Scholars Without Borders Opportunities

Grants support post-graduate researchers from Central and Eastern Europe whose work focuses on European integration, enabling them to conduct research at the Historical Archives of the European Union in Florence, Italy.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

The Hamburg Programme for Scholars at Risk provides a monthly stipend of €2000 for a period of one to twelve months. Candidates must first identify an academic mentor at Universität Hamburg who will then submit an application on the candidate's behalf. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

The PhD scholarships support highly qualified junior academics from the historical sciences. The funding will be awarded over a period of up to 2 years.

The Gerda Henkel Foundation invites applications for a new funding initiative to support research on democracy. The initiative is divided into two subsections: "Democracy as a Utopia, Experience and Threats" and "Transformations of Democracy? Or: The Contours of Future Democratic Society." Proposed projects must relate to these themes. Funding is offered for a period up to 36 months.

The Western Balkans–Visegrad Fellowship is a pilot program promoting academic exchange between V4 and WB6 countries. The fellowship funds scholars from the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, or Serbia) who wish to conduct research at an institution in a V4 country (Czechia, Poland, Hungary, or Slovakia). Scholars from V4 countries can likewise apply for support to conduct research at an institution in a WB6 country.

The University of Hamburg seeks to grant a number of Philipp Schwartz Fellowships to support scholars at risk who are unable to continue their research in their home countries. Successful candidates will receive roughly €2,780/month for a period of 24 months (with the possibility of extension up to another 12 months). The call is made biannually: in June (funding begins the following January) and in December (funding begins the following July). Interested candidates should contact the university, which will handle the application on the candidate's behalf.

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) awards scholarships to international (non-EU) students in degree courses or PhD programs at higher education institutions in Germany on an annual basis. Candidates from any academic field (apart from medicine/dentistry) are welcome to apply.

The University of Amsterdam is seeking  candidates for a postdoc in the Soft Matter group at the University of Amsterdam. This fully funded experimental project aims at deepening our understanding of physical mechanisms involved in, e.g., liquid sprays, emulsions and solid friction, with applications in pharmaceuticals, food industry, agriculture and semiconductors.

The Maria Weber Grant finances partial coverage of the award recipients' teaching obligations for one or two semesters (up to 12 months), giving them more time to focus on their research. Funding of up to €40,000 (€20,000/semester) is available. Outstanding researchers from all disciplines are invited to apply.

The Olga Wirsta Award in Communications, Journalism and Media Studies aims to promote a better understanding of the Ukrainian-Canadian experience by supporting projects, theses, or dissertations focused on issues relevant to the community. One award is granted annually in the amount of $2,500 for MA students and $4,000 for PhD students, respectively.