Central European University Global Invisible University Fellowships 2027/28 | €2,600 Monthly Stipend

The Global Invisible University Fellowships 2027/28 are now open for applications for scholars in the social sciences and humanities who want to pursue advanced research while contributing to a new model of global higher education.

The fellowship programme is offered by Central European University (CEU) in conjunction with the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS CEU). It supports junior and senior scholars whose research aligns with the thematic and research priorities of the Global Invisible University (GIU).

Successful Senior Fellows receive a net monthly stipend of €2,600, while Junior Fellows receive a net monthly stipend of €1,500. Threatened Scholars selected for non-residential fellowships receive a net monthly stipend of €1,000.

The Global Invisible University Fellowship 2027/28 application deadline is 1 October 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CET.

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Global Invisible University Fellowships 2027/28 – Overview

• Fellowship: Global Invisible University Fellowships 2027/28
• Institution: Central European University (CEU)
• Institute: Institute for Advanced Study (IAS CEU)
• Field: Social Sciences and Humanities
• Senior Fellowship stipend: €2,600 net per month
• Junior Fellowship stipend: €1,500 net per month
• Threatened Scholars non-residential stipend: €1,000 net per month
• Location: Budapest, Hungary, with opportunities involving CEU’s Vienna campus
• Residential periods: 3, 5, 6 or 9 months, depending on fellowship
• Deadline: 1 October 2026
• Application opening: 14 August 2026
• Working language: English
• Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
• Application format: Online application + single PDF application package

What Are the Global Invisible University Fellowships?

The Global Invisible University Fellowships form the principal research arm of the Global Invisible University, a strategic initiative of Central European University designed to develop a new model of a university for the future.

The Global Invisible University responds to challenges affecting higher education, scholarship and knowledge production, including war, displacement, authoritarianism, commercialization and repression.

Through research, teaching, mentoring and civic engagement, the GIU aims to strengthen resilient, democratic and open societies.

The Global Invisible University Fellowship 2027/28 therefore offers scholars an opportunity not only to focus on their own research but also to participate in an experimental academic community exploring new approaches to knowledge production and knowledge transfer.

What Does the Global Invisible University Fellowship Offer?

The fellowship provides scholars with a research environment where they can devote significant time to research and writing while engaging with other researchers.

Fellows will participate in weekly research seminars and may be invited to thematic discussions addressing the changing role of universities and new cultural, epistemic and political contexts.

Fellows are also expected to contribute to the development of innovative and interdisciplinary university curricula that can be piloted through the Global Invisible University.

The programme particularly encourages research that connects individual scholarship with broader questions concerning academic freedom, global cooperation, democracy and the future of higher education.

Global Invisible University Fellowship Research Areas

Applicants to the Global Invisible University Fellowships 2027/28 are expected to connect their research with at least one of the programme’s key thematic areas.

1. Democratization and Re-democratization

Research may examine democratization, de-democratization and efforts to rebuild democratic institutions and societies.

2. History, Memory and Culture Wars

This theme includes the politics of history and memory, culture wars, nationalist discourses and transnationalist discourses.

3. Political Economy and Global Inequalities

Applicants may explore political economy, economic systems and the causes and consequences of global inequalities.

4. Human Rights and Justice

This area focuses on human rights and justice, particularly in the context of international and comparative law.

5. Multilateralism and Global Institutions

Research can address the crisis of multilateralism, regional and global institutions, international alliances and their political dynamics.

6. Anthropocene, Climate Justice and Natural Resources

This theme includes the politics of the Anthropocene, climate justice and the governance or politics of natural resources.

7. Media, Networks and Information Warfare

Applicants may examine old and new media, media networks, information warfare, safer media use and securitization.

8. Digital-Age Epistemology

This area addresses epistemological problems in the social sciences in the digital age, including evidentiary procedures, truth claims, archival practices and forensic social sciences.

All disciplines within these thematic areas are welcome, and interdisciplinary research projects are particularly encouraged.

Who Can Apply for the Global Invisible University Fellowship?

The Global Invisible University Fellowship 2027/28 is designed for scholars in the social sciences and humanities who have demonstrated strong research potential or established records of scholarly excellence.

Applicants must meet the relevant eligibility requirements.

General Eligibility Requirements

Applicants:

• Must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent in the social sciences or humanities at the time of application.
• Must have publications in internationally recognized scholarly outlets.
• Must be able to communicate fluently in English.
• Must propose research that relates to at least one of the GIU’s thematic areas.
• Must demonstrate that their fellowship stay at CEU will produce original and significant research results.
• Must show how their research contributes to the broader objectives of the Global Invisible University.

