The Thyssen@KWI Fellowship brings one experienced researcher from the humanities, cultural studies or the social sciences to the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities (KWI) in Essen, Germany, for a fixed six-month residence. The Fritz Thyssen Foundation pays for the place, and KWI hosts it inside its international fellowship programme.
Fellows work on their own project, which has to differ from their doctoral research, using KWI office space, library services and research management. The institute expects them on site at least three days a week and asks them to join its colloquium, lectures, conferences and reading groups.
The current call covers 1 April to 30 September 2027. The programme runs in English and knowledge of German is not required.
Benefits & funding
- Monthly allowance of €4,000 before tax across the six-month term, paid under a fellowship contract rather than a full-employment contract.
- The allowance is meant to cover rent, insurance and living expenses; there is no separate family allowance, though KWI provides a parent-child office.
- Partial reimbursement of travel to and from KWI for arrival and departure; conference travel is paid out of the allowance.
- Office space, modern research infrastructure, technical support, library service, event and research management, and administrative and communication support.
- Proximity to the University Alliance Ruhr network — the universities of Duisburg-Essen, Bochum and Dortmund — with its 14 collaborative research centres and 13 graduate training groups.
Eligibility
- A completed PhD in the humanities, cultural studies, the social sciences or a closely related field, plus an established research profile.
- Approximately five or more years of postdoctoral experience (R3 level); the programme FAQ sets no upper limit on postdoctoral years.
- A research project distinct from the applicant’s doctoral work and linked to at least one KWI focus area: constellations of historical impact, visual literacy, aesthetic practices, dialogues between the cultural and social sciences, and science studies.
- Open to researchers of all nationalities. Applicants of German nationality must show substantial international research experience during or after the PhD, such as extended research stays or collaborations abroad, together with relevant professional contacts.
- A strong scientific track record, including publications in respected international journals and participation in or organisation of international conferences.
- Availability to be present at KWI at least three days a week for the whole term, to take part in entry and exit interviews, and to contribute to the KWI Blog. The start and end dates are not negotiable.
- A strong command of English; German is not required.
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.
Education required
PhD
Experience required
≥ 5 yrs
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Application process
- 1Prepare one PDF file of at most 20 MB, written in English, containing a CV, a list of publications, a copy of the PhD certificate and a proposal sketching the KWI project of at most 5,000 characters including spaces; a cover letter is optional.
- 2Email the file to international.fellowship@uni-due.de with the subject line “Thyssen@KWI-Fellowship”.
- 3Submit before the deadline. Incomplete or late applications are not considered, and applications sent as links to external platforms cannot be accepted.
- 4Await the decision of the selection committee, made up of external reviewers, the institute’s director and the Fritz Thyssen Foundation.
Program timeline
Application deadline
17 August 2026, 23:59 CET
Applicants are normally informed of the outcome
About four months before the start, so around December 2026
Fellowship begins, with an entry interview
1 April 2027
Fellowship ends, with an exit interview
30 September 2027