KWI International Fellowships 2026

If you’re an early-career researcher in the humanities, cultural studies, or social sciences, the KWI International Fellowships 2025 are now open for applications! Offered by the Kulturwissenschaftliches Institut (KWI) in Essen, Germany, these fellowships provide a six-month immersive setting to advance your scholarly project. The call also includes the prestigious Thyssen@KWI Fellowship—fully funded and tailored for those with more extensive postdoctoral experience.

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🧭KWI Fellowship Summary

• Location: Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

• Host Institution: Kulturwissenschaftliches Institut (Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities, KWI)

• Academic Level: Postdoctoral researchers (PhD completed + up to 6 years post-doc)

• Target Group:

  • KWI International Fellowship: Completed PhD + up to six years postdoc (non-exclusively international)

  • Thyssen@KWI Fellowship: Completed PhD + several years of postdoc; German nationals welcome with proven international experience

• Fields of Focus: Humanities, cultural studies, social sciences (e.g., anthropology, history, digital humanities, sociology, gender studies)

• Value & Coverage:

  • Monthly stipend: €4,000 (pre-tax) to cover living costs, insurance, and rent

  • Partial travel reimbursement (arrival and departure)

• Duration: 6 months

  • International Fellowship: 1 Apr – 30 Sept 2026

  • Thyssen@KWI Fellowship: 1 Apr – 30 Sept 2026

• Application Deadline: 29 August 2025

• Start Date: April 1, 2026

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🏛️ Fellowship Overview

• Engaged residency in Essen, with at least 3 days per week onsite

• Participation in KWI’s academic life: reading groups, lectures, colloquia, and events

• Contribution to the KWI Blog and optional workshop hosting

• Exit and entry interviews to track research progress

• Access to modern facilities, office space, technical and admin support, and KWI’s library

Institutional & Regional Context

• Situated in Essen, within the Ruhr Area academic hub—close ties to UA Ruhr universities (Duisburg‑Essen, Bochum, Dortmund)

• Local intellectual culture plus easy access to Cologne, Düsseldorf, and nearby Netherlands/Belgium

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🎁 Fellowship Benefits

• Financial Support: €4,000/month stipend; partial travel reimbursement

• Research Environment: Infrastructure, tech support, library access, event and research administration

• Academic Engagement: Invitations to KWI events, networking, blog contribution, and workshop opportunities

• Collaborative Culture: Integration into UA Ruhr universities and involvement in regional scholarly dialogue

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✅ Eligibility Criteria

• For KWI International Fellowship: PhD completed + up to 6 years postdoc

• For Thyssen@KWI Fellowship: PhD completed + several years postdoc; German nationals accepted with international credentials

• Project proposals must align with KWI’s research agenda

• German nationals must be employed at an international institute for the International Fellowship

• English proficiency required; German not necessary

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📝 Application Procedure

Submission Method:

• Single PDF (max 20 MB) via email to international.fellowship@uni‑due.de

Required Content:

1. Academic CV

2. PhD certificate

3. Publication list

4. Project proposal (max 5,000 characters)

5. [Optional] Workshop proposal (if applicable)

Selection Process:

• Reviewed by KWI’s governing board and director

• Notifications at least 4 months before start date

📂 Download the PDF call here

🔗 OFFICIAL LINK

KWI International Fellowships 2025-2026

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