All nationalities are encouraged to apply.

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Junior Global Invisible University Fellowship

Applicants for the Junior Fellowship must have obtained their Ph.D. in 2018 or later.

Junior applicants are expected to demonstrate significant research potential and a promising record of scholarly excellence.

Junior applicants must also provide the names and email addresses of two referees for potential references.

Senior Global Invisible University Fellowship

Applicants who obtained their Ph.D. before 2018 are considered senior applicants and should apply for the Senior Fellowship.

Senior applicants are expected to have a strong record of internationally recognized, world-class scholarship.

Senior applicants may include up to 15 of their most important publications in the application.

Global Invisible University Threatened Scholars Fellowship

A particularly important component of the Global Invisible University Fellowships is the fellowship opportunity for Threatened Scholars.

Threatened Scholars are scholars who face risks because of their political or civic positions, identity, critical scholarship or exercise of academic freedom. This can include risks such as loss of employment, harassment, violence or legal persecution.

The programme also considers scholars from areas experiencing active military conflict that directly affects them.

Applicants from Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, the Western Balkans, Roma communities, and countries of Central and Southeast Asia and the Middle East are particularly encouraged to apply.

Threatened Scholars who cannot undertake a residential fellowship because of personal or legal circumstances may be considered for a non-residential fellowship.

Applicants seeking consideration under this category must provide a personal statement explaining the risk they face and/or appropriate third-party documentation.

Global Invisible University Fellowship Stipend

One of the major benefits of the Global Invisible University Fellowships 2027/28 is the monthly financial support provided to residential and non-residential fellows.

Fellowship	Net Monthly Stipend
Senior Fellow	€2,600
Junior Fellow	€1,500
Threatened Scholar – Non-residential	€1,000
Residential Affiliated Fellow	No stipend

Senior and Junior Fellows also receive housing for themselves and their families at the Raoul Wallenberg Guesthouse in Budapest.

Utilities at the guesthouse are charged to fellows.

Fellows are responsible for their own travel and healthcare provisions.

Global Invisible University Fellowship Duration

Residential fellows may be hosted for different periods depending on the fellowship arrangement:

• 9 months: October–June
• 3 months: October–December
• 5 months: October–February
• 6 months: January–June

Non-residential fellowships for Threatened Scholars are available for 6 to 12 months, during the period August 2027 to July 2028.

Fellowship Location and Research Environment

The main CEU campus is located in Vienna, while CEU also maintains research institutes and centres in Budapest.

The Global Invisible University and IAS CEU provide fellows with access to CEU’s academic environment and resources, including research facilities, seminar and conference spaces, computer services and library resources.

Fellows based at GIU/IAS can interact with researchers and academic communities in Budapest and Vienna, as well as Hungarian, Austrian, Central and Eastern European and international scholarly networks.

The programme can also facilitate research and consultative visits to CEU’s Vienna campus and collaboration with faculty members, depending on individual arrangements.

What Is the Selection Process?

The Global Invisible University Fellowship selection process is rigorous and competitive.

Applications go through stages that include:

1. Pre-selection
2. Peer review
3. Final assessment
4. Decision by an independent, interdisciplinary and international Selection Committee

The principal selection criterion is the expectation that the fellow’s stay at CEU will generate original and significant research results while contributing to the broader objectives of the Global Invisible University.

Innovative research proposals and interdisciplinary scholarship are particularly welcome.

Global Invisible University Fellowship Application Requirements

Applicants must prepare a single PDF application package of no more than 12 MB.

The PDF filename should include the applicant’s name and fellowship type. For example:

• Doe, Jane_Core.pdf
• Doe, Jane_TS.pdf
• Doe, Jane_Affiliated.pdf

The application must contain the following documents.

1. Letter of Intent

The letter of intent must be a maximum of 1,500 words.

It should discuss the applicant’s understanding of academic freedom and transnational cooperation in the face of global authoritarian threats to higher education and research institutions.

Applicants should also explain their potential contribution to the Global Invisible University.

2. Research Project Abstract

Applicants must submit an abstract of their research project of no more than 150 words.

3. Research Project Description

The research project description must be between 1,000 and 2,500 words.

The reference list is not included in the word count.

4. Teaching Statement

Applicants must provide a statement describing:

• Their teaching experience
• Subjects and courses they are interested in teaching or developing
• Their teaching philosophy

The teaching statement should be no more than one page.

