About the Gerda Henkel Foundation:
The Gerda Henkel Foundation (Gerda Henkel Stiftung) is one of the most significant private foundations supporting historical humanities research worldwide. Established in 1976 in Düsseldorf, Germany, the Foundation has supported more than 9,000 research projects to date. The Foundation supports the historical humanities and the preservation of cultural heritage in Germany and worldwide. It is not limited to German researchers or German topics — it funds research globally across its disciplines.

Research Project Grants — For Teams:
The Research Project Grant is designed for teams of researchers working in the historical humanities. This is distinct from Research Scholarships (for individual researchers) and PhD Scholarships (for doctoral candidates). Choose the Research Project funding type if additional scholarship holders (staff members or doctoral candidates) are to be supported, or if you are not applying for a personal scholarship but are requesting travel and material aid only.

Eligible Disciplines:
The core focus lies on the historical humanities, specifically Archaeology, History, Historical Islamic Studies, Art History, History of Law (Legal History), Prehistory and Early History, and History of Science. Applications from neighbouring disciplines are possible if the core research question is historically oriented. This means fields like anthropology, religious studies, linguistics, or cultural studies can qualify if the research has a clear historical dimension.

What the Grant Covers:

• Personnel: Project staff funded through PhD scholarships (€1,920/month) or research scholarships (€2,760/month for postdocs; €3,720/month for post-habilitation researchers).
• Family allowances: €480 for first child, €120 for each additional child under 18. Abroad supplements for scholarship holders working outside their home country. Student assistants at institutional hourly rates.
• Travel: As required for fieldwork, archival research, conferences. Materials: As required for the research project. Other project-specific costs considered on a case-by-case basis.
• What is NOT covered: Salaries for project staff (only scholarships). College or tuition fees. Overhead costs. Contracts for work are only for smaller research activities and cannot substitute for staff positions over longer periods.

Application Requirements:
All applications submitted electronically via the Foundation's online form (German or English). Required documents include a description of the research proposal (maximum 8 pages, at least font size 11, line spacing 1.5, readable font such as Arial 11pt or Times New Roman 12pt), plus bibliography if needed (does not count toward 8 pages). A time schedule and travel itinerary if needed. A detailed cost calculation with all costs in euros — scholarships and allowances must be listed using the Foundation's fixed monthly rates. Curriculum vitae and list of publications of the applicant(s) — normally no more than three applicants. CV and publications of proposed project participants if applicable. Academic certificates of project participants (Masters, PhD, professorship — no Bachelor certificates).

If a personal scholarship for the applicant is also planned: one letter of recommendation (signed personally, uploaded via the Foundation's online recommendation form). Academic certificates of the applicant. The Foundation does not contact referees — applicants are responsible for requesting letters.

The form can be kept open for 10 days after creation — data is deleted after 10 days. Complete in one session if possible.

Smaller Grants (up to €30,000):
For smaller funding amounts up to €30,000, the Foundation uses a simplified procedure with no fixed deadline and a deliberation time of approximately 3–4 months. The same application procedure applies. This is an excellent entry point for pilot projects, exploratory research, or smaller-scale investigations.

Nepal Eligibility and Relevance:
Nepal is fully eligible — the Foundation funds historical humanities research worldwide with no geographic restrictions. Nepal's extraordinarily rich archaeological, historical, artistic, and cultural heritage presents compelling alignment with all of the Foundation's core disciplines.

Archaeology in Nepal:

• Lumbini — birthplace of the Buddha, UNESCO World Heritage Site, ongoing archaeological excavations revealing the earliest Buddhist shrine structures.
• Tilaurakot/Kapilvastu — the ancient Shakya kingdom capital, major archaeological site with palaces, monasteries, and city walls dating to the 6th century BCE. Kathmandu
• Valley — medieval city-states of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur with layered archaeological deposits spanning millennia.
• Mustang Cave Complex — one of the world's most significant high-altitude archaeological discoveries, with caves containing human remains, manuscripts, and artefacts dating back thousands of years.
• Prehistoric sites across Nepal — lithic industries, megalithic traditions, early human settlement in the Himalayan region.
• Buddhist monasteries and stupas — ancient monastic complexes across Nepal's Terai and hill regions. Trade route archaeology — the historic salt/grain trade routes between Tibet and India through Nepal.

