The RAVE Scholarship 2027 is a fully funded opportunity designed specifically for cultural practitioners who work with heritage, collections, and archives. Supported by the Alexander Rave Foundation of ifa (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen), this scholarship focuses on the management of cultural heritage and the transformation of museums and exhibition centres.
If you are a curator, restorer, mediator, or culture manager looking to deepen your professional knowledge through a transnational exchange, this scholarship offers a structured pathway to spend three to six months at a host institution in Germany, with the option of a reciprocal stay as well. Below, we break down everything you need to know, including eligibility, funding details, application steps, and important deadlines. For more BS, MS, Phd, Postdoc Positions visit here.
About the RAVE Scholarship
The RAVE Scholarship enables cultural practitioners from countries on the DAC list to stay with host institutions for an extended professional exchange. The core purpose of the program is to help scholarship holders deepen their professional knowledge transnationally, introduce new perspectives, and build long-term cooperation through meaningful exchange.
By supporting this kind of exchange, the scholarship contributes to ifa’s broader mission of creating worldwide interpersonal understanding and trust while promoting democratic civil societies. The program places particular emphasis on transcultural dialogue and meaningful engagement with cultural heritage, collections, and archive records.
Funding is provided not just for individual development, but for mutual knowledge transfer and the creation of sustainable, long-term networks between institutions and practitioners. At the same time, the scholarship supports freedom in art and science, freedom of opinion, and open debate within the cultural sector.
Thematic Focal Areas
The scholarship centers on transforming museums and exhibition venues in line with the ICOM (International Council of Museums) definition of museums from 2023. Applicants are expected to engage with projects that touch on one or more of the following focal areas:
- Cultural participation
- Sustainability
- Non-discriminatory spaces
- Decolonial working methods
These themes reflect the broader direction in which the global museum and heritage sector is moving, and applicants should consider how their proposed project connects to one or more of these areas.
Who Can Apply?
This scholarship is aimed at professionals already working within the cultural heritage sector. Eligible applicant categories include:
- Curators
- Restorers
- Mediators
- Culture managers
Applicants must be working with cultural heritage, collections, and/or archive records within institutional contexts. This is not an entry-level opportunity for students; it is designed for practitioners who already have relevant professional or vocational experience and are ready to undertake an institutional exchange project.
Funding Requirements
To be eligible for the RAVE Scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Work with cultural heritage, collections, and/or archive records in institutional contexts
- Name a non-commercial, physical host institution for each stay and submit a specific concept note drawn up jointly with the host institution (this is decisive for the award of scholarships)
- Have completed their higher education or vocational training
- Have a very good knowledge of English (German or the language of the country of the host institution is an advantage, but not mandatory)
There is also an important exclusion criterion to keep in mind: applicants cannot hold another scholarship or undertake a parallel residence during the funding period.
The stay must take place between February and December 2027. It is important to note that this is an on-site scholarship requiring regular attendance at the host institution, so remote or hybrid arrangements are not permitted. Scholarship holders are also required to prepare a final report at the end of their stay.
The foundation actively welcomes applications from Black people, people of colour, women, LGBTQIA+ persons, people with disabilities, and members of historically marginalised groups, particularly people from colonialised contexts.
What Does the Scholarship Include?
This is a generous, fully funded scholarship that covers a wide range of expenses to support scholars and their families during the stay. Benefits include:
- A net payment of EUR 1,500 per month
- Monthly family allowances for family members travelling with you (EUR 250 for a spouse, EUR 250 per child)
- Visa costs
- Travel costs for the outward and return journeys
- Health insurance (including family coverage)
- A monthly travel pass for public transport in the city of residence
- Up to EUR 500 for a language course
This comprehensive package is designed to remove financial barriers so that scholars can focus fully on their professional exchange and project work without worrying about the cost of relocating, insurance, or family support.
Types of Funding Available
There are two possible directions for this scholarship, and applicants should understand both clearly before applying.
Stay in Germany (Country on the DAC List → Germany)
This is the primary funding stream. It supports stays in Germany for cultural practitioners whose permanent residence is in a country on the DAC list. The scholarship lasts between three and six months and takes place at a German host institution.
During this stay, the scholarship holder and host institution jointly develop a project that has either:
- A specific connection with a collection, or
- A connection with an institutional transformation process
The host institution must have a physical location and must hold a collection or an archive. A temporary stay in other countries, such as for artist residencies, is permitted outside the official funding period.
Optional Reciprocal Stay (Germany → Country on the DAC List)
In addition to the primary stay, applicants have the option of a reciprocal stay, where a German tandem partner travels to a country on the DAC list. This optional stay typically lasts between two and twelve weeks.
When German tandem partners stay in countries on the DAC list, scholarship payments are administered directly by the host institution rather than by ifa.
Key Application Facts to Note
Before applying, it is worth keeping these practical details in mind:
- A maximum of ten scholarships are awarded per year, making this a highly competitive opportunity
- Stays in Germany run for three to six months
- The optional reciprocal stay in a country on the DAC list runs for two to twelve weeks
- Calls for applications are issued in April each year
Conditions for Host Institutions
Since the host institution plays a central role in this scholarship, it must meet specific conditions. Host institutions must:
- Verifiably be non-profit museums, galleries, or cultural/research institutes
- Have a physical location and hold a collection or an archive
- Nominate a specialised contact person for the scholarship holder
- Draw up a specific project together with the applicant
It is important to note that ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen itself is not a host institution. Applicants need to identify and partner with an external institution that meets these criteria. A list of host institutions used in previous years is available through ifa’s official documentation, which can help guide applicants toward suitable partners.
