Researchers, academics and policy analysts interested in international security, geopolitics, strategic challenges, deterrence, emerging technologies and NATO-related issues have an opportunity to undertake a funded research fellowship at the NATO Defense College (NDC) in Rome, Italy.
The NATO Defense College Resident Fellowship Programme 2027 is now open for applications, offering nine funded research fellowships across several categories for researchers from NATO Allied and partner countries.
Successful fellows will spend five months at the College, where they will conduct research, engage with the NDC Research Division and contribute to the institution’s broader research agenda.
The application deadline is 30 September 2026 at 23:59 CET, making early preparation particularly important for prospective applicants.
About the NATO Defense College Fellowship Programme
The NDC Research Division aims to strengthen NATO’s ability to address complex problems through a combination of research and education. The Division brings together subject expertise and methodological creativity while seeking new ideas and scholarship that can contribute to NATO’s understanding of emerging challenges.
Each year, the programme offers nine funded research fellowships designed for both junior and senior scholars as well as nationals of Allied and NATO partner countries.
For successful fellows, the programme provides an opportunity to gain insight into NATO’s decision-making needs, access upstream information and become part of a network that includes approximately 150 alumni from previous generations of the programme.
The fellowship is therefore suited to researchers whose work can make a meaningful contribution to policy discussions and the understanding of future security challenges.
What Will Fellows Do?
The programme expects fellows to actively contribute to the work of the NDC Research Division rather than simply conduct independent research.
During the fellowship, participants are required to:
- Write a research essay for possible publication by the College.
- Present their research project to the College before completing the fellowship.
- Serve as mentors on the College’s Senior Course.
- Align their work with the College’s overall research agenda.
Applicants should therefore demonstrate not only strong research capabilities but also an ability to connect their proposed work to NATO policy needs and broader strategic questions.
The NDC is seeking candidates capable of contributing innovative approaches to problem-solving and generating new outputs addressing NATO priorities and challenges.
The programme’s research themes include political and military strategic challenges for the coming decade.
These may relate to the NATO Treaty Area or NATO’s wider Area of Interest, which includes North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and East Asia, as well as relevant sea lines of communication.
Another major area involves geopolitical developments and trends and their diplomatic, informational, economic and cultural dimensions. Applicants may examine developments that could affect NATO’s mission over the next five to ten years.
The programme also welcomes research on non-nuclear and cross-domain deterrence, the cognitive dimension of conflict, hybrid conflict and new or accelerating technologies, including information and communication technologies.
Fellowship Periods
Successful applicants can undertake the fellowship during one of two available periods:
Period 1: 15 February 2027 – 16 July 2027
Period 2: 26 August 2027 – 28 January 2028
Eisenhower PhD Candidate Fellows may apply for both periods and potentially spend a total of 10 months at the College.
Who Can Apply?
Eligibility depends on the fellowship category and the applicant’s nationality and academic or professional background.
Eisenhower Fellowships
Four Eisenhower fellowships are available for researchers and analysts who hold the nationality of a NATO Allied country.
The programme includes opportunities for senior scholars, junior scholars and PhD candidates.
Senior Eisenhower applicants must hold a PhD in a relevant discipline, have at least four years of relevant professional experience after their doctorate and demonstrate a solid publication record on international security issues.
Junior Eisenhower applicants must have a relevant PhD and a publication record concerning international security.
PhD Candidate Fellows must be enrolled in a doctoral programme, have a thesis topic directly relevant to NATO policy and be at the final stage of their research with evidence of advanced work.
Partnership for Peace Fellowship
Up to two five-month fellowships are available for scholars, academics and researchers from Partnership for Peace countries.
Partners Across the Globe Fellowship
Up to two fellowships are available for scholars, academics and researchers from Partners Across the Globe countries.
Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Fellowship
Up to two five-month fellowships are available for scholars, academics and researchers from Istanbul Cooperation Initiative countries.
How Much Funding Is Provided?
The five-month fellowship includes a stipend designed to cover the fellow’s stay in Rome, travel to and from Rome and other related costs.
The funding varies according to fellowship category:
- Senior Eisenhower, PfP, PatG and ICI Fellows: €18,000
- Eisenhower Defense Fellow: €14,000
- Eisenhower PhD Candidate Fellow: €11,000
The stipend is paid in three instalments. For example, the €18,000 award is paid as €8,000 upon arrival, €5,000 after three months and €5,000 upon submission of the research draft and presentation.
How to Apply
Applicants should first review the 2027 Terms & Conditions and complete the online NDC Fellowship Programme application form.
They must also submit a short CV of no more than two pages separately to the designated fellowship email address.
The research proposal submitted through the online form must focus clearly on NATO-related challenges, demonstrate innovative problem-solving approaches or propose novel types of output. Applicants are encouraged to consider themes including futures, future war, hindsight and foresight.
The proposal must be concise and no longer than 550 words.
Selected candidates and alternates will subsequently be required to sign the 2027 Terms & Conditions and provide a passport copy as evidence of nationality.
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for the NATO Defense College Resident Fellowship Programme 2027 is:
30 September 2026 23:59 CET
Selected candidates are expected to be notified by 30 November 2026.
Final Takeaway
The NATO Defense College Resident Fellowship Programme offers researchers an opportunity to spend five months in Rome developing policy-relevant research while engaging directly with the NDC Research Division.
With stipends of up to €18,000, multiple fellowship categories and research themes covering geopolitics, strategic challenges, deterrence, hybrid conflict and emerging technologies, the programme is particularly relevant to researchers whose work addresses international security and NATO policy challenges.
Eligible scholars, academics, analysts and advanced PhD candidates should carefully review the requirements and prepare their research proposal before the 30 September 2026 deadline.
