Application Requirements doctorate or comparable academic degree (Ph.D., C.Sc. or equivalent) awarded no longer than 12 years prior to the date of application. If a doctorate is not possible or usual in the applicant's country of origin or subject, application is possible up to 16 years after gaining a Master's degree or Diplom, provided that the publication record is commensurate with the candidate’s career stage candidate’s own research profile documented by a comprehensive list of academic publications reviewed according to international standards and printed in journals and/or by publishing houses confirmation of a research post as well as a detailed letter of recommendation from an academic host at a research institution in Germany 2 expert reviews by important cooperation partners and/or academics from the candidate’s own institute and, if possible, from outside the candidate's country of origin language skills: humanities or social sciences and medicine: good knowledge of German, if it is necessary to carry out the project successfully, otherwise a good knowledge of English; natural sciences and engineering: good knowledge of German or English Eligible applicants must have lived outside Germany for a minimum of 12 months in total in the 18-month period prior to submission of the application. Candidates who hold German citizenship are eligible to apply provided that their habitual place of work and residence has been located abroad on the assumption of permanence for at least 5 years. Potential applicants who have completed their school education and one university degree or one university degree and their doctorate in Germany are subject to the regulations governing German citizens.