Scholars Without Borders Opportunities

Master’s and post‑Master’s students and researchers in any field from Visegrad countries (citizens of Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) to study abroad at any accredited university/institute in other Visegrad country or in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine., for 1–2 semesters of full‑time study or research at accredited universities. Preference is given to applicants not supported previously and to applicants with study/research topics relevant to the V4 region

The Max Planck Society’s Lise Meitner Excellence Program supports outstanding early- to mid‑career women scientists in all disciplines of the Max Planck Society by offering them independent, well‑funded research group leader positions (similar to tenure‑track), typically for five years with the perspective of permanent appointment.

The Fedor Stepun Fellowship Program, funded by the Zimin Foundation, offers six-month postdoctoral fellowships at institutions within the University Alliance Ruhr. This includes, in particular, Ukrainian scientists whose academic work has been interrupted by war and displacement, as well as researchers from Russia and Belarus who are subject to repression or persecution due to their scientific activities, public positioning or political stance. Fellows receive a stipend of €1,800 per month. Applicants are asked to identify a potential host in their application rather than contacting them directly.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is offering individual fellowships providing up to $60,000 ($5,000 per month) for six to twelve months of independent research and writing. Fellows will work on producing scholarly outputs, such as books, articles, or translations, focusing strictly on American history and culture or Western civilization. The awards are paid directly to the scholar, with projects expected to start between April 2027 and September 2028.

IIE-SRF provides yearlong fellowships (about USD 30,000 plus host support) for threatened and displaced professors, researchers, and public intellectuals from any country and discipline, enabling them to hold temporary visiting academic positions at partner universities worldwide so they can continue their work in safety. Placements worldwide. IIE-SRF cannot support scholars who have been displaced or have resided outside their home countries for more than two years; hold citizenship or permanent residency in a safe second country. For Ukrainian applicants, IIE-SRF is focused on supporting fellowships undertaken in Eastern or Central Europe and is unable to consider applications from Ukrainian scholars seeking placements elsewhere in Europe, including Western Europe.

The International Visegrad Fund and the European University Institute (EUI) jointly provide grant program for post-graduate scholars from Central and Eastern Europe interested in European integration to conduct research at the Historical Archives of the European Union.

Karlstad University invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher to join the interdisciplinary project “Changing Northern Landscapes: Forestry and Reindeer Husbandry in Sweden.” The position supports research on the power dynamics between the forestry industry and Sámi reindeer herding, utilizing Indigenous feminist methods and critical theory to analyze conflicts, policy-practice gaps, and sustainable collaboration. Support is offered in the form of a two-year, full-time fixed-term employment, providing dedicated time for research, data collection, and international scientific publication

Research grants (1–24 months) for individual and team projects in the humanities and social sciences on forced migration, displacement, and related themes, supporting scholars to conduct in‑depth research in one of six core areas of Forced Migration Studies. Support can be provided for a period of min. one month and max. 24 months

Fellowships for up to six scholarships for visiting Ukrainian researchers with a placement at CBEES or another department/centre/unit at Södertörn University. This fellowship programme is specifically tailored for postdoctoral researchers, lecturers, and professors currently residing and working on-site at higher education institutions or research institutes in Ukraine. They particularly welcome applications from colleagues in the social sciences, humanities, teacher education, and environmental sciences. 

Culture Moves Europe invites applications for its individual mobility grants, which support artistic or cultural projects carried out in another Creative Europe country with the support of an international partner.

The GWZO awards scholarships to doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and senior academics/researchers to support research projects on the history and culture of Eastern Europe from the Middle Ages to the present day. Support is offered in the form of mobility grants, research start-up grants, and short-term scholarships.

The School of Russian at Middlebury offers a 4-week academic program designed for heritage speakers who wish to formalize their grammar, reading, and writing skills. The program takes place in Vermont from July 16 to August 14, 2026, following a mandatory online pre-immersion module. This is a tuition-based opportunity ($8,150) rather than a paid position, though limited scholarships covering up to 25% of costs are available.

The Humboldt Research Fellowship supports academics of all nationalities and focus areas (at various stages of their careers) to conduct research at German host institutions. For postdocs, fellowships may last from 6 to 24 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years. For experienced researchers, fellowships may last from 6 to 18 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years.

The Olle Engkvist Foundation funds research related the natural sciences, technology, medicine, and the humanities. Research projects must be connected to a Nordic university. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; applicants will be notified within six months.

Diaspora 2030 invites applications from qualified individuals with a migration background who wish to contribute their professional skills towards development in their countries of origin, particularly with regard to climate protection, health, and gender equality. Successful applicants will undertake short-term volunteer assignments (between two weeks and three months) with local development organizations, providing valuable expertise that is not always available in the local labor market. Applicants should currently live and work in Germany. Diaspora experts receive financial assistance with travel and other expenses during the course of their assignment, basic travel insurance, and other support from local coordinators.

This funding program supports postdoctoral fellowships focused on a holistic understanding of security, the transformation of the world order, and effective cross-sectoral exchange. The grant provides up to 450,000 EUR for a maximum duration of three years (24 months for research and 12 months for outreach activities). The foundation expects participation in a coordinating program with external partners to foster a European perspective on global security challenges.

To mark the 200th anniversary of the Decembrist uprising, Kritika and the Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies at UC Berkeley will host an interdisciplinary conference on “Demonstrations” in the medieval East Slavic states, the Russian Empire, and the Soviet Union. The conference will be held at UC Berkeley (California, USA) from September 25-26, 2026. UC Berkeley offers a limited amount of funding to cover participants' travel and lodging. 

he Max Weber Network Eastern Europe and its individual locations reserve the right to offer travel grants for participation in conferences, workshops, and colloquia. The program is aimed at highly qualified, internationally oriented scholars in the humanities and social sciences (doctoral candidates, postdocs, and experienced researchers) working on topics that align with the research profile of the network and its locations.

Please note that travel grants are currently only awarded to researchers from post-Soviet states (exceptions: Russia and Belarus) and to researchers in exile without multi-year funding. Members of a German university or research institution should contact their respective home institution.

Fully funded 2–4 week visiting scholarships for academics and policy professionals to teach, lecture, join seminars, or support theses within the Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Public Policy at partner universities in Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, or the UK, with stipends up to €1,500/week.

Karlstad University offers postdoctoral appointments to support research on the democratic and political implications of AI, with a particular focus on the development of the welfare state. The research centers on vulnerabilities arising from the implementation of AI technologies—such as false information and bias in automated decision-making—and the dynamics between public and private actors in the governance of the public sector. Support is offered in the form of a two-year, full-time fixed-term employment.