French Institutes for Advanced Study (FIAS) Fellowship, 2026-2027

Applications are open for the French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship Program. For the 2026-2027 academic year, the program offers 10-month fellowships in the seven Institutes of Aix-Marseille, Loire Valley, Lyon, Montpellier, Nantes, Paris, and Rennes. It welcomes applications from high-level international scholars and scientists, primarily in the fields of the social sciences and the humanities (SSH).

FIAS awards fellowships to outstanding researchers of all career levels, from postdoctoral researchers to senior scientists. The minimum requirement is a PhD + 2 years of research experience at the time of the application. Ph.D. training will not be considered in the experience calculation. The call is open to all disciplines in the SSH and all research fields. Research projects from other sciences that propose a transversal dialogue with SSH are also eligible.

Some of the five IAS have scientific priorities they will focus on more specifically. The Fellows will benefit from the support and conducive scientific environment offered by the IAS, in an interdisciplinary cohort of fellows and in close relation to the local research potential. The fellows will be free to organize their work and research as they wish. Researchers from all countries are eligible for the Program, but they must have spent no more than 12 months in France during the three years prior to the application deadline.

Program Details

• Host institution: French Institutes for Advanced Study in Paris, Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, and Rennes in France.
• Fields of Study: Primarily in the fields of the Social Sciences and the humanities.
• Number of Awards: 28 (Aix-Marseille: 7, Cergy: 3, Loire Valley (Orléans-Tous: 2, Lyon: 3, Montpellier: 2, Nantes: 4, Paris: 7).
• Duration: 10-months per year.
• Target group: open to all nationalities.

Benefits of the French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship

FIAS Fellowships provide a comprehensive support package for selected researchers, including:

1. Monthly Financial Support: Fellows receive a minimum net stipend of €2,200 per month. This take-home allowance is structured according to the fellow’s personal situation and preference, with two flexible contract options available (explained below).
2. Flexible Contract Arrangements:
   Option 1 – Employment Contract: For fellows without an existing full-time job, the program offers a French employment contract. This includes full access to France’s social security system—covering health, pension, unemployment, and accident insurance.
   Option 2 – Paid Leave: For fellows already employed by another institution, FIAS offers a contractual arrangement that maintains their existing salary. In this case, FIAS can either pay a direct allowance or reimburse the home institution. If the existing salary is lower than the FIAS allowance, the difference will be paid to the fellow. In addition, private health insurance is provided along with a monthly supplement of €200 to ensure comprehensive medical coverage.
3. Relocation Assistance: The administrative teams at each Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) offer extensive support to facilitate your transition. This includes help with employment paperwork, housing, language courses, and other essential logistical arrangements.
4. Research Support Fund: Each fellow is allocated up to €2,500 annually for research and professional development. This budget can be used for organizing or attending conferences, workshops, or acquiring specific research-related skills. The funds are managed by the host IAS and used based on the fellow’s requests.
5. Travel Coverage: One round-trip airfare from the fellow’s home country to the host institution in France is provided.
6. Work Environment and Resources: Fellows enjoy the same professional conditions as other IAS researchers, including access to personal office space, high-speed internet, meeting and conference facilities, and research libraries.
7. Training and Development: A variety of training sessions are available to support skill enhancement and career development throughout the fellowship period.

Eligibility for the French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship

The FIAS candidates must fulfill all the eligibility requirements to be considered:

Degree & experience: At the time of the application deadline, researchers will have to be in possession of a doctoral degree plus 2 years of full-time research experience after the degree (PhD training period will not be considered in the calculation of experience).

Mobility: Researchers from all countries and nationalities are eligible for the Programme. Applicants must fulfil the transnational MSCA mobility rules: incoming researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the call deadline.

Disciplines: The FIAS Fellowship Programme is open to all disciplines in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (SSH) and to all other research fields interfacing with the SSH. Applicants are strongly encouraged to check the IAS’ websites to learn more about the scientific orientation of the Institutes and their potential openness to disciplines outside the humanities and social sciences.

Administrative requirements: Applicants must provide full application forms and all requested documents through the online application platform. Incomplete and late applications are not considered eligible. Applications exceeding the maximum length criteria will not be considered. Applications written (even partially) in a language other than English will not be considered. Late submissions will not be accepted – the online platform prevents submissions after the deadline.

Other: The FIAS Fellowship Program is committed to ensuring equal opportunities and working towards greater diversity within its academic community. It will not discriminate against researchers in any way (gender, age, ethnic, national or social origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, language, disability, political opinion, social or economic condition).

How to Apply for the French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship

Interested applicants should click on the apply button below to access a webpage and click on the arrow sign in the top right corner of the page.

The requested application material (in English exclusively) will consist of:

1. Completed online application form
2. Detailed curriculum vitae with a comprehensive list of publications
3. Copy of the PhD diploma in a pdf format
4. Detailed research proposal (maximum 5 pages and a bibliography – 1 additional page)
5. Selection of three to five publications (articles or book chapters)
6. Up to two letters of recommendation (optional).

For additional information, please consult the FIAS Fellowship FAQ or send an email to the FIAS Programme Officers at [email protected].

The application deadline is July 16, 2025, 6:00 pm (Paris, France time). For more details on the French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship, please visit the official page. To be the first to see latest opportunities, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.