The SCAS-VUIAS Fellowship Programme 2026-2027

SCAS and Virtual Ukraine Institute for Advanced Study (VUIAS)

The Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study participates in an initiative to support Ukrainian scholars in their effort to found a Ukraine Institute for Advanced Study (UIAS) in Kyiv. Behind the initiative is the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, in close cooperation with partner institutes in Ukraine, other parts of Europe, and the United States.

The operations of a virtual institution, VUIAS, commenced in September 2023, whereas full-scale institutional activities on-site in Ukraine will only be possible at a later stage. The goals of the newly founded institution are manifold: VUIAS will mobilize support for scholarships under conditions of war and contribute to rebuilding Ukrainian academia once the war is over. By connecting Ukrainian scholars in and outside Ukraine, VUIAS will more strongly integrate Ukrainian scholars into the international academic landscape and broaden and deepen knowledge on Ukraine within global academia.

In the initial phase, two kinds of fellowships are offered: VUIAS Fellowships abroad and VUIAS Fellowships in Ukraine.

Programme and Eligibility Criteria

The SCAS-VUIAS Fellowship Programme offers 1 or 2 residential fellowships, mainly in the humanities and social sciences, to Ukrainian scholars who are affiliated with a Ukrainian academic institution and are usually based in Ukraine. The programme is funded by the Swedish Research Council (VR).

The residential programmes at SCAS give fellows the opportunity to concentrate on their own research interests, free from the teaching and administrative obligations of ordinary university life. Fellows are, however, expected to be active members of the scholarly community of the Collegium and to participate in seminars and other academic events beyond their own fields of specialization.

At the time of application, candidates must have held a PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) for at least three years.

Early career scholars must have a promising track record of independent achievements beyond the postdoctoral level, including significant publications, and be active in international fora.

Senior candidates (those who have held a PhD for at least ten years) must have demonstrated a track record of significant and original research achievements over a sequence of years and be active at the international forefront of their research fields.

Candidates are not required to hold a university position at the time of application.

Remuneration

Fellows normally receive a monthly salary. However, the Collegium does not match fellows’ salaries at their home university/institute, and fellows are asked to try to obtain other resources for their support such as sabbatical salaries and/or grants.   

In most cases the Collegium will provide and pay for accommodation for fellows who do not live in the Stockholm–Uppsala region. When possible, the Collegium also tries to offer accommodation to fellows from Stockholm who are not able to commute.

Application Instructions and Deadline

Final decisions are taken by the Principal of the Collegium in consultation with a selection committee composed of Long-term Fellows. This means that all applications (including personal data) will be downloaded by members of the selection committee, and may also be sent to external referees, outside of the EU/EEA.

The application deadline for the academic year 2026-2027 is on 27 February 2026 (23:59 CET).

Apply through the Varbi application system by filling in the online form and submitting as PDF-files the following required application documents:

1. A curriculum vitae (not exceeding 4 pages)
2. A description of your intended research project (not exceeding 1500 words, excluding bibliography if any)
3. A list of your major articles (up to ten) in international peer-reviewed journals and/or major research monographs or edited volumes
4. One article of your choice (or chapter in an edited book, or chapter from a monograph by you), representing your scholarship. The article does not have to be related to your proposed research project, but it has to be in English.
5. An account of why you wish to be at SCAS (rather than at another institute for advanced study) (not exceeding 100 words)
6.  An account of how you would benefit from a stay at SCAS (not exceeding 100 words) 
7.  An account of how you would contribute to the academic and social environment at SCAS (not exceeding 100 words) 
8. A copy of your PhD diploma
9. (Optional) up to 3 letters of reference (Please note that letters of reference must be uploaded by the candidate by the application deadline. It is not possible for referees to upload references into the online application system or send them to SCAS.)

Once your application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation email from the Varbi online application system.

Applicants will be notified of the results through the Varbi online application system no later than April 2026. If you get a new email address, please make sure to update it in your Varbi account.

If you have any technical questions related to the Varbi online application system, please see the help page in your Varbi account. If you cannot find the answer to your question on the help page, you can contact Varbi’s support: support@varbi.com.

If you have any questions about the SCAS-VUIAS Fellowship Programme, please contact the secretariat: fellowselection@swedishcollegium.se

The position may be subject to security vetting. If security vetting is conducted, the applicant must pass the vetting process to be eligible for employment.