The STIAS Individual Fellowship is run by the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study in South Africa. Established researchers in any discipline spend a semester in residence working on a project they propose themselves.
The current call covers the first semester of 2028, mid-January to mid-June. Fellows live in Stellenbosch for the whole stay and join an interdisciplinary cohort of fellows.
Benefits & funding
- One economy return airfare to Cape Town, plus airport transfers.
- Accommodation in Stellenbosch for the fellow and an accompanying partner.
- A pro-rata monthly stipend for living costs, an office, and Stellenbosch University library access.
- No health insurance; fellows arrange their own.
- Fellows must attend the Tuesday and Thursday seminars and weekday lunches at STIAS.
Eligibility
- Senior scholars with a PhD and ten or more years of sustained research track record; this is not a postdoctoral programme.
- Open to any nationality, discipline and institutional affiliation.
- Former STIAS fellows may reapply only two years after their residency; first-time applicants get preference within a five-year cycle.
- STIAS has no labs and funds no fieldwork; experimental or fieldwork-heavy projects qualify only if that work is done separately.
- Shorter stays (minimum eight weeks) or stays spanning two semesters are at the Director’s discretion.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
PhD
Experience required
≥ 10 yrs
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Application process
- 1Prepare a cover letter, a 2–4-page project proposal (up to 2,000 words), a full CV with publications, and one or two recent publications.
- 2Submit through the online individual application form by 31 October 2026, 23:59 UTC, with proposed residency dates between 15 January and 15 July 2028.
- 3STIAS gives selection feedback by 31 March 2027.
Program timeline
Application deadline
Oct 31, 2026 (23:59 UTC)
Selection feedback
By Mar 31, 2027
Earliest residency start (first semester runs to mid-June)
Jan 15, 2028
Call for second semester 2028
Jan 1, 2027 to Apr 30, 2027