For many scholars, researchers, and professionals, developing and completing a self-designed project in a foreign country is a major career goal. Finding the funding needed to exercise creative and academic freedom, however, can often be a challenge. Fortunately, there are many fellowships which provide financial stipends, round-trip airfare, and other vital resources needed to make international projects of one’s own design possible. These 19 fellowships are available to a variety of academics, recent graduates, and mid-career professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines. Be sure to bookmark these exciting fellowship opportunities for self-designed projects abroad to your ProFellow account!
ASF Fellowships for Americans in the Nordic Countries
The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) offers year-long fellowships of up to $23,000 and short-term (1-3 months) fellowships of up to $5,000 to graduate students (preferably conducting dissertation research) and academic professionals interested in pursuing research or creative-arts projects in the Nordic region (Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sámpi, and Sweden). ASF’s award program for study and research abroad has been the Foundation’s most long-standing commitment to educational exchange. Awards are made in all fields.
Bayer Foundation Fellowship Program
The Fellowship Program consists of five scholarship programs that offer tailored financial support. Scholarships are granted to students and young professionals (up to two years after graduation) from Germany wishing to realize a study or research project abroad or to foreign students/young professionals who would like to pursue a project in Germany. Scholarships are available in Life Sciences, Medicine, Agro Sciences, Biology and Chemistry Education, Healthcare, Technology, and Business.
Projects for Peace Grants
Projects for Peace is a global program that encourages young adults to develop innovative, community-centered, and scalable responses to the world’s most pressing issues. Along the way, these student leaders increase their knowledge, improve skills, and establish identities as peacebuilders and changemakers. Every year 100 or more student leaders are awarded a grant in the amount of $10,000 each to implement a “Project for Peace,” anywhere in the world, typically over summer break. Projects for Peace are grassroots activities that address root causes of conflict and promote peace. Grantees must attend a Projects for Peace partner institution.
Einstein Fellowship
The Einstein Forum and the Daimler and Benz Foundation are offering a fellowship for outstanding young thinkers who wish to pursue a project in a different field from that of their previous research. The fellowship includes living accommodations for 5-6 months in the garden cottage of Einstein’s own summer house in Caputh, Brandenburg, Germany. The fellow will receive a stipend of EUR 10,000 and reimbursement of travel expenses. Candidates must be under 35 and hold a university degree in the humanities, in the social sciences, or in the natural sciences.
EURIAS (European Institutes for Advanced Study) Fellowship Programme
EURIAS offers 10-month residencies in one of the 16 participating Institutes: Berlin, Bologna, Budapest, Cambridge, Delmenhorst, Edinburgh, Freiburg, Helsinki, Jerusalem, Lyon, Marseille, Paris, Uppsala, Vienna, Wassenaar, Zürich. The Institutes for Advanced Study support the focused, self-directed work of outstanding researchers. EURIAS is designed for experienced researchers having a minimum of 2 years of research experience post PhD. EURIAS offers approximately 33 fellowships (17 junior, 16 senior positions). The fellowship includes a living allowance (€26,000 for juniors and €38,000 for seniors), accommodation, research budget, and travel expenses.
Fox International Fellowship
The Fox International Fellowship is a graduate student exchange program between Yale University and 19 world-renowned partner universities. Fox International Fellows are selected for their potential to become leaders in fields that are policy significant, historically informed, and socially meaningful. Fox International Fellows undertake independent research for an academic year at one of the Fox exchange partner universities. Fellows are doctoral students, graduating masters’ students or graduating seniors. Awards include round-trip travel, accommodations, and a generous living stipend.
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
The Core Fulbright Scholar Program offers over 500 teaching, research or combination teaching/research awards of 2-12 months in over 125 countries. Opportunities are available for college and university faculty and administrators as well as for professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars and many others. In addition to several new program models designed to meet the changing needs of U.S. academics and professionals, Fulbright is offering more opportunities for flexible, multi-country grants. Only U.S. citizens are eligible to apply.
German Chancellor Fellowship
The German Chancellor Fellowship allows prospective leaders from Brazil, China, India, Russia and the U.S. to carry out a project of their own design in cooperation with a host in Germany for one year. Applicants must have received their BA within the past 12 years at the time of the application. Prior knowledge of German is not a prerequisite, and intensive language study is included. Candidates from all professions and disciplines, but especially individuals in the humanities, law, social sciences and economics, are eligible to apply. The fellowship provides a monthly stipend of 2,150-2,750 EUR.
Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers
The Humboldt Research Fellowship for experienced researchers allows you to carry out a long-term research project (6-18 months) with a self-selected academic host in a research institution in Germany. The fellowship is flexible and can be divided up into as many as three stays within three years. Scientists and scholars of all nationalities and disciplines may apply. Applications are welcome from researchers with above average qualifications, who are working at least at the level of Assistant Professor or Junior Research Group Leader or have a record of several years of independent academic work.
