Humboldt Fellowship References 2027: Two Expert Reviews You Cannot Submit Without
You need exactly two expert reviews. Your reviewers upload them into your application themselves, and the portal will not let you submit until both are in. The host’s statement does not count as one.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
3 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
The foundation calls them “expert reviews”, but they work like reference letters. Rules below come from the FAQ on the programme page, the page for expert reviewers and the list of questions for expert reviews.
Who must write them
| Postdocs | Experienced researchers | |
|---|---|---|
| Reviewer 1 | Your doctoral supervisor | An important collaborative partner |
| Reviewer 2 | Another researcher, preferably outside your own institute | A colleague at your institute or another one — ideally outside your country of origin |
The host’s statement is separate and does not count as an expert review.
The mechanical rules
- Exactly two reviews.
- Reviews are uploaded by the reviewers personally to a protected area. You send each one a link from the application form.
- You can only submit once both are uploaded — and only while the portal is open.
- Reviews should be no more than 12 months old when you apply.
- Written in German or English, signed and dated.
- You are responsible for completeness. Missing documents mean formal rejection.
Under the call system a portal can close the moment the 800th application arrives. If one reviewer is slow, you may miss the call. Ask reviewers weeks before the call opens, and send the upload links as soon as you can generate them.
What reviewers are asked
The foundation gives reviewers a short list of questions and asks them to answer in order. Share it with them so the letter fits the format:
- 1How long have you known the applicant, in what capacity, and how closely have you worked together?
A reviewer who has only met you at one conference will say so.
- 2How do you rate the applicant’s academic potential and career prospects?
The core judgement. Comparisons with peers help.
- 3Have you co-authored publications? If so, how large was the applicant’s contribution? If not, how good are the publications?
Make sure co-authors can describe your contribution accurately.
- 4Any other aspects relevant to the decision?
A place to explain career breaks or difficult research conditions.
- 5Experienced researchers only: does the applicant already have their own research profile?
Essential for the experienced line.
Choosing the second reviewer
For postdocs, the supervisor is fixed, so the second reviewer is the one you control. Pick someone who:
- has worked with you directly — a collaborator, committee member or visiting-stay host;
- is outside your own institute, as the foundation prefers;
- can speak to your independence, which your supervisor may not convincingly do;
- will actually upload on time.
For experienced researchers, the strongest pair usually combines one international collaborator who knows your thematic leadership and one senior colleague who can describe your leadership role.
How to brief your reviewers
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After you submit
Once the review process starts, you cannot swap or add documents. The foundation then sends your file to independent peer reviewers (usually two, or a peer circle in some disciplines).