Promoting gender equality measures at Berlin’s universities
Women remain under-represented in research, teaching and at almost all academic and artistic levels of qualification, particularly in professorial and leadership roles. The State of Berlin is committed to targeted measures to promote equal opportunities for women and to establish gender-equitable structures and cultures.
The Berlin Equal Opportunities Programme (BCP) promotes gender equality measures at universities. The BCP’s administrative office is based at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Applying for funding
Eligible to apply are the state universities in the State of Berlin, the two universities run by church organisations, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Applications from individuals are not accepted.
The Berlin universities make an internal selection from the applications submitted within their respective institutions and forward these to the BCP office.
Funding is awarded by a selection committee on behalf of the Senate departments responsible for science and women’s affairs.
Applications under the 2021–2026 Guidelines may be submitted to the BCP Secretariat on the following dates:
- in the fully funded area (funding priorities 1.1, 1.3 and 1.4) on 10 June and 10 December of each year
- in the co-funded area (funding priority 1.5), universities may submit applications at any time in accordance with the BCP guidelines. In the current funding period, the final application deadline was 31 October 2025.
Advice on applications from the office
The BCP office advises universities on the application process. You can find frequently asked questions and answers regarding the application process in our FAQs.
Links and downloads
Funds drawdown and statement of expenditure
Higher education institutions are required to claim funding from the secretariat every six months. A funding claim form is available for this purpose.
Please submit the funding request form in electronic format with a digital signature and in paper format with an original signature.
Changes, such as a delayed start date, changes to the number of hours, promotion to a higher grade, maternity leave and parental leave, etc., must be reported to the administrative office as soon as possible.
Funds withdrawal form for the fully and co-funded sector (funding period 2021–2026) (PDF)
All Berlin higher education institutions receiving funding through the BCP are required to submit an annual statement of expenditure to the BCP office, detailing all measures funded during a financial year. This statement consists of a financial statement and a narrative report.
For all higher education institutions receiving funding in the 2021–2026 funding period, the reports must be submitted by 30 April of the following calendar year.
Report templates can be requested from the BCP office.
The factual report must detail the implementation and impact of the funded measure. The financial report must include a breakdown of income and actual expenditure for audit purposes.
The files must be sent to the BCP office as editable Word or Excel files and as PDF documents by email, and additionally by post with an original signature. The BCP office advises the universities on the preparation of reports.
Downloads
BCP Brochure: Aspects of Support
This brochure (German) provides an insight into the development and evolution of the BCP since 2001 and presents numerous successful ‘aspects of support’. A printed version is available on request from the BCP office.
Contact
Stefanie Nordmann
