NIAS Safe Haven Fellowship: EUR 3,500 a month for scholars who have lost the conditions to work

The Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study (NIAS), an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), has announced its Safe Haven Fellowship call. Organised in partnership with the University of Amsterdam and Maastricht University, the programme offers temporary relocation to scholars, writers, journalists, and artists whose work is obstructed by conflict, war, or state and non-state actors.

Selected fellows receive a monthly stipend of EUR 3,500 for a duration of five months, covering either the autumn semester (September to January) or the spring semester (February to June). Up to three fellowships are awarded per semester to allow recipients to continue their research activities in a secure environment.

Applications for the first semester of the 2027/28 academic cycle are open until 14 December 2026 at 12:00 CET. Although submissions are accepted throughout the year across two annual selection rounds in June and December, candidates aiming for the designated semester must adhere strictly to this deadline.

What is funded

The fellowship provides comprehensive practical and financial support for a five-month stay in the Netherlands. Each selected participant receives a monthly stipend of EUR 3,500, a dedicated office space, research facilities, and communal weekday lunches within the academic community at NIAS. The programme also covers return travel to Amsterdam, subsidised accommodation in Amsterdam, or an allowance for commuting expenses.

In addition, NIAS assists with pre-arrival administrative arrangements. The institute provides an official letter of invitation, reimburses local travel to the Dutch embassy for visa interviews, and applies for a work permit where legally required. However, travel must be arranged independently by the fellow, and NIAS intervenes only if severe political or legal restrictions prevent independent travel.

Who can apply

The call is aimed at accomplished individuals with a demonstrable record of research, academic, literary, journalistic, or artistic work. Applicants submitting a scholarly project must hold a PhD degree and possess at least three years of postdoctoral research experience at the time of application.

Applicants submitting literary, journalistic, or artistic proposals must hold at least a bachelor’s degree from a university or applied sciences institution, alongside a minimum of seven years of documented professional experience. Non-academic candidates are welcome, but their proposals must be grounded in research. Applicants affiliated with institutions boycotted by the Dutch state are not eligible.

Conditions and requirements

Participation requires a full-time commitment, and fellows are expected to be present at the institute in Amsterdam four days a week throughout the semester. All activities and community exchanges are conducted in English, requiring applicants to possess academic language proficiency at the C1 level.

The programme represents a temporary academic fellowship rather than regular employment, meaning NIAS does not cover pension, social insurance, or unemployment contributions. It does not provide permanent residence, student scholarships, or degree supervision. Furthermore, the institute is not a humanitarian or emergency evacuation agency and cannot process asylum requests or offer general refugee assistance.

Practical tip. Ensure your English-language risk statement and motivation statement clearly articulate the specific restrictions on your work caused by conflict or political pressure, and submit early enough to confirm the verification email within the mandatory 48-hour window.

How to apply

Applications must be completed exclusively through the official online application portal, as submissions sent via email are disregarded. Candidates must compile a research proposal, a curriculum vitae, a motivation statement, and a risk statement, all drafted in English according to the official regulations.

Once the online form is submitted, the applicant receives an automated notification and must confirm registration within 48 hours, otherwise the file expires. Submissions are checked for formal eligibility, after which proposals undergo peer review by two external referees, a review by the Fellowship Advisory Committee, and final approval by the NIAS Director.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: nias.knaw.nl.