The Institute of Advanced Study at Central European University (IAS CEU) is inviting applications for its 2027/28 Global Invisible University Fellowship Program, offering residential research opportunities in Budapest, Hungary, for scholars, writers and visual artists. The programme also includes pathways for threatened scholars and externally funded affiliated fellows.
Key facts
- IAS CEU is offering fellowship pathways for the 2027/28 academic year.
- Options include Junior and Senior Residential Fellowships, Artist in Residence Fellowships, Threatened Scholars Fellowships and Residential Affiliated Fellowships.
- Residential fellowships can run for three to nine months, depending on the category, while non-residential fellowships for threatened scholars can last six to 12 months.
- The programme is linked to the Global Invisible University, which integrates research, teaching, mentoring and civic engagement.
- Applicants are expected to connect their work with at least one of eight GIU thematic areas.
What does this mean for applicants and researchers?
The fellowships give scholars, researchers and creative practitioners time and space to pursue independent work in an interdisciplinary environment. For applicants, the key requirement is not only strong credentials but also a project that clearly fits one of the Global Invisible University’s thematic priorities.
The programme is especially relevant to junior and senior scholars, writers, visual artists and threatened scholars, including those affected by active military conflict or other serious risks to academic work.
What kinds of fellowships are available?
IAS CEU says the 2027/28 call covers several fellowship types. The core residential fellowship is open to junior and senior scholars, while the Artist in Residence pathway includes one Writer in Residence and one Visual Artist in Residence opportunity. The threatened scholars track also offers residential and non-residential options.
Residential core fellows receive a stipend, accommodation at the Raoul Wallenberg Guesthouse, research support and access to the IAS CEU intellectual community. Affiliated Fellows are different: they typically bring external funding and do not receive a stipend from IAS CEU.
How long can fellows stay in Budapest?
Residential stays vary by category. IAS CEU says possible periods include nine months from October 2027 to June 2028, a three-month fall semester from October to December 2027, a five-month fall semester from October 2027 to February 2028, and a six-month spring semester from January to June 2028. Artist in Residence fellowships can last up to five months and require a minimum stay of three months.
Why is Budapest central to the programme?
Although CEU’s main campus is in Vienna, the university maintains a significant research presence in Budapest. IAS CEU says the fellowship sits within that broader ecosystem, alongside research institutes, cultural programmes and the CEU Library’s Budapest branch.
What themes can applicants work on?
The programme asks applicants to align their projects with at least one GIU priority. Those areas include democratization and de-democratization, memory and culture wars, political economy and inequality, human rights and justice, multilateralism, climate justice and natural resources, media networks, and epistemological problems of the social sciences in the digital age.
How are fellows selected?
IAS CEU says the programme is highly competitive and uses a rigorous peer-review process. The final decision is made by an independent Selection Committee, which considers the excellence of the proposal, the applicant’s track record and the project’s thematic relevance.
