If you’re a senior researcher in the social sciences or humanities with a strong academic track record and an eagerness to collaborate internationally—this is your chance to spend six months immersed in one of Europe’s most dynamic research environments!
About the Fellowship
The International Senior Fellowship Programme 2026/2027, hosted by the College for Social Sciences and Humanities—an institute under the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr) in Germany—invites advanced international scholars to pursue self-selected research projects alongside local academics from the universities of Duisburg-Essen, Bochum, or Dortmund.
Fellowships begin either on 1 March 2026 or 1 September 2026 and run for a six-month period in Essen, Germany.
Funding Details
The program offers flexible financial support based on your employment situation:
✅ For Fellows on Paid Leave from Their Home Institution:
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- Monthly allowance: €3,050
- Family allowance (if applicable): €250
- Mobility allowance: €125
- Travel and visa costs fully reimbursed
- Project collaboration budget: up to €7,500 (€1,250/month).
✅ For Fellows on Unpaid Leave:
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- Option 1: Compensation equivalent to W3 professorship (~€7,100/month pre-tax)
- Option 2: Monthly fellowship grant: €5,000 (pre-tax)
- Substitute costs at home institution may also be covered.
Research Environment Perks
- Dedicated office at the College with modern facilities
- Access to Germany’s top research hubs, including ties with Max Planck, Leibniz Institutes, and EU research networks
- Close proximity to cultural hubs in Düsseldorf, Cologne, and the Netherlands.
Eligibility Criteria Requirement
To qualify, applicants must:
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- Be affiliated with a foreign university or research institution throughout the fellowship
- Hold a PhD awarded at least 6 years ago
- Demonstrate an excellent publication record in social sciences or humanities
- Establish a tandem collaboration with an R3+ level researcher at UA Ruhr before applying.
Apply: https://www.college-uaruhr.de/fellowship/application/call-for-applications
Application Timeline
The last date to apply for the International Senior Fellowship Programme 2026/2027 is 25 May 2025 (23:59 CEST). The selection process will take place in July 2025, during which shortlisted candidates may be invited for video interviews. Successful applicants will be notified shortly after the selection process concludes in July. Selected Fellows will have the option to begin their fellowship on either 1 March 2026 or 1 September 2026.
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