NIAS Safe Haven Fellowship – Scholars at Risk

The NIAS Safe Haven Fellowship is a fully funded, highly selective program hosted by the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study (NIAS). It is designed to support scholars, journalists, writers, and artists who are unable to continue their work due to conflict, war, or threats to academic freedom, offering them a safe environment to pursue independent research and intellectual work.

What’s Offered

• A fully funded 5-month fellowship in the Netherlands (Amsterdam)
• Monthly stipend of approximately €3,500
• Subsidized housing or commuting support
• Reimbursement of round-trip travel expenses
• Access to office space, research facilities, and academic resources
• Integration into an interdisciplinary academic community with seminars and collaboration opportunities

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to established scholars, journalists, writers, and artists
• Applicants must be at risk or unable to work due to conflict, war, or threats
• Academic applicants must:
  • Hold a PhD
  • Have at least 3 years of postdoctoral experience
• Non-academic applicants (journalists/artists/writers) must have ~7+ years of professional experience
• Must demonstrate strong research/project proposal and relevance
• Full proficiency in English required

Program Structure

• Fellowship duration: 5 months (Sept–Jan or Feb–June cycles)
• Fellows work on an independent research or creative project
• Participation in seminars, discussions, and NIAS academic activities
• Strong emphasis on intellectual freedom, interdisciplinary exchange, and reflection
• Temporary relocation program (not a long-term residency pathway)

Focus Area

• Open to all disciplines
• Academic research, journalism, writing, and arts
• Themes related to freedom of expression, conflict, and global issues

Deadline

• March 31, 2026 (12:00 noon CET) for first semester cycle
• July 20, 2026 (12:00 CET) for second semester cycle