The Hans de Wit Fellowship was set up in 2022 by the Center for International Higher Education (CIHE) at Boston College, with seed funding from World Education Services. Each year it brings one early-career researcher in higher education studies to CIHE.
The Fellow is affiliated with CIHE for a September–August year and spends three months of it in Boston, between September and June.
Benefits & funding
- US$3,500 a month for the three months in Boston, meant to cover housing and medical insurance.
- Reimbursed round-trip economy airfare and visa processing fees.
- Boston College library access, online and on site, for the whole year.
- Fellows find their own housing and arrange their own visa, with supporting documents from Boston College.
- Fellows share their research during the year, e.g. in CIHE’s seminars, with MA students or in a CIHE publication.
Eligibility
- An early-career researcher in higher education studies, within five years of completing a doctorate.
- No nationality or residence requirement is stated.
- Preference, not a requirement: applicants from marginalized backgrounds, including refugees, people based in the Global South and traditionally underrepresented groups.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“Any early career researcher in higher education studies (i.e. within five years of the completion of a doctoral degree) is eligible to apply.” Eligibility
Education required
PhD
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Application process
- 1Write a letter of interest: why the Fellowship helps you and how you would contribute to CIHE and Boston College; the application form also asks for the independent research you plan.
- 2Add a CV naming one colleague who can speak to your scholarly work, plus the completed application form.
- 3Email everything to internationalhighered@bc.edu by November 15.
- 4Finalists interview with CIHE leadership in January.
Program timeline
Application deadline
November 15, 2026
Finalist interviews
January 2027
September–August
Fellowship year; the Boston visit falls between September and June