Questions and Answers on the Excellence Strategy

To further strengthen the international competitiveness of research at German universities, the federal and state governments have established the Excellence Strategy (ExStra) as a permanent funding programme. The funding program was first launched in 2005 with the aim of supporting outstanding university locations and strengthening top-level research in Germany.

The program comprises two funding lines that have to be applied for successively:

1. Clusters of Excellence provide project-based funding for internationally competitive research areas at German universities or university consortia

2. The Universities of Excellence funding line is intended to strengthen universities in the long term and to develop their leading international position in research, either as individual institutions or in consortia of universities

• Universities are only eligible to submit a proposal under this funding line once they have acquired funding for at least two Clusters of Excellence – or three in the case of university consortia

The Excellence Strategy will be in place for an indefinite period of time. However, this doesn't mean that successful universities receive funding on a permanent basis:

Every seven years the Universities of Excellence must undergo an evaluation. This involves assessing whether the conditions for funding are still fulfilled, meaning that every seven years, Universities of Excellence must: 

• Once again be successful in applying for at least two or three (in the case of a University Consortium of Excellence) Clusters of Excellence in the open competition of the first funding line
• Undergo an evaluation which assesses whether the overarching funding criteria are fulfilled

The Excellence Strategy provides EUR 687 million in annual funding to successful Clusters of Excellence and Universities of Excellence. 

As with the Excellence Initiative, the Excellence Strategy is also overseen by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Science and Humanities Council. The DFG is responsible for the Cluster of Excellence funding line, and the German Science and Humanities Council for the University of Excellence funding line. The funding decision is made by the Excellence Commission, which comprises a Committee of Experts as well as the Federal and State Ministers responsible for science and research. The Excellence Commission makes a decision on the funding of Clusters of Excellence and Universities of Excellence based on the recommendations of the Committee of Experts.

The international Committee of Experts consists of 39 experts with proven experience in various research fields who have spent many years abroad and have worked in higher education management, teaching or industry.

Its members are proposed jointly by the Senate of the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Scientific Commission of the German Science and Humanities Council and appointed by the Joint Science Conference (GWK). The Chairperson of the German Council of Science and Humanities or the President of the DFG are non-voting members of the Committee of Experts and chair the committee.

The tasks of the Committee of Experts include:

• Defining the eligibility requirements taking into account the criteria set out in the administrative agreement
• Assessing the Clusters of Excellence proposals on the basis of scientific evaluations and deciding which proposals are eligible to apply
• Assessing applications for Clusters of Excellence and Universities of Excellence on the basis of scientific evaluations
• Assessing the results of the evaluation of the Universities of Excellence
• Reporting on the program to the Joint Science Conference
• Providing funding recommendations to the Excellence Commission

The Excellence Commission consists of the Committee of Experts and the Federal and State Ministers responsible for science and research.

In general, funding for additional staff also means additional courses for students, which is provided by outstanding researchers with international reputations.

Moreover, the Excellence Strategy includes differentiated funding options which are meant to support universities in developing thematic and strategic profiles. These can include, in addition to research, areas such as research-oriented teaching. With Foster (Funds for Student Research), TU Dresden has created a program using Excellence funding which supports and increases the visibility of student research.

In a Cluster of Excellence, researchers from different disciplines and institutions work together on a research project. Funding as a Cluster of Excellence provides the opportunity to focus intensively on a research goal, to train early-career researchers, and to recruit top international researchers. In addition, universities with Clusters of Excellence can apply for a “University Allowance” as a strategy allowance to strengthen their governance and strategic orientation (see Cluster of Excellence of FAQs).

Clusters of Excellence are also intended to facilitate scientific networking and cooperation. Clusters of Excellence should be a key component of the strategic and thematic planning of a university, raise their profile significantly, and create excellent support and career conditions for early career researchers. Clusters of Excellence are funded for a period of seven years. A second funding period of another seven years is possible.

Clusters of Excellence thus serve to promote internationally competitive fields of research in universities or university consortia in the form of projects, also across scientific disciplines.

• Excellence of research and of the involved scientists in the respective thematic research field
• Scientific excellence and coherence of the research strategy for the development of the thematic research field, for interdisciplinary work and for international networking
• The special nature, originality and risk tolerance of the research
• Coherence and quality of the promotion of early-career scientists
• Quality of the strategies for professional personnel development and for equal opportunities in science
• Quality of the strategic development strategy on organization and further development of the Cluster of Excellence (governance) and compatibility of this development strategy with that of the university or alliance
• Capability of the partners involved and coherence and quality of the cooperation strategy based on binding agreements, if applicable
• Quality of the proposed measures for research-oriented teaching in the thematic research area (with a special focus on the communication of good scientific practice), if applicable
• Quality of the proposed measures for idea and knowledge transfer, if applicable
• Quality of the proposed measures to use research infrastructures, if applicable

The German Research Foundation (DFG) publishes a call for proposals for Clusters of Excellence every seven years. The call is two-tiered for new Clusters of Excellence, which must first submit a draft proposal and then, after evaluation, a full proposal if necessary. First, the draft proposals are assessed by specialist panels. Then, on the basis of these assessments, the Committee of Experts (see FAQs on the Excellence Strategy) decides which applicants may submit full applications. An existing Cluster of Excellence submits a full proposal for continued funding and is evaluated.

All full proposals are also evaluated by specialist panels. The Committee of Experts then gives recommendations on the proposals for new and continued funding on the basis of scientific assessments. The Excellence Commission (see FAQs on the Excellence Strategy) makes a decision on the applications on the basis of these recommendations.

The funding period for Clusters of Excellence is two times seven years; new applications are possible, including in the same area of research.

The University Allowance is a strategy allowance which universities that host Clusters of Excellence can receive in order to strengthen their governance and strategic orientation. The University Executive Board determines the use of the allowance.  Only universities that successfully applied for one or several Clusters of Excellence are eligible for the University Allowance. Applications for funding of a Cluster of Excellence must include a concise presentation of the university's strategic goals, which will be checked for plausibility during the expert review.

Excellence Universities (or Excellence Consortia) are granted funding to develop their leading international position in research, strengthen their scientific performance, and to create outstanding framework conditions for excellent research.

Universities can submit a proposal for the University of Excellence funding line if they have acquired at least two Clusters of Excellence (or three in the case of University Consortia). Then, a science-led selection process by a Committee of Experts and the Excellence Commission (see FAQs on the Excellence Strategy), in which previous excellent research achievements and a strategic, institution-related overall concept are decisive evaluation criteria. 

Individual measures at a University of Excellence can address the performance areas of research, teaching, research infrastructure, and transfer as well as fields of action such as governance, personnel development, diversity, and internationalization.

The University of Excellence funding line is provided by the German Science and Humanities Council (WR).

Since 2019, the Federal and State Governments have provided a total of approx. EUR 148 million annually for eleven universities and one university alliance. In future, an additional 60 million euros will be available for a maximum of 15 funding cases. Depending on the application, the individual funding amounts range from 10 to 15 million euros per year for individual universities and from 15 to 28 million euros for university consortia. The exact funding amounts for the upcoming funding phase will be determined following the decision on up to five additional Universities of Excellence this coming October 2026.

Universities of Excellence are subject to a selective evaluation every seven years, which is organized by the German Science and Humanities Council and assessed by a Committee of Experts (see FAQs on the Excellence Strategy).

The evaluation reviews in particular whether the conditions for Excellence funding are still fulfilled, which means that every seven years Universities of Excellence must:

• Once again be successful in applying for at least two or three (in the case of a University Consortium of Excellence) Clusters of Excellence in the open competition of the first funding line
• Undergo an evaluation This is to assess whether the overarching funding criteria are fulfilled.

The result of the evaluation is submitted to the Excellence Commission (see FAQ on the Excellence Strategy).

If the conditions are still fulfilled, the funding is continued. If the evaluation has a negative result, the university or university consortia drops out of funding with a phase-out period of completion funding lasting no more than three years.

The Committee of Experts, comprising renowned researchers (see FAQs on the Excellence Strategy), makes a recommendation based on scientific assessments in the form of on-site visits to the universities. The Excellence Commission makes a decision on the applications on the basis of these recommendations.

More permanent positions, improved career perspectives for early-career researchers, time for research, trust in the quality of our research activities – this is what permanent funding would make possible.

The competition for excellence is about visibility and operative scope:

Universities of Excellence are more visible nationally and internationally thanks to this label, which certifies both academic and organizational excellence. Such universities are better positioned to compete for the brightest minds, create exciting collaborations, and ensure their continued existence.

Funding from the Excellence Programs opens up opportunities to start new projects or expand existing ones.

The Excellence title has no effect on the demands on students. What it does bring is even more opportunity to shape the education and get involved in research at an early stage. For example, the program made the FOSTER funds for student research possible. Additional measures such as Teaching Excellence Tracks links excellence research to teaching – such as in the “Physics of Life” Master’s degree program by the Cluster of Excellence of the same name.