5. Curriculum Vitae

Applicants must provide a CV of no more than five pages.

6. Publication List

Applicants should provide a list of their most important publications.

• Junior applicants: Up to 5 publications
• Senior applicants: Up to 15 publications

Applicants should provide publication information rather than full-text articles.

7. References for Junior Applicants

Junior applicants must provide the name and email address of two referees who may be contacted for references.

8. Threatened Scholars Documentation

Applicants seeking a Threatened Scholars Fellowship should include a personal statement explaining their situation and/or third-party documentation describing the nature of the threat.

Examples may include an assessment from Scholars at Risk, a referral from a scholar-rescue programme or relevant public media documentation.

How to Apply for the Global Invisible University Fellowship 2027/28

The Global Invisible University Fellowship application consists of an online application form and a PDF application package.

Step 1: Prepare Your Application

Prepare one PDF file containing all required documents.

Make sure:

• The PDF is no larger than 12 MB.
• The filename follows the required format.
• All required documents are included.
• Word limits are followed.
• The research proposal clearly connects with the GIU thematic priorities.

Step 2: Complete the Online Application Form

Applicants must complete the official GIU Fellowship Application Form for Academic Year 2027/28.

Step 3: Upload and Submit

As the final step, upload the completed PDF application package through the online application system and submit the application.

Applicants should note that the online form cannot be saved and completed later. Therefore, applicants should only begin the final submission process once all information and supporting documents are ready.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Global Invisible University Fellowship Deadline

The deadline for the Global Invisible University Fellowships 2027/28 is:

1 October 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CET.

The application form opened on 14 August 2026.

Successful candidates are expected to be informed in late February 2027, while other applicants will be notified of the outcome by the end of April 2027 at the latest.

The programme does not share individual review scores or evaluation results with applicants.

Important Eligibility Restrictions

Applicants should carefully check the restrictions before applying.

The following individuals are not eligible under the stated conditions:

• Full-time CEU employees and students within the specified five-year restriction period.
• Part-time or temporary CEU employees within the specified one-year restriction period.
• Scholars currently affiliated with CEU academic or research units.
• Former IAS CEU fellows within seven years of their previous fellowship.
• Applicants exceeding the permitted number of reapplications within the specified five-year period.

For CEU full-time employees and students, degrees must have been received and contracts must have ended by 31 December 2021 or earlier to meet the stated five-year restriction.

For part-time or temporary CEU employees, contracts must have ended by 31 December 2025 or earlier to meet the stated one-year restriction.

Who Is This Fellowship Suitable For?

The Global Invisible University Fellowship 2027/28 may be particularly suitable for:

• Social science researchers
• Humanities scholars
• Junior academics with Ph.D. degrees from 2018 onward
• Established senior scholars
• Interdisciplinary researchers
• Researchers working on democracy and authoritarianism
• Human rights and justice researchers
• Political economy scholars
• Climate justice researchers
• Media and information warfare researchers
• Scholars researching global institutions and multilateralism
• Scholars studying digital-age epistemology
• Threatened scholars facing restrictions on academic freedom

The strongest applicants will be those who can demonstrate high-quality scholarship, internationally recognized publications, an innovative research project and a clear connection between their work and the Global Invisible University’s objectives.

Why Apply for the Global Invisible University Fellowship?

The Global Invisible University Fellowships offer more than financial support. They provide scholars with an opportunity to join an international research community focused on some of the most important challenges facing higher education and knowledge production.

For eligible Junior Fellows, the programme provides a €1,500 net monthly stipend, while eligible Senior Fellows receive €2,600 net per month. Residential fellows and their families also receive housing at the Raoul Wallenberg Guesthouse, subject to the programme’s terms.

The fellowship also provides access to CEU’s academic resources, international networks, research community and opportunities for collaboration between Budapest and Vienna.

Final Thoughts

The Global Invisible University Fellowships 2027/28 represent a significant opportunity for researchers in the social sciences and humanities seeking dedicated time for research, writing, teaching and international academic collaboration.

With Senior Fellows receiving €2,600 net per month, Junior Fellows receiving €1,500 net per month, and additional support available for Threatened Scholars, the programme offers several fellowship pathways for eligible scholars.

Applicants should carefully prepare their research proposal, letter of intent, teaching statement, CV and publication list while ensuring that their proposed research clearly contributes to at least one of the eight Global Invisible University thematic areas.

The Global Invisible University Fellowship deadline is 1 October 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CET, so applicants should complete their materials well before the deadline.