# International Research Training Groups (German-Canadian, Social Sciences and Humanities)

**Funder:** DFG
**Consortium:** Required — German and Canadian partner institutions (DFG and SSHRC joint call)
**Eligible countries:** DE
**Official call:** https://www.dfg.de/en/news/news-topics/announcements-proposals/2026/ifr-26-59
**Last updated:** 2 Sept 2026

## Eligibility & scope

DFG and SSHRC joint call for German-Canadian International Research Training Groups in Social Sciences and Humanities. Requires collaboration between German and Canadian institutions. Published 18 August 2026.

## Summary

The DFG and SSHRC Joint Call funds International Research Training Groups for collaborative doctoral and postdoctoral research bridging Germany and Canada in social sciences and humanities. Applicants must establish a formal consortium pairing a German institution (DFG-funded) with a Canadian partner (SSHRC-eligible), with structured training and research integration across both sites. This biennial partnership supports long-term capacity building in transnational research networks.

## Who should apply

- German principal investigators based at DFG-eligible institutions seeking Canadian research partnerships
- Canadian co-applicants at SSHRC-recognized institutions
- Research teams in social sciences or humanities with transnational research questions
- Established groups or new consortia able to support integrated doctoral and postdoctoral training

## Key dates

- Call published 18 August 2026; consult DFG website for application deadline and subsequent rounds

## Tips for applicants

- Consortium pairing must be active before submission, vague partnership letters score poorly on feasibility.
- SSHRC and DFG panels review jointly; align your budget narrative to both funders' reporting standards to avoid delays.
- Highlight structured training deliverables (workshops, co-authored publications, secondments) explicitly; reviewers weight the training ecosystem as heavily as the research question.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is a German-Canadian partnership required?

Yes. The call mandates formal collaboration between a German institution (DFG-eligible) and a Canadian institution (SSHRC-eligible).

### What disciplines are eligible for the DFG-SSHRC Joint Call?

Social sciences and humanities only; natural sciences and engineering are not eligible under this call.

### Do I need SSHRC approval to apply from the German side?

Typically the German applicant leads the DFG submission while the Canadian partner co-applies to SSHRC; clarify the two-funder submission route on the DFG website before drafting.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/dfg-international-research-training-groups-german-cana-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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