Unlock Global Research Potential with the International Senior Fellowship Programme

Enhance Your Research Career with the International Senior Fellowship Programme in Germany

The College for Social Sciences and Humanities, founded in 2021 as part of the Research Alliance Ruhr, is an Institute for Advanced Study that fosters collaboration among top-tier international researchers. The College, based in Essen, Germany, is a vibrant hub situated in one of Europe’s most dynamic academic regions. It provides an ideal academic setting for distinguished international researchers in the social sciences and humanities to engage in self-directed research while collaborating closely with local scholars from the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr), which includes the University of Duisburg-Essen, Ruhr University Bochum, and TU Dortmund University.

The International Senior Fellowships are six-month opportunities with flexible start dates—either 1 March 2026 or 1 September 2026.

Application Requirements

The Senior Fellowship Programme is designed for advanced, highly accomplished researchers (preferably at the R4 level) who meet the following criteria:

Must be active members of a foreign university or research institution, both at the time of application and during the fellowship period.
Should have an exceptional research profile in the social sciences and/or humanities, demonstrated by a significant body of outstanding publications.
Applicants must have completed their doctoral degree at least six years before applying.
Must be interested in initiating or deepening research collaborations with a researcher from the UA Ruhr.

As the programme is centered around collaboration, applicants must identify and secure a tandem partner from the UA Ruhr before submitting their application.

Tandem Partnerships

Applicants will collaborate with senior researchers (at least R3 level) from one of the three universities within the UA Ruhr (University of Duisburg-Essen, Ruhr University Bochum, or TU Dortmund University) in the fields of social sciences and humanities. These tandem partnerships are central to the fellowship, and the partners will play a key role in integrating international Senior Fellows into the academic community of the UA Ruhr.

Financial Arrangements

The College for Social Sciences and Humanities offers flexible funding options depending on the fellow’s individual circumstances:

For Fellows on Leave of Absence with Continued Salary:
- A monthly allowance of €3,050 (pre-tax).
- A family allowance of €250 (pre-tax) if applicable.
- A mobility allowance of €125 (pre-tax) to help cover relocation expenses.
For Fellows on Leave of Absence without Continued Salary:
- A compensation arrangement typically equivalent to a W3 professorship (~€7,100 pre-tax per month) or a monthly grant of €5,000 (pre-tax).

The College may also cover the cost of a substitute for the fellow at their home institution within reasonable limits, but this cannot be combined with other funding options.

Each fellowship also includes a project budget of up to €7,500 (maximum €1,250 per month) to support activities such as joint workshops, conferences, or publications.

Additional Support

Travel Expenses: Travel costs for arrival and departure after the fellowship will be reimbursed in accordance with the State Travel Act of North Rhine-Westphalia. Visa costs will also be fully covered.
Accommodation and Health Insurance: Fellows are responsible for covering these expenses, as well as any other personal costs.

Facilities

Each Senior Fellow is provided with a dedicated office space within the College facilities. The College is equipped with well-designed meeting and conference rooms that feature modern technology, making them ideal for hosting hybrid events such as workshops, lectures, and conferences. Additionally, the College offers personalized support services for Senior Fellows, including IT assistance, library access, and support from a Fellow Manager and Event Coordinator.

Expectations

During the fellowship, Senior Fellows are expected to:

Reside and work in the Ruhr area.
Be present at the College at least three days a week (Tuesday to Thursday).
Actively participate in the College’s weekly colloquium and other academic activities such as conferences, lectures, and reading groups.
Regularly collaborate with their tandem partner.
Organize at least one academic event, such as a workshop, lecture, or seminar, in collaboration with the tandem partner.

Additionally, Senior Fellows should acknowledge the College for Social Sciences and Humanities in any presentations, talks, or publications related to their fellowship.

The working language at the College is English, so proficiency in German is not required.

Application Process

Applicants must submit their application through the online form available at www.college-uaruhr.de/fellowship/application-form.

Applications should include:

Abstract of the planned research project (up to 2,500 characters, including spaces).
Detailed outline of the research project and intended collaboration with the tandem partner (written in English, up to 10,000 characters, including spaces).
Preferred fellowship period.
Preferred funding option.
Name of the potential tandem partner and a letter of intent from the partner confirming their commitment to the collaboration during the fellowship.
Desired outcomes of the fellowship and tandem collaboration (e.g., joint conference, publication, or grant proposal).
Curriculum Vitae (including a list of the applicant's five most significant publications).

The application deadline is 25 May 2025 (23:59 CEST).

The selection of Fellows will take place in July 2025, and successful applicants will be notified shortly afterward. The selection committee may conduct interviews via video conference as part of the process.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Scholarship at Uniplus Global to apply