European University Institute (EUI) Policy Leader Fellowship 2026
- Omran Aburayya
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
If you are someone deeply engaged in policymaking — perhaps working in government, NGOs, media, or international organisations — the European University Institute (EUI) has opened the call for Policy Leader Fellowship for 2026–2027. The Florence-based fellowship offers you a unique opportunity to spend 5 or 10 months at the Florence School of Transnational Governance (STG), crafting real-world policy solutions, strengthening your leadership, and connecting with a global network of changemakers. Here's everything you need to know.
🎓 Key Details
Host institution: European University Institute (EUI), Florence, Italy
Programme: Policy Leader Fellowship (PLF) under the School of Transnational Governance (STG)
Start date: 1 September 2026
Application deadline: 23 January 2026, at 14:00 CET
Methodology: Residential — fellows are expected to live in Florence for the duration.
Duration: Either 5 months or 10 months, depending on the fellow’s plan.
Number of fellows: ~20–30 policy leaders per cohort.
Target group: Mid-career policy professionals (not necessarily academic), with at least 10 years of professional experience in policy-related fields.
Location: Palazzo Buontalenti, Florence (EUI campus)
Language: English; expected proficiency at C1 level.
📚 Programme Overview
The Policy Leader Fellowship is deeply practitioner-oriented and fellow-driven. While in Florence, you will:
Work on an individual policy project: Over your 5 or 10 months, you’ll design and execute a workplan to produce tangible outputs (policy brief, strategic toolkit, recommendations, etc.).
Contribute to a collective project: In addition to your own work, you'll join one of several faculty-led thematic “collective” projects. For 2026–27, there are four themes:
Policy learning in a “post-truth” world
Negotiation & mediation in turbulent times
Transnational governance in global disorder
Modernisation & mobility governance
Engage in peer-to-peer learning: The programme emphasizes collaborative learning among fellows.
Participate in professional development: STG organises bespoke training (policy writing, negotiation, leadership), executive sessions, and small-group workshops with academics and policymakers.
Mentor & teach: Fellows get matched with students in the Master in Transnational Governance, offering mentorship and contributing to master-level teaching through case studies.
Produce tangible outputs: As part of your fellowship, you’ll be expected to deliver at least two outputs, such as policy papers, op-eds, media pieces, podcasts, or case studies.
Present at STG: Fellows lead “STG Talks” — presenting their work, facilitating discussion, and contributing to the intellectual life of STG.
Join the EUI/STG community: As a fellow, you gain full access to EUI resources (library, events, academic talks), and after your fellowship you become part of a global alumni network.
💲 Benefits & Financial Support
Monthly grant: € 2,500.
Family/partner allowance (if applicable): Additional monthly allowance for partner and dependents, depending on circumstances.
Travel reimbursement: Up to €1,200 (for round-trip, economy or train)
Visa & permit support: For non-EU fellows, EUI provides help with visa and residence permits.
Professional development: Expect high-level training, network building, mentorship, and publication opportunities.
Alumni network: Once the fellowship ends, you remain part of STG/EUI’s global network with access to ongoing training and collaboration.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To apply, you should:
Be mid-career, with ≥ 10 years of relevant professional experience in policy (public administration, NGOs, media, international organisations, etc.).
Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
Demonstrate leadership potential, policy relevance, and a strong vision for your work during the fellowship.
Be proficient in English, at C1 level (per CEFR).
Commit to residing in Florence during the fellowship period.
Be ready to work independently but also collaboratively — both for your own project and for the collective project.
📝 Application Process
Here’s what you need to prepare for your application:
CV (max 3 pages)
Short biography (max 250 words)
Letter of motivation (max 1,000 words): Why you apply, what transnational issue you want to tackle, and your long-term professional goals.
Work plan (max 2,500 words): Include project title, summary, objectives, milestones, activities (mapped over 5 or 10 months), synergies with EUI/STG or external partners, impact, and dissemination plan.
Collective project interest statements (2 statements, max 400 words each): Choose two of the four themes and explain how your experience aligns, what you would contribute, and how this complements your individual project.
Two reference letters: Submitted by referees (preferably professional, not academic) via the online system.
Copy of highest educational certificate.
Optional work samples (up to 2): Policy papers, media articles, report, blog post, etc.
Responsible AI use: If you use generative AI in your application documents, you must explicitly acknowledge it and reference what was AI-generated, per EUI’s AI guidelines.
ℹ️ Important: Once you submit your application, you cannot modify it. Make sure your referees are ready and upload their letters before their deadline. Apply here
✨ Selection & Expectations
The programme is highly competitive. According to STG’s strategy document, they receive 700–900 applications per year for around 20 fellowships.
Successful applicants are evaluated based on:
Professional achievement and policy relevance
Feasibility and coherence of the work plan
Fit with one of the collective themes
Motivation and leadership potential
As a fellow, you are expected to be fully engaged, attend trainings, deliver on your work plan, present your work, contribute to STG Talks, and produce policy-relevant outputs.
Attendance is recorded; repeated absences may lead to reduction of the fellowship grant.
👌🏻Why This Fellowship Matters
Bridge policy and academia: The PLF is designed for those with real-world policy experience — not just academics — and helps you translate practice into actionable research and policy recommendations.
Peer community: You’ll join a cohort of global policy professionals, enabling cross-sector learning and exchange.
Practical impact: The fellowship is not only about research. It’s about solving real policy problems, producing usable outputs, and influencing transnational governance.
Visibility & platform: Through STG Talks, case studies, policy papers, and other formats, you have a platform to share your expertise and work.
Long-term network: Post-fellowship, you become part of a powerful alumni network — with access to lifelong training and collaboration.
Professional growth: Tailored trainings, mentorship, and exposure to both academic and policymaking worlds can significantly advance your leadership capacity.
🤔 Tips for Applicants
Start early: Register on the application portal as soon as possible so your referees have time to submit their letters.
Craft a clear, ambitious but realistic work plan: Map your project over the fellowship duration, think of milestones, and show how you’ll use EUI’s resources.
Choose your collective themes wisely: Reflect on which of the four faculty-led themes aligns best with your expertise — and how your contribution will fit.
Demonstrate engagement: Use your motivation letter to show not only why you want to join, but also how you will contribute to the STG community (teaching, talks, mentoring).
Use optional work samples strategically: Submit past policy reports, op-eds, or other pieces that highlight your analytical and writing skills.
Be transparent about AI: If you use generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) in drafting any materials, clearly acknowledge which parts were AI-assisted.
Prepare for relocation: Budget for initial costs in Florence: housing deposit, living costs before the first grant payment, etc.
Follow up with referees: Make sure they received the portal invite and remind them of the deadline.
🚀 Conclusion
The EUI Policy Leader Fellowship 2026 is a rare chance for seasoned policy professionals to step into a vibrant academic-policy ecosystem, drive meaningful transnational policy work, and grow both personally and professionally. If you’re ready to dive deep into governance challenges, build a strong peer network, and produce high-impact policy outputs — this fellowship could be transformative.
