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Individual fellowship
Join a cohort of leading thinkers in a creative space for the mind.
Applications are:
OPEN
Current round closes:
30 April 2025
FOR SECOND SEMESTER 2026
STIAS provides and maintains an independent ‘creative space for the mind’ to advance the cause of science and scholarship across all disciplines. It is global in its reach and local in its African roots, and values original thinking and innovation in this context. No restriction is placed on the country of origin, discipline, or academic affiliation when STIAS considers a fellowship invitation. It encourages the cross-pollination of ideas and hence gives preference to projects that will tap into, and benefit from, a multi-disciplinary discourse while also contributing unique perspectives to such a discourse. This interaction is fostered by inviting individual fellows or project teams where each team member is evaluated individually.
Guiding principles
The STIAS programme comprises projects which are entirely self-generated and proposed by applicants, as well as projects and programmes initiated and led by STIAS, typically with select partner organisations (see Initiatives). STIAS Fellows are expected to be resident at STIAS for the duration of a fellowship, with no academic obligations other than pursuing the proposed research project. Obligations while in residence include participating in the Tuesday and Thursday STIAS Fellows’ seminar where Fellows in turn present their work to other Fellows and invited academics from the local community and to have lunch at the STIAS Wallenberg Research Centre from Monday to Friday.
To facilitate the heterogeneity STIAS strives for, its programme specifically includes artists-in-residence and short-term Fellows drawn from the sphere of public commentary and opinion making. Applications in these categories will be considered on their own merit, rather than strictly following the research oriented criteria posted below. A limited number of applications from young scholars who have completed at least one postdoctoral fellowship (preferably more than one) will also be considered annually. Apart from candidates who apply within the framework of an agreement with the Volkswagen Foundation (see below), STIAS does not consider postdoctoral applications.
STIAS Fellows who have been in residence previously are welcome to submit new applications, bearing in mind that during a five-year cycle preference is given to first-time applicants.
STIAS Fellows are selected on the basis of academic excellence and the originality of their proposed research project. The following criteria serve as important guidelines:
1. Level
Does the proposal entail research at the highest level?
2. Innovation
Does the project break new ground? Does it hold the promise of new insights and the potential to produce new knowledge?
3. Interdisciplinarity
To what extent does the project draw on and contribute to different disciplines? Will the project facilitate an interdisciplinary, cross-pollinating engagements during the residency?
4. Relevance
Is the project appropriate for a programme of an institute for advanced study? Does the project have relevance for South Africa and Africa?
5. Feasibility
How convincing is the proposed methodology and research design, and how realistic is the research plan? Is the applicant equipped to deliver on the proposed project?
How selection works
Selection is carried out on an individual basis.
The STIAS Fellowship and Research Programme Committee meets regularly for a preliminary selection of candidates against the criteria listed above. Final selection is concluded during a biannual meeting of the committee where the overall composition of a semester programme is also taken into consideration. The Director is further advised by the STIAS Academic Advisory Board.
The STIAS terms run from mid-January to mid-June (first semester), and from mid-July to mid-December (second semester). During recess periods STIAS cannot offer standard fellowship support, although it may be possible to make ad hoc accommodation arrangements.
Applications and suggestions for fellowships of one academic semester, (approximately mid-January to mid-June; or mid-July to mid-December) may be submitted in writing or via e-mail at any time in advance of announced deadlines. Selection is generally concluded 9 months in advance of the proposed period of residence. In well-motivated cases STIAS will, at the Director’s discretion, consider applications for either a shorter period of residency (with a minimum of six weeks) or a period longer than one semester (with a maximum of two full semesters).
STIAS accepts and welcomes proposals for team
projects: for more information please visit the Team Fellowships page.
As part of an early-to-mid-career advancement programme STIAS has launched the Iso Lomso Fellowship for African Scholars. In addition, STIAS may annually consider a limited number of fellowship applications from young scholars (any nationality, typically in their mid-thirties) which are evaluated within this context and against the standard criteria listed above, academic excellence and originality in particular. Applicants in this category are expected to have completed a PhD (or equivalent degree) and at least one postdoctoral fellowship at recognised academic institutions.
Deadlines
STIAS welcomes fellowship applications on a semester deadline basis.
Applications for the second semester of 2026 (mid-July to mid-December) may be submitted before 30 April 2025 with the results of the cohort selection available in September 2025.
Applications for the first semester of 2027 (mid-January to mid-June) may be submitted before 31 October 2025. The results of the cohort selection will be available in March 2026.
As indicated above, STIAS Fellows who have been in residence previously are welcome to submit new applications, bearing in mind that during a five-year cycle preference is given to first-time applicants.
Apply now
Along with a covering letter, applications should include:
- A comprehensive Curriculum Vitae.
- A list of publications (may be included in the CV).
- One or two recent articles typical of the applicant’s research work, or related to the proposed project.
- A project title and description (2-4 pages) of the planned work and expected outcomes.
- A brief summary/ introductory text (maximum 200 words) of the proposed project accessible to readers from outside the candidate’s specific discipline. This will be posted on the STIAS website (see project summaries for examples).
- A clear indication of the length of fellowship being applied for, together with preferred and alternative dates of residence at STIAS.
- A brief indication of how the applicant became aware of the STIAS programme and motivation to choose STIAS.
Submit via
EMAIL (preferred):
[email protected]
Documentation should be submitted in PDF format.
MAIL:
Ms Gudrun Schirge, STIAS Senior Programme Administrator
Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa