CEMES International Fellowships 2026–2027 | Fully Funded Research Fellowships at the University of Würzburg, Germany

If you are an early-career or senior researcher working at the intersection of religion, culture, politics, or social theory, the CEMES International Fellowships 2026–2027 are now open for applications. Hosted by the Käte Hamburger Center for Messianic Studies at the University of Würzburg, these prestigious fellowships support advanced interdisciplinary research on messianism and its role in shaping historical and contemporary societies.

The program brings together international scholars to critically explore how messianic figures, narratives, and imaginaries emerge, evolve, and influence cultural and political structures across different contexts.

🎓 Fellowship Summary

• Location: , Germany

• Host Institution:  at

• Study Level: Postdoctoral / Senior Research Fellowship

• Target Group: International junior and senior researchers with a completed PhD

• Fields of Study / Focus:

  • Religious studies

  • Cultural studies

  • Political theory

  • History

  • Sociology

  • Anthropology

  • Interdisciplinary humanities and social sciences

• Research Theme (2026–2027): Person-Centered Messianism and Emergence

• Award Value:

  • Monthly stipend approx. €5,000–€9,000 (depending on individual circumstances), OR

  • Salary compensation to home institution for teaching replacement

• Fellowship Duration: 6–9 months

• Application Deadline: 15 May 2026

• Fellowship Start Date: November 2026

• Eligible to Apply: International applicants worldwide with a completed and defended PhD

Scholarship Overview

The CEMES International Fellowships are designed to foster advanced, interdisciplinary research on messianism as a cultural, political, and religious phenomenon. The 2026–2027 cohort focuses specifically on person-centered messianism, examining how messianic figures, personas, and expectations emerge and circulate within different historical and global contexts.

Fellows are expected to actively engage in academic life at CEMES, including participation in workshops, colloquia, lecture series, and collaborative research activities. The program provides a dedicated workspace and an intellectually vibrant environment for scholarly exchange.

Research projects may adopt historical, empirical, theoretical, or comparative approaches. Proposals that introduce new methodologies or conceptual frameworks are particularly encouraged.

Fellowship Benefits

Selected fellows will receive one of the following support options:

• Monthly stipend ranging from approximately €5,000 to €9,000, based on individual assessment (for those taking unpaid leave from their home institution)

• OR salary reimbursement to the home institution for teaching replacement (subject to German federal regulations)

Additional benefits include:

• Dedicated office space at CEMES

• Full integration into interdisciplinary academic activities

• Participation in international workshops and research networks

• Access to a high-level scholarly community in Würzburg

Note: Fellows are responsible for travel, accommodation, and health insurance costs.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Hold a PhD degree completed and successfully defended before the application deadline

• Demonstrate an outstanding academic track record

• Present a strong, original, and clearly structured research proposal

• Engage meaningfully with the theme of person-centered messianism

• Show potential for interdisciplinary and international academic contribution

Applications from scholars in underrepresented regions and disciplines are strongly encouraged.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit their application via email and include:

• Cover letter

• Proposed start date and duration (6–9 months)

• Project title

• Research proposal (maximum 2 pages, Times New Roman 11pt, single-spaced), including:

  • Title and 150-word abstract

  • Description of research objectives and relevance to the fellowship theme

• Curriculum Vitae, including:

  • Academic degrees with dates and institutions

  • List of key publications (with English translations for non-English titles where applicable)

Application Procedure

Applications must be sent by email no later than 15 May 2026 to:

claudia.leppich@uni-wuerzburg.de

For further inquiries:

• Prof. Dr. Barbara Schmitz: barbara.schmitz@uni-wuerzburg.de

• Prof. Dr. Christian Wehr: christian.wehr@uni-wuerzburg.de

More information is available through the University of Würzburg’s CEMES research center.

Selection Process

Applications are evaluated based on:

• Originality and academic quality of the research proposal

• Relevance to the fellowship’s thematic focus

• Candidate’s academic achievements and publications

• Interdisciplinary potential and methodological innovation

• Diversity considerations across geography, discipline, gender, and career stage

Due to the highly competitive nature of the program, only a limited number of fellows will be selected.

Tips for Applicants

• Ensure the research proposal clearly connects to the concept of person-centered messianism.

• Present a focused, well-defined research question rather than a broad topic.

• Highlight the interdisciplinary relevance of the project.

• Demonstrate familiarity with existing scholarly debates while emphasizing originality.

• Keep the proposal concise, structured, and methodologically clear.

Meta Description

Fully funded CEMES International Fellowships 2026–2027 at the University of Würzburg, Germany, offering 6–9 month research residencies for international PhD holders in humanities and social sciences focusing on person-centered messianism. Deadline: 15 May 2026.