History of Nepal:

• State formation — the Malla kingdoms, the Shah unification (1768–69), and the evolution of Nepal's political structure.
• Rana autocracy (1846–1951) — 104 years of oligarchic rule with significant documentation in archives.
• Democratic movements — the 1950 revolution, multiparty democracy, Maoist insurgency (1996–2006), and republican transition (2008).
• Legal History — the Muluki Ain of 1854 (Nepal's first comprehensive legal code), one of the most significant legal documents in South Asian history, codifying caste, gender, and social relations.
• Trade and diplomacy — Nepal's historical role as a buffer state between China/Tibet and British India.
• Religious history — the coexistence and interaction of Hinduism and Buddhism across Nepal's history.
  

Art History in Nepal:

• Newar art tradition — one of Asia's most distinctive artistic traditions, spanning painting, sculpture, metalwork, woodcarving, and architecture from the Licchavi period (4th–9th century) to the present.
• Paubha painting — Nepal's unique scroll painting tradition with deep iconographic complexity.
• Bronze casting — Nepal's lost-wax casting tradition producing some of the finest Buddhist and Hindu sculptures in Asia.
• Temple architecture — the multi-tiered pagoda temples of Kathmandu Valley, a unique architectural form that influenced East Asian pagoda design.
• Manuscript illumination — palm-leaf and paper manuscripts with exquisite miniature paintings.
• Stone sculpture — Licchavi-period stone sculptures among the finest in South Asia. Woodcarving — the extraordinary carved windows, doors, and struts of Newar architecture.
  

Prehistory and Early History: Nepal's prehistoric record is still poorly understood — significant research opportunities exist. Stone Age sites in the Siwalik Hills and Terai. Neolithic and Chalcolithic remains in the Kathmandu Valley. The transition from prehistoric to early historic periods in the Terai. Early Buddhist settlements and their material culture.

History of Science: Traditional knowledge systems — Ayurvedic medicine, astronomical traditions, mathematical knowledge in Nepal's historical context. Jesuit and early European scientific observations of Nepal. The introduction of modern science during the Rana period.

Cultural Heritage Preservation: Nepal's cultural heritage suffered devastating damage in the 2015 earthquake — 750+ historic structures damaged or destroyed across Kathmandu Valley's seven UNESCO monument zones. Ongoing reconstruction and conservation of medieval temples, palaces, and monasteries. Documentation and preservation of intangible cultural heritage — rituals, festivals, craft traditions. Manuscript preservation — Nepal holds one of Asia's richest collections of Sanskrit, Newari, and Tibetan manuscripts, many in fragile condition.

Potential Nepal Research Project Teams: Nepali-international archaeological teams for Lumbini, Tilaurakot, Kathmandu Valley, or Mustang excavations. Art history teams documenting and analysing Newar artistic traditions. Historical teams researching Nepal's legal history (Muluki Ain), Rana period, or democratic transitions. Prehistory teams investigating Nepal's poorly understood prehistoric record. Conservation teams documenting earthquake damage and reconstruction of historical structures. Manuscript studies teams — cataloguing, translating, and preserving Nepal's manuscript collections. Cross-disciplinary teams combining archaeology, history, and art history to study Kathmandu Valley's urban development.

Potential Institutional Partners: Department of Archaeology, Government of Nepal. Tribhuvan University (Central Department of History, Department of Culture). Lumbini Development Trust. ICIMOD (for historical environmental research). International research institutions with Nepal programmes (Heidelberg, SOAS, Chicago, Leiden, etc.). National Archives of Nepal. Kaiser Library. Asa Archives.

