German Research Foundation (DFG)
Planning phase
Do you have a concrete idea for a research project, but don’t know which program might be suitable? Get in touch with us so that we can help you find the right program and the right sponsor.
We can advise you, for example, on all issues related to DFG programs and help you in submitting the application forms.
Click here for an overview of all DFG programs.
Please remember to report your external funding project early on in the planning phase by filling out the External funding notification form (PDF) (Drittmittelprojektanzeige) and sending it to your faculty administration.
Your contact: National Funding Programs Team
Acquisition of external funding—submitting an application
When applying to the DFG funding programs, you must comply with certain funding rules. The applicable rules depend on the project to be funded. Detailed knowledge of the funding guidelines is necessary.
In a personal meeting, we advise you on how to best prepare your application and are available to advise you throughout the entire application phase.
Please note: In the DFG coordinated programs the University itself is usually the applicant. Applications to the following funding programs are therefore usually signed by both the designated spokesperson for the initiative and the University administration:
- Heisenberg Program
- Research training group
- Collaborative research center
Please inform the National Funding Programs Team of your planned application in a timely manner.
Please note: The following applications require a signature from University management:
- Research grants: Module Temporary Positions for Principal Investigators: Erklärung der aufnehmenden Institution (41.027) (available in German only)
- Emmy Noether Program: Mustervertrag über die Rechtsstellung als Emmy Noether-Nachwuchsgruppenleiter(in) (41.025) (in German only)
Please inform the Support for Young Researchers Team(beratung-nachwuchs.uhh"AT"uni-hamburg.de) in good time before you plan to submit the application so that we can prepare the statement and sample contract and obtain the signature.
Acquisition of external funding—calculation / budget planning
All applications require budget planning. Your budget should be well thought out. Calculate the individual cost items as concretely as possible, indicating the basis for your calculations.
We are happy to inform and advise you as you plan costs, particularly with regard to HR costs. Just send us your calculations and we will check and optimize these as necessary.
If you have not previously done so, you should now fill out the External funding notification form (PDF) (Drittmittelprojektanzeige) and send it to your faculty administration.
Your contact: Section 75: External Funding Management
Acquisition of external funding—cooperation contract
Cooperation with several partners may require a contract. We prepare the contract together with you in accordance with the DFG sample contracts. We will be glad to help you draw up model statues for the DFG coordinated programs. Please get in touch with us!
Your contact: Contract Management Team
Start of the project
The project can begin as soon as approval has been provided by the external funding source. In order to use the funds, you will need a project account (WBS element). All project-specific transactions are made from this account and recorded here—as are incoming funds, expenses, and costs. The project account is set up by Section 75: External Funding Management and made available to the project management.
Please note that it can take up to six weeks to set up. HR Services will be glad to answer any questions you may have.
Your contact: Section 75: External Funding Management and HR Services
Execution of the project
You can check the current daily status of your project finances via the SharePoint account statement. More information is available here. If you have any questions, please contact Controlling.
The external funding offices will be glad to provide you with additional financial overviews, in particular information on the planned and contractually bound HR costs. They will also issue the necessary utilization reports for the DFG. If you have any questions, please contact Section 75: External Funding Management.
If you would like to add or extend staff contracts, HR Services will be glad to help.
If you are interested in purchasing the necessary materials, equipment, and services necessary for your project, please contact your Purchasing team responsible for handling your affairs. General information on purchasing is available here.
If your project involves work-related travel, the information on organizing the trips and claiming your expenses is available here. Your contact is the Travel Management Team.
Conclusion of the project
The external funding offices issue the necessary final utilization report for the DFG. If you have any questions about this, please contact your Section 75: External Funding Management.
The project account will be closed by Section 75: External Funding Management upon project completion.
Your contact: Section 75: External Funding Management