellowship formats, giving scholars across career stages the chance to access exceptional collections, join an interdisciplinary research community, and deepen their work in manuscript, book‑history, cultural‑history, and digital humanities domains. Here's everything you need to know.
🎓 Fellowship Summary
Location: Wolfenbüttel, Lower Saxony, Germany
Host institution: Herzog August Bibliothek (HAB) — independent research library and institute for European cultural history.
Target Group:
Post‑doctoral researchers (within 6 years of PhD) for long‑term fellowships.
Scholars at any career stage (including early‑career post‑docs through emeriti) for short‑term fellowships.
FAIR Data Fellowships (via the NFDI4Memory initiative) focused on data management and FAIR principles.
(Also doctoral‑level fellowships via private foundations.)
Fields of Focus: Humanities disciplines reliant on the HAB’s collections — early‑modern cultural history (manuscripts, incunabula, early printed books, maps, graphics), digital humanities, archival and book‑history research.
Value & coverage:
Long‑term (Post‑doc) fellowships: €2,200/month for 6–10 months. Travel reimbursement up to €2,000. Child supplements: €300/month (one child), €400 (two), €500 (three or more).
Short‑term fellowships: €1,800/month for 1–3 months. Travel subsidy €150–€650 depending on country of origin.
FAIR Data Fellowships: €1,500 for one month.
Doctoral fellowships: ~€1,300/month (plus allowance) for 2–10 months.
Duration:
Post‑doc: 6–10 months.
Short‑term: 1–3 months.
FAIR Data: 1 month.
Doctoral: 2–10 months.
Application deadline:
For main Research Grants: January 31, 2026 (start date January 1, 2027 for successful applicants)
FAIR Data Fellowships: November 19, 2025 (start February 2026)
Start date: Usually January 1, 2027 for the long‑term Research Grants.
Eligibility: International scholars (all nationalities) in relevant humanities fields; for Post‑doc: PhD awarded in 2020 or later for the January 2026 submission cycle.
📚 Fellowships Overview
The fellowships at Herzog August Bibliothek are designed to provide dedicated research periods in the beautiful setting of Wolfenbüttel, Germany, surrounded by one of Europe’s most significant early‑modern collections. Whether you are a post‑doctoral scholar seeking an extended stay, a researcher looking for a short focused visit to consult specific materials, or working on the structuring and publication of research data in line with FAIR principles, there is a format for you.
Long‑Term (Post‑doc) Fellowships: Applicants within six years of their PhD can apply for 6‑10 months of residency at HAB. The aim is to allow undisturbed time for writing and deep engagement with the collection, in a collegial research environment supported by the library.
Short‑Term Fellowships: These are ideal for scholars at any career stage who need access to Wolfenbüttel’s holdings for a short stay (1–3 months), perhaps to gather source material, advance an article or book‑chapter, or begin a longer project.
FAIR Data Fellowships: These emphasise the surge toward research data management in the humanities. Over one month a fellow receives mentorship in the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), prepares their dataset for publication, and contributes to the broader community via a blog post.
Doctoral/Young Scholars Fellowships: For doctoral researchers needing library‑based research, the HAB (together with private foundations) offers 2–10 month stays.
Additionally, there are special partnerships (e.g., the East‑Central European programme that includes the HAB plus other institutions) for defined geographic regions.
🎁 Benefits of the Programme
Generous fellowship stipends and additional support (travel reimbursement, child supplements for long‑term stays).
Access to one of the most important historical libraries in Europe, with unique manuscripts, early prints, maps, graphics and artists’ books.
Opportunity to reside in the historic town of Wolfenbüttel, engage with an international community of scholars, and use the library’s full infrastructure (reading rooms, digital humanities facilities).
For the FAIR Data fellowships: expert mentorship in research data management and publication — valuable for humanities researchers looking to expand into data‑driven and digital scholarship.
The HAB’s fellowship programme has a longstanding tradition (50+ years) and is well‑integrated into the broader European research library ecosystem.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
For long‑term (Post‑doc): You must hold a PhD awarded in or after 2020 (for Jan 2026 application) and be within six years of completion.
For short‑term: Open to scholars at all career stages (post‑doc to emeriti) who need to access Wolfenbüttel’s sources.
For FAIR Data Fellowships: Applicants with a dataset from their own project, willing to work independently on structuring and publishing it, and to write a blog post about the process.
For doctoral fellowships: Applicants from Germany or abroad in any discipline whose dissertation requires use of the HAB’s holdings.
All programmes require that the project shows reliance on the HAB holdings; international scholars are welcome; languages of research are typically German or English (implicitly).
Depending on the format, there may be residency obligations (e.g., staying in Wolfenbüttel for the duration).
📝 Application Procedure & Documents Required
Obtain the official application form from the HAB website or by contacting the admissions/fellowship office.
Prepare your research proposal clearly indicating your topic, its reliance on the HAB’s collections, and the fellowship format you are applying for (e.g., “Post‑doc”, “Short‑term”, “FAIR Data”).
Submit required documents, typically including:
Curriculum vitae (CV)
List of publications (if applicable)
Research proposal with timeline
A statement of how your project uses the library’s holdings
PhD certificate (for the Post‑doc format)
Letters of recommendation/support (may vary)
Budget plan/travel plan (if travel reimbursement is requested)
For FAIR Data Fellowship: description of dataset, prior work, and plan for publication.
Send the application before the deadline:
Long‑term/Short‑term: January 31, 2026.
FAIR Data: November 19, 2025.
Selection process: Applications are reviewed by reviewers and a Scientific Advisory Board. The best candidates are selected and notified.
Fellowship start date: For the long‑term Research Grants: January 1, 2027.
Residency conditions: For many formats, you are expected to reside in Wolfenbüttel for the full duration of your stay. Some formats may include accommodation in the library’s residence.
Extra Information & Tips
Carefully demonstrate in your proposal why the HAB’s specific collections are essential for your research (e.g., a particular manuscript, archive, map series) — this is a key selection criterion.
Since the residence is in Wolfenbüttel, consider planning travel and living logistics early (housing, language, cultural integration).
Given your interest in international experience and cultural growth, living and working in Germany at this library could offer you exposure to European research networks and archival practices.
Reach out to previous fellows or review the HAB Alumni Newsletter (mentioned on the site) to understand how past fellows structured their stays and outputs.
🚀 Final Thoughts
The 2026 fellowship round at the Herzog August Bibliothek represents a special opportunity for scholars worldwide to access one of Europe’s finest early‑modern research libraries, immerse themselves in original sources, and advance their work with the support of substantial funding. Whether you aim for a 6–10 month deep‑dive, a short focused 1–3 month research visit, or a one‑month FAIR Data initiative, your background in data‑driven modelling and safety/transport/logistics scholarship could be leveraged to propose a distinctive humanities‑oriented project. Applications close January 31, 2026 (for most formats) — it is encouraged to plan early, craft a strong proposal, and consider how your profile can align with the HAB’s mission.
