Opus Magnum
Opus Magnum by the Volkswagen Foundation funds professors’ leave to write major scholarly works in the humanities and social sciences, while supporting early career academics as substitute professors.
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Funder: Volkswagen Foundation
Due Dates: November 18, 2026: Application deadline
Funding Amounts: Up to €220,000 total; covers substitute professorship (6–18 months) and additional costs
Summary: Supports established professors in Germany's humanities and social sciences with funded leave to write major scholarly works, while providing career opportunities for early career academics.
Description
This initiative enables full professors in the humanities, cultural studies, and social sciences at German universities to take a funded leave of absence (up to 18 months) to complete a major scholarly treatise—an "Opus Magnum" of broad academic significance. The program finances a substitute professorship during the applicant’s leave, offering early career scholars valuable teaching and research experience. The initiative is designed to foster both groundbreaking scholarship and the development of the next generation of academics.
