Applications are open for the French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship Program. For the 2027-2028 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. 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. The selection is competitive and based on international peer review, so your research proposal matters a lot. The fellowship gives you €2,200 per month net, a research and training budget of €2,500 per year, travel expenses (one round trip from your home country), and support with relocation and accommodation. You also get a proper work environment, individual office, library access, IT services, and the chance to work alongside a multidisciplinary cohort of fellows. No teaching obligations. Just your research.
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: 29 (Aix-Marseille: 7, Cergy: 3, Loire Valley (Orléans-Tours): 2, Lyon: 3, Montpellier: 2, Nantes: 4, Paris: 8).
- 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:
- Monthly living allowance: €2,200 net per month (take‑home pay).
- Two flexible contract options: a French employment contract (with full social security) for those without a current job, or a paid leave arrangement (with salary top‑up) for those already employed.
- Social security coverage: adequate health and social protection.
- Accommodation or relocation support: help with housing and moving.
- Research and training budget: €2,500 per year for conferences, workshops, or skills training.
- Travel expenses: one round‑trip economy flight from your home country to France.
- Full working conditions: individual office, library access, IT services, and shared spaces.
- Training opportunities: skill development sessions throughout the fellowship.
Eligibility for the French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship
The FIAS candidates must fulfill all the eligibility requirements to be considered:
- Degree & experience: Hold a doctoral degree plus at least two years of full‑time research experience after the PhD at the time of application. The PhD training period is not counted.
- Mobility: You must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the three years immediately prior to the application deadline (25 June 2026).
- Discipline: Your research must fall within SSH or have a strong interface with SSH. Check each institute’s website for specific priorities.
- Administrative compliance: Submit a complete application in English via the online platform. Incomplete, late, or non‑English applications are rejected. The platform locks submissions after the deadline.
Other Opportunities
How to Apply for the French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship
The entire application process is online. You must create an account on the FIAS website and submit all materials in English. 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:
- Completed online application form.
- Detailed CV, including a list of publications and contact details of three scholars familiar with your work.
- Copy of your PhD diploma (PDF format).
- Detailed research proposal – maximum 5 pages, plus 1 additional page for bibliography. The proposal must cover: scientific goals, relation to state of the art, methodology, expected outcomes, and justification for the fellowship duration.
- Selection of three to five key publications (articles or book chapters).
- Optional: Up to two letters of recommendation.
You may list up to three scholars to be excluded from the peer‑review process at the end of your proposal.
Before submitting, you must declare compliance with the Research Code of Ethics and with EU regulations on privacy, data protection, and confidentiality.
Important : Late submissions are not accepted. The platform prevents submission after that moment. Incomplete applications are not considered eligible. Applications written (even partially) in any language other than English are automatically rejected.
For more details, read the full call and the guide for applicants on the FIAS website. If you have questions, check the FAQ or contact the FIAS Program Officers at [email protected]. Good luck.
The application deadline is , 6:00 pm (Paris, France time). For more details on the French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship, please visit the official page.