The Reichstag building in Berlin with the German flag flying above the glass dome at dusk.

Germany Open year-round — application reviews held quarterly (March, June, September, December)

Bayer Foundation International Fellowship

Bayer Foundation International Fellowships are €10,000 awards (around LKR 3.45 million) for postgraduate students and early-career researchers undertaking an international research stay, Master's module, or thesis project abroad — particularly in the fields of medicine, agriculture, life sciences, and sustainable development. Unlike full Master's scholarships, these are project-specific awards designed to enable specific research mobility (typically 3-6 months) at a top institution outside the applicant's home country. The Foundation funds 30-50 fellowships each year across multiple programme tracks (Otto Bayer / Carl Duisberg / Hermann Strenger). The award is open to Sri Lankan applicants doing research stays at German universities or applying from Sri Lanka to do research at any peer country.

Bayer Foundation

External Organization-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

Up to €10,000 (LKR 3.45M)

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Duration

3-6 Month Research Stay

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Awards

30-50 per Year

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Postgrad or Early Researcher

Open to medical students, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and Master's students in life sciences, agriculture, medicine, food science, or sustainable development. Applicants must have completed at least their first year of an undergraduate medical / science degree.

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Defined Research Project

You must have a concrete research project agreed with a host institution and supervisor in advance of applying. Typical projects: 3-6 months of laboratory research, clinical attachment, agricultural field study, or thesis research at a German or peer-country institution.

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International Mobility

The fellowship funds research mobility — typically a student going from their home country to a host institution in a different country. Sri Lankan applicants typically use the award to fund a research stay at a German university (RWTH, TU Munich, Heidelberg, etc.) or partner institution.

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English or German Proficiency

Working language is determined by the host research lab. Most German research labs operate in English. Sri Lankan applicants do not need formal IELTS / TOEFL for the fellowship application itself — the host supervisor's confirmation that you can communicate professionally is the operative requirement.

account_tree Application Process

Secure host institution agreement

Identify a host institution and research supervisor 4-6 months before your intended start date. Exchange CV, transcripts, and a 1-2 page research proposal. Obtain a formal letter of agreement from the host supervisor confirming dates, scope, and supervision.

Submit Bayer Foundation application

Apply online via the Bayer Foundation portal (bayer-foundations.com). The application includes: CV, full transcripts, detailed research proposal, host supervisor letter, home supervisor letter, budget plan, and statement on expected scientific / societal impact.

Quarterly review

Applications are reviewed quarterly by the Foundation's scientific advisory board (March, June, September, December). Outcomes are typically released 6-8 weeks after the review deadline. Some applicants are asked for additional clarification on methodology or budget.

Award disbursement

Successful awardees receive the €10,000 in two instalments — 70% at the start of the research stay, 30% on submission of an interim / final scientific report. Awardees must publish or present the research output at a recognised conference / journal within 12 months of completion.

Why the Bayer Foundation?

The Bayer Foundation has supported over 700 international fellows since the programme's founding, with alumni at top medical schools, biotech firms, agricultural research institutes, and global health bodies worldwide. The Foundation's emphasis on tangible research output and supervisor partnerships makes the award particularly valuable as a CV signal for early-career applicants planning long-term research careers.