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Applications are now open for the 2025/2026 STIAS Fellowship Program. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
Opportunity Details
STIAS provides and maintains an independent ‘creative space for the mind’ to advance the cause of science and scholarship across all disciplines.
It is global in its reach and local in its African roots, and values original thinking and innovation in this context. No restriction is placed on the country of origin, discipline, or academic affiliation when STIAS considers a fellowship invitation. It encourages the cross-pollination of ideas and hence gives preference to projects that will tap into, and benefit from, a multi-disciplinary discourse while also contributing unique perspectives to such a discourse. This interaction is fostered by inviting individual fellows or project teams where each team member is evaluated individually.
The STIAS programme comprises projects which are entirely self-generated and proposed by applicants, as well as projects and programmes initiated and led by STIAS, typically with select partner organisations (see Initiatives). STIAS Fellows are expected to be resident at STIAS for the duration of a fellowship, with no academic obligations other than pursuing the proposed research project. Obligations while in residence include participating in the Tuesday and Thursday STIAS Fellows’ seminar where Fellows in turn present their work to other Fellows and invited academics from the local community and to have lunch at the STIAS Wallenberg Research Centre from Monday to Friday.
STIAS Fellows are selected on the basis of academic excellence and the originality of their proposed research project. The following criteria serve as important guidelines:
Does the proposal entail research at the highest level?
Does the project break new ground? Does it hold the promise of new insights and the potential to produce new knowledge?
To what extent does the project draw on and contribute to different disciplines? Will the project facilitate an interdisciplinary, cross-pollinating engagements during the residency?
Is the project appropriate for a programme of an institute for advanced study? Does the project have relevance for South Africa and Africa?
How convincing is the proposed methodology and research design, and how realistic is the research plan? Is the applicant equipped to deliver on the proposed project?
Click on the link to the application website to apply.
Timeline
STIAS welcomes fellowship applications on a semester deadline basis. Applications for the first semester of 2026 (mid-January to mid-June) may be submitted before 31 October 2024 with the results of the cohort selection available in March 2025.
Apply for STIAS Fellowship Program 2026