Founded in 1994, the American Academy in Berlin is a private, independent, nonprofit institute for advanced study in the arts, humanities, social sciences, law, journalism, and public policy. The Academy seeks to strengthen the cultural and intellectual ties between the United States and Germany.

Each year, the Academy welcomes roughly two dozen fellows to the Hans Arnhold Center, a historic lakeside villa located in the Wannsee district of Berlin. We also invite a small number of Distinguished Visitors and guest speakers for shorter stays of one to four weeks. The Academy’s diverse public programming includes lectures, readings, and presentations by fellows-in-residence, Distinguished Visitors, and guest speakers. For a complete roster of past fellows and Distinguished Visitors, please visit the alumni section of our website.

The Academy is in a unique position to support fellows in establishing or expanding existing professional networks in and beyond Berlin. Each semester, fellows interact with local peers and partner institutions within the Academy’s well-established network, forging meaningful transatlantic connections. Fellows engage German audiences through lectures, readings, and performances, which form the core of the Academy’s public program.

Berlin Prize Fellows receive monthly stipends of $5000, roundtrip airfare, accommodation at or near the Hans Arnhold Center, partial board, access to in-house library services, and professional networking opportunities. Fellows present their work to audiences in and around Berlin via lectures, readings, public discussions, performances, and film screenings. They should also be willing to engage with relevant German institutions, organizations, and the media. These activities are integral to the Academy’s mission of fostering transatlantic dialogue.

Fellows may choose to receive their stipends directly or via their home institutions. The Academy does not withhold for taxes, but stipends are taxable income. Fellows will receive IRS Form 1099. If the stipend is paid to the fellow’s home institution, institutional overhead/indirect costs may not be charged or deducted from the stipend.

The Academy welcomes applications from a broad range of disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, law, journalism, and various areas of public policy. Berlin Prize recipients include both established and emerging scholars, writers, artists, journalists, and policy experts who wish to engage in independent study within an interdisciplinary residential community. Emerging scholars should hold a PhD and a strong record of peer-reviewed work beyond the dissertation. The Academy will not consider projects that have not advanced significantly beyond the candidate’s dissertation project. Independent scholars who satisfy the general eligibility requirements are welcome to apply.

Applicants working in most other fields—such as journalism, filmmaking, or public policy—must have a significant record of publication or production. Writers of fiction and nonfiction must have published at least one book with a reputable press at the time of application.

Please note that we do not accept project proposals in mathematics or the natural sciences, and that we select visual artists and composers through invitation-only competitions.

Fellowships are restricted to citizens and permanent residents of the United States. Candidates must explain any limited periods spent outside the United States, such as sabbaticals or foreign assignments. American expatriates are not eligible to apply.

While project proposals need not focus on topics related to Germany, candidates should explain how a residency in Berlin would benefit their work.

The Academy accepts proposals for collaborative projects. Candidates who wish to pursue a joint project must submit separate applications. External reviewers will consider the merits of each candidate alongside their joint project.

Previously unsuccessful candidates are welcome to reapply. We strongly encourage re-applicants to update their application materials and revise their project proposals substantially. A number of Academy fellows have applied more than once before selection.

Individuals who have already received a Berlin Prize are not eligible to apply for another, except under exceptional circumstances.

If you are uncertain as to your eligibility, please contact the Academy’s Fellows Selection team at apply@americanacademy.de.

The American Academy invites composers and visual artists via separate, nomination-based competitions. Only nominated candidates are eligible to apply for consideration.

Fellows reside in private, furnished apartments, with en suite kitchenettes, at or near the Hans Arnhold Center, a historic villa on the shores of Lake Wannsee. The Wannsee commuter rail station is a short walk away from the Hans Arnhold Center. Trains reach downtown Berlin in ten to twenty minutes.