The KWI International Fellowship Programme brings postdoctoral researchers from around the world to the Kulturwissenschaftliches Institut Essen (KWI) — the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities — in Essen, Germany. Fellows spend six months in residence pursuing their own research project while joining the institute’s interdisciplinary community and its work on themes such as science studies, visual literacy, aesthetic practices, and dialogue between the cultural and social sciences. The programme runs two cohorts each year (October–March and April–September). The currently open call is for the April–September 2027 cohort.
Benefits & funding
- Monthly allowance of €3,000 (pre-tax) under a fellowship contract (not full employment), intended to cover rent, insurance, and living costs.
- Six months in residence (1 April 2027 – 30 September 2027 for the open cohort).
- Partial reimbursement of travel expenses for arrival at and departure from KWI.
- Office space, modern infrastructure, technical and research-administration support, and integration into the institute’s events and academic community.
Eligibility
- Open to researchers of any nationality; German nationals may apply only if currently employed at an international (non-German) institute.
- A completed doctorate (PhD) plus up to six years of post-doctoral experience.
- Background in the humanities, cultural studies, or the social sciences.
- Application prepared in English; fellows are expected to be present at KWI at least three days a week.
Application process
- 1Prepare an application in English as a single PDF (max. 20 MB) containing a CV, a list of publications, your PhD certificate, and a project proposal (up to 5,000 characters).
- 2Email the application to international.fellowship@uni-due.de before the deadline.
- 3Selected fellows are notified and offered a fellowship contract for the cohort period.
Program timeline
Application deadline (April–September 2027 cohort)
Aug 17, 2026
Fellowship begins
Apr 1, 2027
Fellowship ends
Sep 30, 2027