The Francke Foundations have extensive and unique collections in their archives, library, art and natural history chambers, and other foundation-owned holdings. It is part of the foundation's purpose to use the collections for academic work and make them accessible to researchers.
Scholarships
Profile
Thanks to a generous donation from Dr Liselotte Kirchner (Offenbach), the Francke Foundations are able to run their own scholarship programme. Since 2016, this has enabled 92 projects from 17 different countries to be funded. In addition, a three-month fellowship is awarded, in cooperation with the Gotha Research Centre at the University of Erfurt and the Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel, to an outstandingly qualified researcher from the East Central European region.
Dr. Liselotte Kirchner Scholarship Programme
Funding Lines
Funding Scholarships lasting one to three months are awarded for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from Germany and abroad. The endowment amounts to € 1,400 for doctoral researchers, or € 2,000 for postdoctoral researchers. Both scholarships imply the requirement to reside in Halle - the Francke Foundations offer guest rooms, the free use of which is part of the scholarships. Applications for scholarships must be received by October 15 of the current year for the following year.
The scholarship programme includes two additional funding lines without a monthly scholarship, which are aimed at young researchers – the »Residency Programme for Young Researchers« – and experienced researchers – »Scholars in Residence«. Applications for both programmes can be submitted at any time. The »Scholars in Residence« programme offers the opportunity to concentrate on work and live in the fully furnished »Mühlenberg Apartment« in the historic building complex of the Francke Foundations, close to the relevant source collections.
The Long-Term Scholarship for the Postdoc Phase is intended for conducting a longer research project. It is awarded once a year for a period of six to a maximum of ten months. The long-term scholarship is endowed with € 1,500 per month plus free accommodation in one of the guest rooms and (up to) € 2,000 for travel and material expenses for the organization of a scientific conference. The application deadline is October 15 for the following calender year.
Further information on the funding lines and details on how to apply can be found in the leaflet.
Scholarship Colloquium 2026
A central component of the Dr. Liselotte Kirchner Scholarships is the presentation of results at colloquium events. The colloquiums take place in the Neubauer Hall, Building 52 of the Francke Foundations. They are offered as hybrid events – the respective access link will be published here in due course.
Former scholarship holders
Postdoctoral fellowship for East Central European researchers in Gotha, Halle and Wolfenbüttel
The Gotha Research Centre of the University of Erfurt, the Francke Foundations in Halle and the Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel have awarded a three-month scholarship for the years 2024 to 2026 to an outstanding postdoctoral researcher from the East Central European region to research their holdings. The international scholarship programme is open to all historically oriented disciplines. It supports projects geared towards researching the holdings of all three institutions, linking them and relating them to each other. A central requirement of this programme is that the library holdings are essential to the proposed research project. A continuation of the scholarship programme is planned.
The Gotha locations of the University of Erfurt with the universally oriented collections of the former ducal house of Saxony-Gotha-Altenburg, especially in the Gotha Research Library, the Francke Foundations in Halle with the Historical Library and the famous Cabinet of Artefacts and Natural Curiosities from 1736/41, as well as the Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel as the most important library in Germany with holdings concerning the medieval and early modern period, are among the outstanding collections and research institutions for the cultural history of European early modern times (temporal focus before 1800). Their holdings are also often thematically complementary to each other. Research questions can therefore be equally addressed to the holdings of all three locations; at the same time, projects can benefit considerably from the simultaneous use of the holdings of all three institutions. Aim of this programme is to advance research that pertains to these links.
Das Stipendienprogramm wird gefördert von der Dorothee Wilms-Stiftung im Stifterverband. Eine Fortführung des Programms ist geplant.
Zur StiftungThe scholarship is 2,000 euros per month. In addition, there may be a family allowance of 400 euros per month, if applicable. The host institutions will assist in arranging childcare. Residence in at least one of the three locations is compulsory for the entire period. Stays of at least two weeks must be completed at all three institutions. A travel allowance of 500 euros is granted.
Cooperation partner:
Francke Foundations Halle, Gotha Research Library: https://www.uni-erfurt.de/en/gotha-research-library, Herzog August Library Wolfenbüttel: https://www.hab.de/en/
