Opus Magnum – Funding for substitute professorship to write a scholarly treatise

About this program

The Volkswagen Foundation's Opus Magnum funds substitute professorships to enable established professors in the humanities, cultural studies and social sciences to take extended leave (6–18 months) to write a major scholarly treatise. Funding covers a substitute professorship with total support up to €220,000 and up to €5,000 per semester for the applicant’s additional non-personnel costs. Applicants must hold a permanent professorship at a German university and demonstrate renown through outstanding research performance; the scheme also aims to open perspectives for early-career academics via the substitute appointment. Applications are submitted electronically via the Foundation’s Funding Platform and are reviewed by an interdisciplinary international panel (decisions in summer, projects typically start the following autumn); deadline 18 November 2026.