MECAM Fellowships 2026–2027: A Unique Opportunity for Postdoctoral and Advanced Researchers
The Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) has opened applications for its Individual Residential Fellowships for the 2026–2027 academic year. This prestigious programme offers postdoctoral and advanced researchers in the humanities and social sciences the opportunity to pursue independent research within a dynamic international academic environment based in Tunis, Tunisia.
About MECAM
MECAM is an international research centre hosted by the Université de Tunis and supported by a consortium of leading Tunisian and German institutions. The centre promotes interdisciplinary, interregional, and intergenerational research collaboration, with a strong focus on social, cultural, political, and economic transformations in the Maghreb and connected regions.
By bringing together scholars from diverse academic and geographic backgrounds, MECAM provides a platform for critical dialogue, collaborative research, and intellectual exchange. Fellows benefit from a stimulating research environment that encourages innovation, comparative perspectives, and meaningful engagement with regional and global debates.
ALSO READ: Applications Open Until 15 January 2026: Apply for the African STARS Fellowship Programme (ATT & YPP)
Fellowship Theme: Imagining Futures – Dealing with Disparity
The 2026–2027 fellowship cycle is centred on the theme “Imagining Futures: Dealing with Disparity.” MECAM invites research projects that critically examine how different forms of disparity shape social realities and influence the ways societies imagine and plan for the future.
Disparities may be social, economic, political, cultural, or environmental in nature. Applicants are encouraged to explore long-term structural inequalities, emerging social dynamics, and responses to change, particularly within the context of the Maghreb or in comparative and transregional frameworks.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JOB UPDATES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP OR WHATSAPP CHANNEL FOR UPDATES
FOLLOW LinkedIn PAGE OR FACEBOOK PAGE
Interdisciplinary Research Fields
Proposed research must align with at least one of MECAM’s Interdisciplinary Research Fields. These include Aesthetics and Cultural Practices, which examines artistic expression, media, and cultural narratives; Inequality and Mobility, focusing on migration, access to resources, and social stratification; Memory and Justice, exploring historical legacies and processes of accountability; Resources and Sustainability, addressing environmental challenges and economic models; and Identities and Beliefs, analysing social identities, religious practices, and belief systems.
Interdisciplinary and comparative approaches are particularly welcome, as MECAM seeks to foster dialogue across fields and methodologies.
Fellowship Structure and Benefits
MECAM will award a total of eight residential fellowships, including six for postdoctoral researchers and two for advanced scholars. The fellowship period runs from 1 September 2026 to 30 April 2027 and requires full-time residence in Tunis.
Fellows receive a monthly stipend calculated according to a no gain, no loss principle, along with support for relocation costs. In addition, fellows have access to shared office space, research facilities, and a comprehensive academic programme of seminars, workshops, and lectures.
Active participation in MECAM’s intellectual life is a key component of the fellowship. Fellows are expected to present their research, contribute to discussions, collaborate with peers, and participate in joint academic activities and publications.
Eligibility Criteria
The call is open to researchers of all nationalities, including those based in Tunisia. Applicants must hold a PhD at the time of application; current doctoral candidates are not eligible. Independent scholars without a formal institutional affiliation are also encouraged to apply.
Selection is based on academic excellence, originality of the proposed research, and the project’s relevance to the fellowship theme and MECAM’s research framework.
Application Process and Deadline
Applications must be submitted online in either English or French through the official application platform. Email submissions will not be accepted. Required materials include a curriculum vitae, a research proposal summary of up to 1,000 words, a recent academic writing sample, a short statement outlining the project’s relevance to the Maghreb and MECAM, and contact details for two academic referees.
The application deadline is 2 March 2026 at 12:30 CEST.
Final Thoughts
The MECAM Individual Fellowships offer a valuable opportunity for scholars to deepen their research while engaging with an international academic community in the Maghreb. For researchers seeking intellectual exchange, institutional support, and the chance to develop impactful scholarship in a collaborative setting, the MECAM Fellowships 2026–2027 present an opportunity not to be missed.
