# UK-German Funding Initiative in the Humanities (9th Round)

**Funder:** DFG
**Consortium:** Required — bilateral UK-German partnership
**Frequency:** Biennial
**Next round:** 2027-10
**Eligible countries:** DE, GB
**Official call:** https://www.dfg.de/en/research-funding/funding-opportunities/funding/ahrc
**Last verified:** 22 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Bilateral AHRC-DFG humanities funding initiative. Applicants must be based at German (DFG) or UK (AHRC) institutions. Operates on a biennial basis for the next five rounds. The ninth round is not yet open; current page describes the upcoming call opening October 2027.

## Summary

The UK-German Funding Initiative in the Humanities is a bilateral funding partnership between the DFG (Germany) and AHRC (UK), open to research teams with members based at institutions in both countries. The ninth round opens in October 2027 and runs biennially, funding collaborative humanities research projects that bridge UK and German scholarship. Applicants must form a mandatory partnership spanning both nations to be eligible.

## Who should apply

- Humanities researchers based at accredited institutions in Germany (DFG-eligible) or the UK (AHRC-eligible)
- Research teams forming mandatory bilateral UK-German partnerships
- Projects addressing research questions that benefit from cross-national collaboration
- Applicants with a named co-investigator in the partner country confirmed to participate

## Key dates

- Ninth round opens October 2027
- Biennial call cycle for the next five rounds (subsequent rounds expected 2029, 2031, 2033, 2035)
- Full proposal deadline and project duration to be confirmed on DFG and AHRC websites nearer the opening date

## Tips for applicants

- Bilateral partnerships are mandatory, not optional, a single-nation team will be desk-rejected. Confirm your UK or German partner's institutional eligibility and commitment before drafting.
- DFG and AHRC each score applications independently using their own peer-review panels; both panels must approve for funding. Plan the project narrative to address both audiences' priorities.
- The call opens October 2027 but often has extended submission windows; monitor the DFG and AHRC websites from late September to confirm exact deadlines for pre-proposal and full submission stages.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the UK-German Funding Initiative in the Humanities?

It is a bilateral joint funding call between the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the UK's Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) for collaborative humanities research projects with researchers in both countries.

### Do I need a partner in both Germany and the UK to apply?

Yes, the initiative requires a mandatory bilateral partnership; applicants must form a team with members based at eligible institutions in both Germany and the UK.

### When is the next round of the UK-German Funding Initiative?

The ninth round opens in October 2027. The call operates on a biennial basis, with subsequent rounds expected in 2029, 2031, 2033, and 2035.

### Which institutions are eligible for the UK-German Funding Initiative?

Applicants must be based at institutions eligible for DFG funding in Germany or AHRC funding in the UK; check the DFG and AHRC websites for current institution lists.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/dfg-uk-german-funding-initiative-in-the-humanities-9th-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.