Max Kade Fellowships

Max Kade Fellowships

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.)

Application deadlines & procedure

December 1: International students
December 15: Domestic students

Applicants to the Ph.D. programs in the Department of Germanic Studies are automatically considered for a Max Kade Fellowship. (Students who apply only to the M.A. program are not eligible for a fellowship. Therefore, students who intend to continue to the Ph.D. should apply directly to the Ph.D., rather than the M.A.)

If you are applying to a different department at Indiana University Bloomington, and wish to be considered for a Max Kade Fellowship, please contact Germanic Studies graduate services.

Learn how to apply

Max Kade Fellows 2024-2025

Lily Myers is a PhD student in our Literature and Culture track. She comes from Alaska with a B.A. in German Language and a minor in Dance Studies. She has prior experience teaching elementary school students at a German immersion school in Alaska and teaching English to high school students in Austria. While at IU, Lily plans to further her research in the intersection between German culture and history and dance studies. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors and listening to music.

I earned a BA in Media Studies and English from the University of Basel, Switzerland, with a strong focus on film. My academic studies have been enriched by hands-on experience in the US-American film industry through several internships, where I gained practical insights into film production and storytelling. I also have a background in acting, which has deepened my passion for the performative arts.

My research interests center on the intersection of film history, culture, and the performing arts. Additionally, with ten years of experience teaching German as a foreign language, I maintain a strong interest in language education and its impact on cultural exchange.

Bradley Weiss joined Indiana University after completing his MA at the University of Texas, Austin. His interests are in Medieval Studies and in Linguistics. Before his MA, Bradley obtained a BA with ma major in classical language from the University of Kansas. He has also studied at the Chonnam National University in South Korea, where he gained experience in teaching German as a foreign language. Bradley has presented regularly at professional conferences and two of his academic papers are forthcoming.
Britt Zeldenrust completed a MA in Comparative Literature at SUNY Buffalo with a thesis investigating the importance of mourning in the works of Hegel. His research interests are in German theater, film studies, intermediality, and Continental philosophy. His research is guided by the implications of time & finitude developed by Martin Heidegger and Jacques Derrida.