Funding and Support for Instructors and Students
Information: Project funding "Research-Based Learning"
Funding and Support for Instructors and Students

The University of Oldenburg and forschen@studium offer both students and instructors funding opportunities related to research-based learning. These are bundled in the program Forschendes Lernen (Research-Based Learning), which includes grants for instructional and student research projects as well as a qualification program.
Research-based learning refers to the following approach: Students design, perform and reflect on the research process and its fundamental phases (e.g., finding a research question, collecting and analyzing data, presenting results) and do so apart from their final theses. For more information this approach, please refer to University guidelines on research-based learning (currently available only in German).
This grant and support program is the continuation of project FLiF: Research-based Learning in Focus (2011-2021) funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the Quality Pact for Teaching.
Under the chairmanship of the Vice President for Instruction, a committee consisting of one member from each faculty and two student members selects the following projects for funding: „Research-Based Learning Instructional Projects”, „Student Research Projects”, and „Ideas around Research-Based Learning”.
For subject-specific questions about Research-Based Learning, please contact the members of the committee:
For Instructors and staff
Grants for Research-Based Learning Instructional Projects
Each semester, instructors can apply for funding for their courses (for instance, hiring student assistants, material or other associated costs).
The submission deadline for funding in the summer semester is 10 January.
The submission deadline for funding in the winter semester is 10 June.
Maximum funding per project: €3,000.
Funding Announcement: Research-Based Learning Instructional Projects (PDF)
Application Form: Research-Based Learning Instructional Projects (DOCX)
Grants for Ideas around Research-Based Learning
Each semester, instructors and staff who wish to implement ideas around research-based learning can apply for funding (for instance, hiring student assistants, material or other associated costs).
The submission deadline for funding in the summer semester is 10 January.
The submission deadline for funding in the winter semester is 10 June.
Maximum funding per project: €3,000.
Funding Announcement: Ideas around Research-Based Learning (PDF)
Application Form: Ideas around Research-Based Learning (DOCX)
For Students
Funding for material and other costs in student research projects
Groups of students can apply for grants to fund material resources for research projects, which can be part of either regular or extra-curricular courses (excluding final theses). This includes
- consumables, for example for setting up experiments or presenting project results,
- travel to archives or interview partners,
- printed materials or
- technical equipment.
Application period: ongoing. Please allow four weeks for your application to be processed.
Maximum funding per project: €500.
Funding Announcement: Materials and Supplies (PDF)
Application Form: Materials and Supplies (DOCX)- Grants for presenting research at conferences
Students invited to present their own research findings at conferences and professional meetings outside Europe can apply for partial financial support for such trips.
Application period: ongoing.
Maximum funding: €1,200
Funding Announcement: Presenting Student Research at Conferences outside Europe
Application Form: Presenting Student Research at Conferences outside Europe Checklist Information Sheet
Grants for student research projects
Each year, a topic will be assigned and students (small groups) can apply with a research proposal, which can be carried out as an extracurricular research project. If approved, such projects will be funded by hiring students as assistants and/or through reimbursement of material or other associated costs. Each summer semester, a topic will be assigned, such as 'New Beginnings' or 'Crisis-proof?!' There is no topic for projects starting in winter semester.
- The submission deadline for funding in summer semester is January 10.
- The submission deadline for funding in winter semester is June 10.
Maximum funding per project: €5,000The topic for student research projects in the summer semester 2025 is ‘Sustainability’
Funding Announcement: Grants for student research projects
Application Form: Grants for student research projects
Checklist Confirmation