Are you an emerging scholar, researcher, or policy practitioner with a focus on Turkey’s dynamic role in global affairs? The Centre for Applied Turkey Studies (CATS) at Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin, has opened its prestigious CATS Fellowships for the 2025/2026 academic year, offering a unique opportunity to join one of Europe’s leading policy research environments.
Whether you’re exploring Turkey’s domestic political shifts, societal transformations, or its evolving foreign relations within Europe, NATO, and neighboring regions, this fellowship is designed to deepen your expertise while impacting real-world policy dialogues.
Why Turkey? Why Now?
Turkey’s geostrategic location, rapid defense sector expansion, and influential role in regions like the Caucasus, Middle East, and Africa make it a key actor in shaping European and global policies. With increasing regional uncertainties and diverging EU-Turkey interests, this fellowship empowers scholars to produce rigorous, policy-relevant research to help bridge understanding and inform decision-makers.
Who Can Apply?
CATS welcomes applications from:
- Experienced researchers, think tank members, and policy professionals working on Turkey-related issues.
- Early-career scholars with a proven track record of research (including PhD candidates with substantial progress in Turkey-focused studies).
- Applicants with a strong interest in linking academic work to policy impact.
Fellowship Benefits
- Duration: 6 to 12 months, starting from September 2025 onward.
- Location: In-residence at SWP in Berlin, with occasional research travel allowed.
- Stipend: Monthly grant of €2,800 to €3,000, based on seniority.
Additional Perks:
- Research travel budget.
- Round-trip travel expenses to Berlin covered.
- Additional family support if accompanied by children during the stay.
Fellows will also benefit from:
- Collaboration with the CATS and SWP teams.
- Potential to publish research in CATS/SWP peer-reviewed outlets.
- Access to a vibrant international research community in Berlin.
CAT Fellowship Program Research Themes
The CAT fellowship supports innovative projects related to:
- Internal political, social, and cultural dynamics in Turkey.
- Turkey’s role in the EU, transatlantic relations, or neighboring regions.
- Security policy, migration, defense industries, and diaspora studies.
- Any Turkey-related topic with policy relevance and academic depth.
Applicants should aim to integrate theoretical rigor with real-world policy significance.
Application Requirements
Submit a single PDF document in English or German that includes:
- Cover Letter – 1 page, indicating preferred start date and duration.
- Research Proposal – Max 5 pages, 1.5 spaced, 12pt Times New Roman, covering:
- Title, objectives, and policy relevance
- Literature review and state of research
- Methodological and theoretical framework
- Bibliography
- Curriculum Vitae – Including a full list of academic publications.
- Academic Transcripts/Diplomas – No translations required.
Apply: https://www.cats-network.eu/cats-fellows/call-for-applications-cats-fellowships-2025/2026.
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for the CATS Fellowships 2025/2026 is May 12, 2025.
