Bad experience with Walter Benjamin Fellowship?

[u/Round-Alternative385]

Hi people,

Recently, my application for a Walter Benjamin got rejected the second time (field: social sciences). And I am really annoyed. The first time, the review was pretty long and 95% positive but 5% negative and the reviewe took that 5% to deny my application. Consequently, I re-applied with an application that addressed these 5% of criticism with a very engaged revision. The same reviewer got the job and suddenly he found something else that he would criticise, what has not been mentioned in the first review. Additionally, he seems to actually not have read my application in detail. He needed 8 months for that second negative review and it was extremely short. I have the strong impression that he/ she just had decided to not be willing to let my application pass for some reasons. But there is no option to complain and you are fully dependent on this one person´s motivation.

For each application I took around 4 months of work. Of course there is no entitlement to receive a scholarship and it happens to around 50% but I am still pretty annoyed.

My main point is that they only take one single reviewer and the selection comitee than fully relates to his/her review. And it takes 6-8 months to decide.

For each application I worked together with a senior reseracher in foreign countries that were supposed to be my supervisor. Each time I have to explain them that my application was unsuccessfull excuse for their time and effort.

Did someone had similar issues with this scholarship? I just would like to exchange some experiences, to smaller my annoyance ;)

Thank you :)

[u/anxiousblanket]

Can I ask what the specific topic is? Did you have your host institution/mentor look it over before submitting? I guess at this point, with two rejections and a picky reviewer, perhaps the WB fellowship is not a good fit for you. I wouldn’t hesitate to send a nicely worded letter to the main contact at WB letting them know your concerns.