KEY DETAILS

• Grant: Gerda Henkel Foundation — Research Project Grants (for Teams)
  
• Organization: Gerda Henkel Stiftung (Düsseldorf, Germany)
  

• DEADLINE:
  — Spring: May 28, 2026 — 52 DAYS REMAINING
  — Fall: November 2026 (date TBA)
  — TWICE YEARLY committee meetings
  — Smaller grants (≤€30K): NO DEADLINE — rolling, 3–4 month deliberation

• APPLY: Electronic form at https://www.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/en/grants_projects
  SINCE 1976: 9,000+ research projects funded

• DISCIPLINES:
  — Archaeology
  — History
  — Art History
  — Legal History
  — Prehistory and Early History
  — History of Science
  — Historical Islamic Studies
  — Neighbouring disciplines IF historically oriented

• FOR: TEAMS of researchers
  — Applicants must be actively involved in research
  — Project staff funded via PhD or research scholarships (not salaries)
  — PhD candidates apply separately for PhD scholarships

• PLUS: Travel + material costs as required
  
• DOES NOT COVER:
  — Salaries (only scholarships)
  — Tuition/college fees
  — Overhead costs
  — Bachelor certificates

• SMALLER GRANTS (≤€30,000):
  — NO DEADLINE — simplified procedure
  — ~3–4 month deliberation
  — Same application process
  — Excellent ENTRY POINT for Nepal researchers

• APPLICATION:
  — Electronic form ONLY (German or English)
  — Research proposal: MAX 8 PAGES + bibliography
  — Font: Arial 11pt or Times New Roman 12pt, 1.5 spacing
  — Time schedule + travel itinerary
  — Detailed cost calculation (all in EUROS)
  — CVs + publication lists (max 3 applicants)
  — Academic certificates (Masters, PhD, professorship)
  — Letter of recommendation if personal scholarship requested
  — Form open for 10 DAYS after creation — complete promptly
  — Submit as PDF files

• NEPAL — EXCEPTIONAL ALIGNMENT:

ARCHAEOLOGY:
— Lumbini (Buddha's birthplace, UNESCO site)
— Tilaurakot/Kapilvastu (ancient Shakya kingdom)
— Kathmandu Valley (medieval city-states, layered deposits)
— Mustang Cave Complex (high-altitude, manuscripts, remains)
— Trade route archaeology (Tibet-India via Nepal)

HISTORY:
— Muluki Ain 1854 (groundbreaking legal code — LEGAL HISTORY)
— Rana period (1846–1951) — archival research
— Democratic movements and republican transition
— Nepal as buffer state — diplomatic history

ART HISTORY:
— Newar art tradition (painting, sculpture, metalwork, architecture)
— Paubha painting tradition
— Bronze casting (lost-wax, among Asia's finest)
— Pagoda temple architecture
— Manuscript illumination
— Stone sculpture (Licchavi period)

PREHISTORY:
— Poorly understood — significant RESEARCH GAPS
— Stone Age sites in Siwalik Hills
— Neolithic/Chalcolithic in Kathmandu Valley
— Early Buddhist material culture

CULTURAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION:
— 2015 earthquake: 750+ historic structures damaged
— Ongoing reconstruction of medieval temples
— Manuscript preservation (Sanskrit, Newari, Tibetan)
— Intangible heritage documentation

POTENTIAL NEPAL APPLICANTS:
— Nepali-international archaeological teams
— TU Central Department of History
— Department of Archaeology (GoN)
— Lumbini Development Trust
— International institutions with Nepal programmes
— Conservation teams for post-earthquake heritage

IMPORTANT NOTES:
— ⚠️ 52 DAYS to May 28 deadline — sufficient time to prepare
— For SMALLER projects (≤€30K) — apply ANYTIME (no deadline)
— Applications in ENGLISH accepted — no German required
— This is for TEAMS — individuals apply for Research Scholarships instead
— PhD candidates apply for PhD Scholarships separately
— 8-PAGE LIMIT on research proposal — be concise
— Cost plan must use Foundation's FIXED MONTHLY RATES
— NO overhead costs — budget only direct project costs
— Nepal's POORLY UNDERSTOOD PREHISTORY is a research gap the Foundation might value
— The MULUKI AIN (1854 legal code) is a unique legal history research opportunity
— Post-earthquake HERITAGE RECONSTRUCTION aligns with cultural heritage preservation
— MUSTANG CAVES represent world-class archaeological potential
— Consider Nepali-European JOINT TEAMS for strongest applications
— The Foundation also has Special Programmes: Lost Cities, Democracy, Forced Migration
— Also see: Research Scholarships (individuals) and PhD Scholarships (doctoral candidates)

• SOURCE: https://www.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/en/grants_projects