LGF Completion Scholarships

In exceptional cases, funds allocated to KIT for individual funding within the framework of the State Graduate Funding Program (LGF) may be used to award completion grants for the final months until dissertation completion.

Current announcement

This year, it will be possible to apply for completion scholarships of up to six months in 2026. The call for applications will be published here in mid-September 2025. The application deadline will be in mid-October, with decisions made by the end of November.

Contents

  1. ▶ Application Requirements
  2. ▶ How to apply?
  3. ▶ General Information
At a Glance
  • Target group: Highly qualified doctoral researchers at KIT in the final phase of their doctorate with no other funding options during the completion of their dissertation
  • Funding period: Up to a maximum of six months, at the latest until the month in which the dissertation is submitted to the KIT department
  • Funding amount: EUR 1,750 per month (effective October 2025).
  • Family allowance: Plus EUR 400 per month for one child in the same houshold, plus EUR 100 per month for each additional child.
  • Funding decisions: The Scholarship Awards Committee (LGF) decides on all applications.
Contact

 

Tel. +49 (0)721 608-41922
E-Mail: ▶ lgf15 ∂does-not-exist.khys kit edu

 

Person in charge: ▶ Andreas Hahmann

 

 

 

Application requirements

In principle, LGF scholarships can only be awarded if the following requirements are met:

  1. A university degree.
  2. Outstanding qualifications.
  3. A scientific research project that is expected to be of significance to the respective field of research.
  4. Scientific supervision by a (junior / associate) professor at a KIT department.
  5. ▶ Acceptance as a doctoral researcher by the respective KIT department ("KIT-Fakultät").

The detailed application requirements for the completion scholarship program for 2026 will be announced here in mid-September.

LGF-Startseite MonthiraYodtiwong – iStock
LGF at KIT

Go back to the Graduate Funding from the State homepage.

link

 

How to apply?

The application documents will be made available here in September, along with further details on the application process.

 

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General Information

The following is a summary of the most important conditions during the LGF scholarship period, along with some useful tips.

We would particularly like to draw your attention to your obligations after approval of funding and your duty to notify KHYS of any employment or third-party funding during the scholarship period. Please also note that additional stays abroad and internships will not be supported during the funding period. The focus needs to be on completing your dissertation.

Once your scholarship has been approved, please also read the conditions in the notification of approval and information sheets sent to you carefully.

 

  • You receive the notification of approval of funding by post and digitally.
  • Please take note of all additional information provided and read the information sheets sent with the notifications carefully.
  • To rule out any double funding, you may have to withdraw from already existing grants.
  • Employment contracts may need to be adjusted (see statute § 6 additional income and information under “Gainful employment and other funding during the scholarship”). Upon lapse of the employee status at KIT (employment contract at KIT) the employee ∂does-not-exist.kit edu address expires. A ▶ KIT account for the scholarship holders has to be newly requested by the institute.
  • If and when there is an existing employment relationship with KIT, or one is to be concluded, the scholarship holder has to inform the service unit Human Resources (PSE) of the scholarship. An additional employment contract with KIT is only possible if there is no connection in terms of content, location and time with the activities within the framework of the scholarship.
  • Third-party grants must also be compatible with the scholarship, even if they were applied for before the start of the scholarship (see § 6 of the LGF statutes and information under “Gainful employment and other funding during the scholarship”)
  • Scholarship holders are responsible for their own health insurance.
  • Check your immatriculation status: All LGF scholarship holders are obliged to ▶ enroll as doctoral students. If you are not yet enrolled, please do so.
  • The monthly payments are transferred at the beginning of each month to the account you stated in your application form.

 

Please note the following with regard to gainful employment and other funding during the funding period:

  • You are obliged to report all additional earnings (from employment or third-party subidies) to KHYS respectively the coordinating office of your Cooperative Doctoral Program.
  • Your earnings (from employment or third-party grants) during the scholarship period may not cumulatively exceed an exemption limit per year that corresponds to the gross salary of a 0.25 TV-L E 13 level 3 position. If the additional earnings are spread over shorter periods than one calendar year, the exemption limit is reduced by 1/12 per calendar month. Higher additional earnings are not compatible with the LGF scholarship.
  • Gainful employment in addition to the scholarship is possible within the above-mentioned exemption limit, provided that it does not interfere with the doctoral project, i.e. the time required should not exceed a quarter of the regular working hours of a full-time job.
  • If and when there is an existing employment relationship with KIT, or one is to be concluded, the scholarship holder has to inform the service unit Human Resources (PSE) of the scholarship. An additional employment contract with KIT is only possible if there is no connection in terms of content, location and time with the activities within the framework of the scholarship.
  • Third-party grants (in particular for travel costs) can be used during the scholarship period and within the above-mentioned exemption limit. 
  • Other full scholarships to finance the doctorate are not compatible with the LGF scholarship

 

Maternity protection regulations

The scholarship is automatically extended by the number of months rounded up from the statutory maternity protection period. Please contact the KHYS (or the coordinating office of the Cooperative Doctoral Program)

 

Family allowance

Within the scope of the funding a family allowance can be applied for (see Satzung des KIT zur Durchführung des LGFG, § 2 Fördersätze (available in German only). A family allowance of 400 euros per month for the first child, 100 euros per month for each additional child (applies to children living in the same household and up to the age of 18). You can apply:

  • Together with your scholarship application (see application documents).
  • During the scholarship period from the month of the birth of your chilld. For this, you can use the application form ▶ family allowance (DOCX file). Additionally, please hand in a written confirmation from the Residents' Registration Office ("Einwohnermeldeamt") stating that your child lives in your household

 

The KHYS offers are open to all LGF scholarship holders:

Many doctoral students leave KIT immediately after completing their doctorate or after a few years of postdoctoral research. We recommend focusing on developing your interdisciplinary skills early on and discussing this with your supervisors.

 

Details will be announced here with the call for applications in September 2025.

 

Do you consider becoming a postdoc?

If you are interested in a postdoc-phase at KIT, please feel free to contact the  ▶ KHYS Postdoc Office anytime.

 

 

If you have questions, please feel free to contact ▶ Andreas Hahmann or write an e-mail to lgf15∂khys.kit.edu at any time. 

 

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