Institute of International Education Scholar Rescue Fund (IE-SRF) Fellowship 2025 (up to $25,000)

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About Institute of International Education Scholar Rescue Fund (IE-SRF) Fellowship

The Institute of International Education's Scholar Rescue Fund (IE-SRF) is the only global program that arranges, funds, and supports fellowships for threatened and displaced scholars at partnering higher education institutions worldwide.

These year-long fellowships support temporary academic positions at institutions of higher learning anywhere in the world where IIE-SRF fellows can continue their work in safety. In most cases, IE-SRF fellows are eligible to apply for a second and final year of fellowship support. They have awarded IIE-SRF fellowships to 1,134 scholars from 62 countries, placing them at 510 host partner institutions in 59 countries around the world.

• Sponsor Organisation: Institute of International Education (IIE)

Benefits of Institute of International Education Scholar Rescue Fund (IE-SRF) Fellowship

The IIE-SRF fellowship package includes the following:

• A yearlong research and/or teaching appointment at a higher education institution in a safe location anywhere in the world;
• A fellowship grant of up to $25,000 (most awards are eligible for renewal for a second and final year);
• Individual health insurance coverage;
• Funding for relocation to the host institution;
• Professional development support through resource guides and access to academic networks; CV and cover letter review; letters of reference; career mentorship and advising on post-fellowship opportunities; and (in some cases) financial support for conference attendance and language training;
• Opportunities through IIE-SRF or partner events, media, or other venues to share or promote the fellow's academic work and/or speak about their home country;
• Dedicated support from IIE-SRF and its partners - before, during, and after the fellowship.

Institute of International Education Scholar Rescue Fund (IE-SRF) Fellowship Requirements

• Open to professors, researchers, and public intellectuals who face threats and cannot continue their work in their home countries.
• Scholars from any country and in any academic field or discipline may qualify.
• Applicants are assessed based on academic qualifications and experience, the quality and/or potential of their work, and the urgency of the threats that they face.

Preference is given to scholars who:

• hold a Ph.D. or highest degree in their field and have significant teaching and/or research experience at a university, college, or other institution of higher learning;
• have an established record of published research;
• demonstrate superior academic accomplishment or promise;
• are facing or have recently fled from immediate, targeted threats to their lives and/or careers in their home countries or countries of residence;
• will benefit their home and/or host academic communities.

Application Date and Process

IIE-SRF accepts applications on a rolling basis, and fellowships are awarded quarterly. For a possible decision in March 2025, application materials must be submitted by January 20, 2025.

The required application materials include:

1. Application Form
2. Current CV or resume. Please be sure your CV includes the following information:
   • Academic degrees (degree-granting institution, field, and date of degree award);
   • Current position (location, dates of employment, professional title, and responsibilities);
   • Previous academic positions (in chronological order, including location, dates of employment, professional title, and responsibilities);
   • A detailed list of your academic publications (journal articles, books, chapters, exhibitions, etc.) including full citations with the name of publication, authors, title of work, date of publication, and page numbers, if possible;
   • Other relevant academic work (including supervision of master’s and Ph.D. theses, conference presentations, grants/honors/awards, professional affiliations, etc.).
3. Academic statement. Please provide a thorough statement detailing your academic and professional background and experience, including a thorough description of your academic research interests. Please be sure to include a description of the activities that you have undertaken in your academic positions as well as an explanation of the activities (research, teaching, publishing, etc.) you would undertake during a fellowship. Your academic statement should be a minimum of one page.
4. Personal statement. Please provide a thorough statement explaining why you are applying to IIE-SRF for support. Include a clear and detailed account of the threats or risks that you have been facing and the reasons that you cannot continue your work in your home country at this time. Your personal statement should be a minimum of one page.
5. Reference letters. IIE-SRF requires a minimum of three (3) reference letters that contain the elements listed below. In some cases, additional letters may be requested. Letters from colleagues both inside and outside of your home country are preferred. Please note that IIE-SRF requires original reference letters. Letters should not use identical or AI-generated text, and each referee should speak to their specific knowledge of your academic background and/or circumstances. When possible, please have your referees compose their letters on official letterhead and send them to IIE-SRF directly at [email protected].
   1. Two (2) academic/professional letters of reference from academic or professional colleagues who can speak in detail to your research, publications, teaching, or other academic experience. When appropriate, letters should describe your unique expertise and contributions to specific intellectual issues or questions.
   2. Two (2) personal letters of reference from colleagues or other persons who are aware of your circumstances and can describe the threats that you have been facing.
6. A copy of your Ph.D. or highest degree.
7. Samples of your most current research publications.
8. If you have already secured a commitment from a university or other institution to host your fellowship, please provide a letter from the host indicating their intent to host, if you are awarded. Please note that this is not a requirement.

To begin assessing an application, IIE-SRF must receive the application form, a current CV, academic statement, and personal statement. The remaining materials may be sent at a later time.

Please note that all application materials submitted to IIE-SRF must be original and unique to an applicant’s particular academic background and circumstances. IIE-SRF will not accept academic or personal statements that share identical language with the statements of other applicants to IIE-SRF. Any language or background information borrowed from the internet or other outside source should be cited to credit the original source. IIE-SRF strongly discourages the use of AI tools such as ChatGPT during the application process, including for creating application materials or in responses to IIE-SRF questions. Suspected use of AI-generated language will be a negative factor during IIE-SRF’s assessment process.

Spouses who may both be eligible for IIE-SRF and intend to apply should submit applications at the same time. Please note that if one spouse submits an application after their partner has already been awarded the IIE-SRF fellowship, we may not be able to consider the second application. While we recognize that spouses may be experiencing similar circumstances in their home country, IIE-SRF requires each spouse to submit complete, unique application materials.

Please submit all application materials via email to [email protected]. If you do not have access to email, you may send your materials via fax or post.

Address:

Scholar Rescue Fund
Institute of International Education
One World Trade Center, 36th Floor
New York, New York 10007
USA

Fax: +1-212-205-6425

In cases where a scholar is unable to submit the application, a third party may send the materials on their behalf.

Application Deadline

20 January, 2025

Scholarship Application Portal

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