Writing an application for funding

Information at this pages were updated in September 2021. We apologize that GGG cannot present more up to date information because of staff shortages.

A well-written proposal is essential for a successful application for funding. Thus, both time and care should be put into its preparation. For such a proposal, both the expertise of the applicant as well as the appropriate formal structure and design are of major importance.

Some funding organizations provide guidelines regarding the appropriate formal structure of an application. If the institution of your choice does not provide such guidelines, some helpful ideas may be found in the Proposal Preparation Instructions of the German Research Foundation (DFG). The Guidelines for the Written Review for the DFG's reviewers may also be of interest. This brochure provides insights into those criteria that are of particular importance for the reviewers of funding applications. Even though these criteria were developed specifically for and by the DFG, they nevertheless also allow for general conclusions regarding the appropriate structure of an application to be drawn.

Please consider the foundation's processing time when preparing an application for funding!

Most of the government sponsored organizations awarding scholarships need roughly four months for selecting the successful applicants. However, some foundations rather take five to seven months.

Consequently, it is strongly recommended to start the necessary preparations for an application as soon as possible!

If you have any questions concerning applications for scholarships, I am glad to assist you!