The Institute of Current World Affairs Fellowship
The ICWA fellowship program aims to nurture deep expertise in foreign countries and cultures by supporting a Fellow who carries out a program of self-designed, independent study abroad for a minimum of two years. We look for candidates who are sufficiently prepared to take advantage of the opportunity we offer. Fellowships are aimed at developing knowledge and professional skills, not awarding research or reporting opportunities to those who already have them. We expect candidates to have the necessary language skills to allow them to carry out their proposed project. Candidates must be under age 36.
Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship in Public Policy
Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy are for outstanding mid-career American professionals to research and gain firsthand experience of public policy in New Zealand. Three to six fellowships valued at up to NZ $58,500 are granted each year, towards seven months of research. Fellows will be based at a relevant government agency in Wellington and carefully paired with a leading policy expert who will serve as their mentor. To be eligible, you must be a US citizen with at least five years of experience in your profession in the public, business or non-profit sector.
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowship
The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowship Program provides recent PhD recipients and ABDs with opportunities to conduct research in Japan under the leadership of a host researcher. Fellows are encouraged to advance their own research and at the same time closely collaborate with young Japanese researchers and contribute to Japanese research communities. Applications are welcome from all social science and humanities disciplines and need not be explicitly related to the study of Japan. Projects propose a single, continuous stay in Japan from 1-12 months (short-term) or 1-2 years (long-term).
Jeanne Sauvé Public Leadership Program
Jeanne Sauvé Public Leadership Program is a unique two-year fellowship opportunity: Year one consists of a full-time intensive residential phase in Montreal, Canada. The Program is structured around a key global challenge for each cohort. Year two is a part-time field phase tailored to each individual Fellow’s activities in their respective communities and countries. Fellows are highly motivated independent thinkers between 25 and 30 years of age with demonstrated skills as agents of change. The Program provides housing, a monthly allowance to cover meals and incidental expenses, and RT transport to Montreal.
NEH Grants for Fellowship Programs at Independent Research Institutions (FPIRI)
Grants for Fellowship Programs at Independent Research Institutions (FPIRI) support fellowships at institutions devoted to advanced study and research in the humanities. The FPIRI program sponsors fellowships that provide scholars with research time and access to resources that might otherwise not be available to them. Fellowship programs may be administered by independent centers for advanced study, libraries, and museums in the United States; American overseas research centers; and American organizations that have expertise in promoting research in foreign countries. Individual scholars apply directly to the institutions for fellowships and stipends of $4,200 a month are provided by the FPIRI.
Rolex Awards for Enterprise
If you are between 18 and 30 years old with vision and a groundbreaking proposal that will help to expand knowledge of our world and improve the quality of life on the planet, apply for a Rolex Award. Five inspiring Young Leaders will receive 100,000 francs each, double the previous amount offered to winners in this age group. They will also benefit from worldwide publicity and receive a Rolex chronometer. Applications must be broadly in the areas of the environment, applied science and technology, or exploration. In addition to demonstrating a spirit of enterprise and leadership, candidates must put forward projects or work plans that have a clear purpose, are original and have the potential for significant impact.
Samuel Huntington Public Service Award
The Samuel Huntington Public Service Award provides a $15,000 stipend for a graduating college senior from a U.S. university to pursue one year of public service anywhere in the world. The award allows recipients to engage in a meaningful public service activity for one year before proceeding on to graduate school or a career. To apply, please develop a proposal for public service in this country or abroad. The proposal may encompass any activity that furthers the public good. It can be undertaken by yourself alone or by working through established charitable, religious, educational, governmental, or other public service organizations.
Sofja Kovalevskaja Award
The Sofja Kovalevskaja Award allows you to spend 5 years establishing a research group and working on a high-profile, innovative research project of your own choice at a research institution in Germany. Scientists and scholars from all disciplines may apply. Submit an application if you are a successful top-rank junior researcher from abroad, only completed your doctorate with distinction in the last six years, and have published work in prestigious international journals or publishing houses. The award winner is entitled to funds of up to 1.65 million EUR.
Study Scholarship in Germany
Study Scholarships provide highly qualified individuals with an opportunity to do independent study in Germany or to complete a full Master’s degree program at a German university. Graduating seniors (fourth-year students in Canada), graduate students and recent graduates who have completed their Bachelor’s degrees no longer than six years before the application deadline are welcome to apply. Students who are in the first year of a full Master’s degree program in Germany may also apply to fund their second year of the Master’s programs.
Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
The Thomas J. Watson Foundation provides fellowships to graduating seniors nominated by a participating college or university in the United States to engage in a year of independent study and travel abroad following their graduation. The project must be one that can be pursued with independence and adaptability, and it cannot involve formal study at a foreign institution. It must involve travel to areas where the student has not previously lived or studied for a significant length of time. Your university may have an earlier deadline – please contact your university fellowship office for details.
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