Germany’s Digital Education Fellowships 2026

February 26, 2026 7:30 am

Germany’s Digital Education Fellowships 2026

Are you a lecturer with a bold idea to transform the classroom? Do you want to integrate AI, build immersive simulations, or reinvent how students take exams? If so, Germany is ready to fund your vision.

Friedrich Schiller University Jena, in partnership with the Thuringian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Science, and Digital Society (TMBWK) and the Stifterverband, has officially opened applications for the 2026 Fellowships for Innovations in Digital University Teaching. This program seeks academic pioneers who want to shape the future of higher education through technology.

This is more than a grant, it is a mandate to innovate. If you have a project that can modernize learning, this fellowship provides the financial muscle and institutional support to make it happen.

What the Fellowship Package Looks Like

The program will award up to nine fellowships in 2026, divided into two categories to support both individual innovators and collaborative teams.

Selected fellows will receive:

Individual Fellowships: Four awards valued at up to €50,000 each
Tandem Fellowships: Five awards valued at up to €60,000 each for collaborative projects
Project Funding: Direct financial support to develop and implement digital teaching formats
Curriculum Redesign Budget: Resources to rebuild courses using AI, blended learning, or simulation tools
E-Examination Support: Funding to create and pilot modern digital assessment systems
Networking Access: Opportunities to connect and collaborate with innovators across Thuringian universities
Long Duration: Funding covers 15 months, running from September 2026 through December 2027

Notably, these fellowships do more than just launch a project. They focus on sustainability—ensuring your innovations can scale, stabilize, and spread to other institutions long after the funding period ends.

Who Can Step Up? Eligibility Explained

This call targets lecturers and academic professionals who are ready to move beyond traditional teaching methods. The program specifically seeks individuals who can demonstrate a commitment to collaboration and digital transformation.

You qualify if you meet these criteria:

You work as a lecturer at a state-funded university within the Free State of Thuringia, Germany
You propose a project focused on digital teaching innovation or a complete curriculum redesign
Your ideas incorporate modern approaches like blended learning, AI teaching tools, gamification, simulations, or digital examinations
You show clear potential for cross-university collaboration and knowledge sharing
You secure application approval through your university management—individual submissions are not accepted directly

Therefore, the first step is not filling out a form, but building consensus within your institution and aligning your project with broader university goals.

Why This Fellowship Matters Now

German higher education is undergoing a digital shift. Students expect flexible, tech-enabled learning experiences that prepare them for a digital workforce. This fellowship puts you at the forefront of that movement.

By securing this funding, you gain the resources to:

Pilot AI-driven personalized learning paths
Create immersive lab simulations that replace expensive physical equipment
Develop scalable e-examination systems that ensure academic integrity
Build blended learning models that combine the best of online and face-to-face teaching

Moreover, you join a network of like-minded innovators across Thuringia. The program encourages you to share your successes and failures, creating a community of practice that elevates teaching quality everywhere.

How to Apply

Click Here to Apply

Application Deadline: April 7, 2026

This is the final cutoff. Your university management must submit your proposal by this date. Late submissions will not be considered, no matter how groundbreaking the idea.

Ready to Redefine University Teaching?

The classroom of the future is not a distant concept—it is being built today by educators like you. This fellowship gives you the platform, the funding, and the partners to turn your digital teaching vision into reality.