About

The German Chancellor Fellowship is a premier global exchange program run on behalf of the German Chancellery by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Beginning in 1990 as an exchange with researchers from the United States, the program has since expanded to include participants from Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa and the USA. Young leaders from each country conduct independent research covering a wide variety of topics with a German host organization in cities all over Germany. Recently, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation announced it would be eliminating the program after 2024, citing budget issues.

This website was built by alumni of the program (affectionately known as “BUKAs,” or Bundeskanzler-Stipendiat*innen) to share the enormous impact the program has had on our lives and careers, and to encourage the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the German government to fully fund this program so that its lasting benefits can be enjoyed by future generations. Please join us in asking that this valuable program be saved. We also invite you to read testimonials from former fellows here.

Sign the petition

What can I do?

Sign the petition to show your support for saving the German Chancellor Fellowship.

Share this petition with others in your community who care about the positive impact of international exchange programs on the world and your experiences with the fellowship using the hashtag #BUKAbleibt.

Share your story of your experience as a fellow by submitting a testimonial to be shared on our website through this form. If you are a former German Chancellor Fellow you can join our LinkedIn group for alumni.

Write to your Parliamentarian and Parliamentarians on the foreign and budget committees asking them to meet funding requests from the Foreign Ministry that will in turn enable the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to address major funding deficiencies that have led to the elimination of the Fellowship.