American Friends of HAB Travel Grant for US Scholars

About the American Friends of the HAB Travel Grant

The American Friends of the HAB travel grant funds short research visits to one of Germany’s oldest and richest early-modern libraries. It targets US doctoral candidates whose work depends on manuscripts and printed sources held at the Herzog August Bibliothek in Wolfenb tel. If your dissertation draws on rare holdings that exist only in this collection, the American Friends of the HAB travel grant is built for exactly that need.

The purpose is narrow and practical: cover the cost of getting to the library so you can consult materials in person. Because it is a travel grant rather than a full fellowship, it works best as part of a wider research plan.

Who Runs the Programme

The grant is offered by the American Friends of the Herzog August Bibliothek, a support group connected to the library itself. The Herzog August Bibliothek, based in Wolfenb tel, Germany, holds one of the most important collections of medieval and early-modern books and manuscripts in Europe. The American Friends organisation exists to help US-based scholars reach and use these holdings.

Study Level and Eligible Fields

This grant is for doctoral-level researchers. You must either be writing your PhD thesis or have completed it recently. The source does not restrict eligibility to a single discipline, though the library’s strengths lie in medieval and early-modern studies, history, theology, literature and related humanities fields. If your research requires the library’s sources, your subject area fits.

How Many Grants Are Offered?

The number of travel grants available is not specified. Because the exact quota is not stated, treat the award as limited and confirm current availability with the host before you plan travel.

Who Can Apply?

The grant is aimed at young academics who are US citizens or permanent US residents. Applicants should be actively working on a doctoral thesis, or should have finished their PhD no more than three years ago. In short, it supports early-career researchers rather than senior faculty.

What the Grant Covers

The award is a travel grant, so its core purpose is to help with the cost of travelling to the Herzog August Library for research. The source does not list a fixed sum, a stipend rate, or a set duration for the visit. As a result, you should ask the host about the current grant amount and any limits on the length of stay it supports.

Because the funding centres on travel access rather than living costs or tuition, plan any additional expenses separately.

Eligibility Requirements

• You must be a US citizen or a permanent US resident.
• You must be a doctoral candidate writing your thesis, or a researcher who completed a PhD within the last three years.
• Your research must require access to the Herzog August Bibliothek’s collections.
• You should be an early-career or \”young\” academic, in line with the programme’s stated focus.

Where a requirement is not stated in detail, confirm it directly with the host so your application is not rejected on a technicality.

How to Apply for the HAB Travel Grant

Applications for the American Friends of the HAB travel grant run through the official listing rather than a single fixed deadline, so this guidance covers the 2026 cycle. Follow these steps:

1. Read the full programme details on the official page linked below.
2. Prepare a short research plan that shows why you need the Herzog August Library’s holdings specifically.
3. Gather proof of your doctoral status or PhD completion date, plus evidence of US citizenship or permanent residency.
4. Submit your application as instructed on the official page, and confirm the exact deadline there before you send anything.

Because the source does not give a hard closing date, check the official website for the current 2026 timing so you do not miss the window.

Official Website

For full details and to apply, use the official listing here: American Friends of the HAB travel grant official page.