Application Process: Step by Step
The application process requires careful preparation, as incomplete submissions will not be considered. Here is a detailed breakdown of what is required.
General Submission Rules
- All applications must be made using the official online form
- All documents must be prepared in full before applying, as temporary storage of an in-progress application is not possible
- Applications that are incomplete, arrive late, or are submitted via email will not be considered
Steps for Applicants Pursuing a Stay in Germany
If a reciprocal stay is also planned, documents for both travel directions must be submitted through their respective application forms.
Before submitting, applicants should:
- Make arrangements with a host institution
- Search for and identify a suitable host institution
- Obtain evidence of the institution’s status as a non-profit organisation or corporation under public law
- Agree on the length and dates of the stay
- Jointly designate a contact person and obtain their contact details
- Prepare a joint concept note together with the host institution
- Optionally, consider whether reversing the travel direction would create additional value or insight
Documents to Prepare (in PDF Format)
Once arrangements with the host institution are finalised, applicants need to compile the following documents:
- Evidence of the last two educational or professional stages, combined into a single PDF
- A letter of invitation from the host organisation for the planned scholarship stay
- A concept note developed jointly by the host institution and the applicant, signed by both parties (1 to 2 pages or up to 1,800 characters), outlining the tasks and responsibilities of the planned stay
- Evidence of the host institution’s status as a non-profit organisation or corporation under public law, in the form of an extract from the association register or a similar certificate
- A reference from the applicant’s country of origin, such as from a supervisor at the applicant’s home organisation or workplace
Personal Information to Prepare
In addition to the documents above, applicants should have the following personal information ready:
- Personal data, as required on the official application form
- If relevant, details on the validity of an existing visa for Germany
- Stages in your CV that are relevant to the scholarship, including evidence of the last two stages, such as references
Once everything is ready, either the applicant or the host institution can submit the complete application.
Application Deadlines and Important Dates
Timing is critical for this scholarship, so mark these dates clearly:
- The application deadline is 30 June 2026
- The earliest starting date for scholarships is 1 February 2027, depending on visa requirements being met
- The end of the scholarship may not extend beyond 31 December 2027
- Applicants will generally be notified by email by September 2026
PDF documents that need to be sent should be addressed to:
Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen e. V. Alexander Rave-Stiftung Charlottenplatz 17 D-70173 Stuttgart Germany
It is not necessary to send physical copies of these documents by post, as the entire application process is conducted online.
About the Alexander Rave Foundation
The Alexander Rave Foundation was established through an endowment by Hamburg businessman Alexander Rave. It operates as a dependent non-profit foundation administered by ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, one of Germany’s leading organisations dedicated to international cultural relations.
Why This Scholarship Stands Out
Compared to many other international exchange programs, the RAVE Scholarship offers a few distinctive advantages worth highlighting for prospective applicants.
- It is a genuinely fully funded program, covering not just a monthly stipend but also travel, visa costs, health insurance, local transport, and even language learning support
- Family members can travel and be supported through dedicated monthly allowances, which is uncommon among similar international fellowships
- The program is built around real institutional partnership rather than a generic placement, since the concept note must be co-developed with the host institution before an application can even be submitted
- The reciprocal stay option creates the possibility of a genuine two-way exchange, rather than a one-directional flow of knowledge from host countries to applicants
Tips for a Strong Application
Because the concept note and host institution partnership are described as decisive factors in the selection process, applicants should treat this stage of preparation as seriously as the writing of the note itself. A few practical tips can help strengthen an application:
- Start the search for a host institution early, ideally several months before the deadline, since identifying the right museum, gallery, or research institute and building a working relationship with their team takes time
- Make sure the host institution clearly fits the eligibility criteria, particularly the requirement that it be a verifiably non-profit organisation with a physical collection or archive
- Use the concept note to clearly demonstrate how the proposed project connects to one of the four thematic focal areas: cultural participation, sustainability, non-discriminatory spaces, or decolonial working methods
- Be specific about roles and responsibilities during the stay, since the concept note needs to outline the practical tasks both the applicant and the host institution will undertake
- Keep all required documents in PDF format and double check that nothing is missing, since incomplete applications are automatically excluded from consideration
- Reach out to a former supervisor or workplace contact early to request a reference, allowing enough time for them to prepare a thoughtful letter
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply if I am still completing my studies? No. Applicants must have already completed their higher education or vocational training before applying.
Is German language proficiency required? No, German is not mandatory. A very good knowledge of English is required, and knowledge of German or the language of the host institution’s country is considered an advantage but not a strict requirement.
Can I hold another scholarship at the same time? No. Holding another scholarship or undertaking a parallel residence during the funding period is an exclusion criterion for this program.
Is this a remote or hybrid scholarship? No. The RAVE Scholarship is strictly an on-site opportunity that requires regular, in-person attendance at the host institution throughout the funding period.
How many scholarships are awarded each year? A maximum of ten scholarships are awarded annually, making this a competitive program that rewards early and thorough preparation.
