Opus Magnum
Opus Magnum supports established professors with substitute teaching appointments so they can complete major scholarly books in the humanities, cultural studies, and social sciences with reach beyond their fields.
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Funder: Volkswagen Foundation
Due Dates: November 18, 2026, 2:00 p.m. (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to €220,000 for 6–18 months, plus eligible equal opportunity funds
Summary: Supports substitute professorships so established professors can complete substantial scholarly books in the humanities, cultural studies, and social sciences.
Key Information: Applicants must hold permanent professorships at German universities and be at least five years from retirement.
Description
Opus Magnum gives established professors time away from teaching and administrative duties to write an extensive scholarly treatise. Run by the Volkswagen Foundation, it finances a substitute professorship while the author takes leave and continues receiving their university salary. The substitute appointment also creates an opportunity for an early career academic, whom the grantee is expected to mentor.
The intended book must stand apart from a regular academic publication through its quality, originality, fundamental significance, and reach beyond its specialist field. Suitable works might provide a first comprehensive synthesis across neighboring disciplines, challenge established interpretations, or connect different strands of preparatory research to generate new insights. Projects must already be sufficiently advanced for the book to be completed during the funded leave, with only preparation for publication remaining afterward.
