The Institute of German Studies awards a number of attractive fellowships for graduate students in German literary or cultural studies on an annual basis. Max Kade Fellows are drawn from the very top ranks of the national applicant pool in German studies. The financial basis for the fellowships is a grant by the Max Kade Foundation and supported by The University Graduate School and the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University.
Most Max Kade Fellows pursue their studies in the Department of Germanic Studies. Students in other departments working on issues central to German culture or history are eligible, too. For students joining the Department of Germanic Studies, the funding usually extends over five to seven years, consisting of a mix of fellowships and instructorships. In some cases, summer funding is also made available.
The institute also awards dissertation fellowships and exchange fellowships for research and study at German universities (in Berlin and elsewhere) on a competitive basis. The Institute also assists students in applying for outside grants (Fulbright, DAAD, etc.)