The Joint Fellowship Program of HIAS and the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (IFSH) invites outstanding scholars to undertake a research stay in Hamburg, Germany. The fellowship is designed for researchers with a minimum doctorate who have a strong academic record, interdisciplinary interests and research experience related to peace and security.
The programme provides fellows with an opportunity to pursue an independent research project while engaging with internationally recognised scholars at HIAS and IFSH. Applications from early-career researchers and individuals from regions that are underrepresented in research and academia are particularly welcomed.
Fellowship Deadline
The application deadline is November 16, 2026.
Applications must be submitted in English as one PDF file through the official application form.
Fellowship Location and Duration
The fellowship takes place on-site in Hamburg, Germany, at HIAS and IFSH. Projects that cannot be conducted in person are not eligible.
The academic year normally runs from October 1 to June 30 of the following year. Applicants should indicate their preferred fellowship period, which must be:
- At least 3 months
- No more than 9 months
- Between October and June
July, August and September are not fellowship months.
Applicants who already live within the Hamburg metropolitan region are not eligible.
Research Areas
The fellowship welcomes projects addressing peace and security issues, particularly research connected to areas such as:
- Peace and security, political violence, fascism, polarisation, radicalisation and counterterrorism
- Great-power conflict, arms dynamics, deterrence and strategic stability
- Emerging technologies and cybersecurity
- European security architecture and regional security organisations
- The future of European security
- Climate change and security
- Polycrisis, disaster response and preparedness
- Crisis resilience and civil protection
Interdisciplinary projects that connect these themes with perspectives from different academic fields are especially encouraged.
Artists, policymakers and other professionals may also be considered where their work is closely connected to the programme’s research focus and engages substantially with scholarly inquiry.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must normally hold at least a doctorate in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences or life sciences.
Selection considers:
- Relevant academic publications or comparable publications
- An interdisciplinary and international research profile
- Experience in one or more of the fellowship’s core research areas
- Academic prizes and awards
- Very good English-language skills
- Potential for future academic development, particularly for early-career researchers
Applicants must also demonstrate that their proposed project is suitable for an Institute for Advanced Study environment and can be completed within the available research environment in Hamburg.
Each fellow must have an IFSH academic tandem partner. Applicants may identify a potential partner in their application, although prior contact is not required. A letter of intent is only requested when the applicant and proposed tandem partner already know each other and intend to collaborate.
Fellowship Funding and Benefits
The fellowship is funded by IFSH through either a stipend paid to the fellow or reimbursement of costs incurred by the fellow’s home institution for a teaching replacement.
Additional benefits include:
- Independent pursuit of an individual research project
- Fully equipped workspace in central Hamburg
- Support from HIAS and IFSH teams
- An academic tandem partner based at IFSH
- Access to local research networks and infrastructure
- Opportunities to connect with cooperation partners through HIAS
- Participation in HIAS academic activities and interdisciplinary exchange
- Potential accommodation in the University of Hamburg’s centrally located guesthouse
- Support with accommodation, schools and childcare for accompanying families
Financial contributions from an applicant’s home institution, such as a sabbatical or paid leave arrangement, are strongly encouraged and should be disclosed in the application.
Academic Programme
Fellows are expected to participate actively in the HIAS academic programme. Attendance at weekly lunches and colloquia/dinners is mandatory, while fellows may also participate in additional excursions and academic activities.
The programme is intended to encourage substantial exchange across disciplines, countries and career stages.
How to Successfully Apply
Applicants should develop a research proposal that clearly demonstrates its relevance to peace and security research while explaining why the project would benefit from the interdisciplinary environment at HIAS and IFSH.
Particular attention should be given to identifying a suitable IFSH tandem partner and explaining how the applicant’s research profile could contribute to the fellow cohort, IFSH and Hamburg’s wider research environment.
Applicants should also ensure that their proposed project is realistic within the selected fellowship period.
How to Strengthen Your Application
A strong application should:
- Present a focused and innovative research question
- Clearly explain the project’s contribution to existing scholarship
- Demonstrate interdisciplinary and international engagement
- Connect the project to the fellowship’s research priorities
- Explain why Hamburg and IFSH provide an appropriate research environment
- Identify a suitable potential IFSH tandem partner
- Demonstrate the feasibility of completing the project within the proposed timeframe
- Communicate the research clearly to non-specialist audiences
- Highlight relevant publications, prizes, awards and research achievements
Required Application Documents
Applications must contain:
- Cover letter, including the preferred fellowship period, potential IFSH tandem partner(s), possible home-institution financing and the applicant’s contribution to the fellow group and research environment
- Letter of intent from a prospective tandem partner, where applicable, limited to one page
- Most important publications list, maximum two pages
- CV, including prizes and awards
- Research project description, maximum three pages
- Project description for a non-specialist audience, maximum one page
- Optional link to an online video, talk or lecture
All documents should be combined into one PDF file and submitted in English.
Application Deadline and Contact
Deadline: November 16, 2026
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Duration: 3–9 months
Minimum qualification: Doctorate
Application language: English
Format: One PDF file
Work arrangement: On-site
For questions about the application and required documents, applicants can contact Dr. Kerstin Bischl
Official Application
Applicants should review the complete fellowship requirements and submit their application through the official IFSH application process.
Official IFSH Fellowship Announcement and Application Page
Why This Fellowship Is Valuable
The HIAS–IFSH fellowship combines independent research with an international and interdisciplinary academic environment. Fellows gain access to research networks, a dedicated workspace, an IFSH tandem partner and the wider HIAS scholarly community while developing research that can contribute to contemporary debates on peace and security.
The programme’s explicit interest in early-career researchers and scholars from regions underrepresented in academia also provides an opportunity for researchers from diverse geographical and disciplinary backgrounds to participate in an international research environment.
