If you have any questions that are not addressed in the FAQ or the Call for Applications, please feel free to contact us via email at kwi.fellowships@gmail.com. Please understand that due to the high volume of emails we receive, we may not be able to respond immediately, and we may not reply to questions that are already addressed in the FAQ.
What distinguishes the „KWI International Fellowships“ from the „Thyssen@KWI Fellowship“?
Our KWI International Fellowships are specifically designed for outstanding international researchers in the humanities, cultural studies, and social sciences who have completed a PhD and have up to 6 years of post-doctoral experience.
The Thyssen@KWI Fellowship, funded by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, is an integral part of our fellowship program and is open to exceptional researchers of all nationalities who have completed a PhD and have several years of post-doctoral experience. Applicants for this fellowship are expected to propose a project that differs from their doctoral research.
HOW SHOULD I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION?
To submit your application, please send it digitally to kwi.fellowships@gmail.com. When applying for the KWI International Fellowships, please use the subject line „KWI INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS.“ For the Thyssen@KWI Fellowship, please use the subject line THYSSEN@KWI-FELLOWSHIP.
Your application should include a CV, a list of publications, and a proposal outlining your KWI project (up to 5,000 characters including spaces). Incomplete applications or those submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Upon receipt of your properly submitted application, you will receive a confirmation of receipt. Please ensure that your application is complete and submitted according to the guidelines provided. Kindly note that due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to send individual confirmations for incomplete or improperly submitted applications.
SHALL I SEND MY APPLICATION IN ONE SINGLE FILE?
Yes, applications must be submitted as ONE SINGLE PDF file, with a maximum file size of 20 MB. Please note that for IT safety reasons, we are unable to accept applications that contain links to external platforms. Additionally, applications consisting of multiple documents or including Word documents will not be considered.
CAN I SEND MY APPLICATION IN OTHER FILE FORMATS?
Please send your application in PDF format only. Due to data security reasons, word files or other file formats may get rejected.
YOUR CALL ASKS FOR A PROPOSAL OF UP TO 5,000 CHARACTERS. DOES THIS MEAN 5,000 WORDS?
The project proposal should be up to 5,000 characters including spaces, not 5,000 words. To determine the character count (including spaces) of your proposal, please use the „word count“ feature available in your word processor.
ARE GERMANS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
The KWI INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS primarily address international researchers. Researchers of German nationality are only eligible to apply if they are currently employed at an international institute.
The THYSSEN@KWI FELLOWSHIP addresses international researchers as well as researchers of German nationality if they can demonstrate excellent international contacts and work experiences.
IS THIS FELLOWSHIP OPEN TO SCHOLARS AT ALL STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS, OR IS IT LIMITED TO RECENT PHDS?
The KWI INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS are designed for research fellows who have completed a PhD and have up to six years of post-doctoral experience. It is important that the PhD is completed at the start of the fellowship, and applicants are required to submit a PhD certificate with their application. However, applications from fellows who exceed the six-year post-doctoral experience limit can still be considered under certain circumstances. For example, if their extended post-doctoral experience is due to employment directly related to their research field (such as curatorial activity in a museum) or due to personal reasons (such as parenthood or being a scholar at risk).
The THYSSEN@KWI FELLOWSHIP is open to researchers who have completed a PhD and there is no limit on the number of post-doctoral years of experience required. Applicants for this fellowship are expected to propose a project that differs from their previous PhD research.
If I haven’t completed my PhD yet, can I still apply for the International Fellowship?
For the International Fellowship, it is required that the PhD is completed at the start of the fellowship. Therefore, at the time of application, you will need to have submitted your PhD thesis, and/or have a Viva date (oral examination) that is expected to be scheduled before the fellowship begins. Candidates are also requested to provide a PhD certificate. Alternatively, a letter from the department or institute confirming the thesis submission/expected viva date can be provided as an alternative.
Are the start and end dates of the fellowship fixed? Is it possible to start or end the fellowship a month earlier or later?
The start and end dates of the fellowship, as well as its duration, are not flexible. We have a predetermined term schedule and research activities that do not allow for changes or postponements.
DO I HAVE TO APPLY FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS OR CAN I STAY ONLY FOR PART OF THE TIME?
We do not offer fellowships that are shorter than six months since our research activities are structured around our term schedule. Fellows are requested to actively take part in lectures, conferences, reading groups and other academic events at KWI during their fellowship. We expect the fellows to be present at least 3 days a week.
What types of projects are suitable for this fellowship?
The fellowship is open to various project possibilities, such as finalizing a manuscript, developing a new research project, or preparing a grant application. It is essential that the proposed research project aligns with KWI’s programmatic agenda. Please be aware that during the application phase, we are unable to provide feedback on the suitability or quality of individual projects or applications.
HOW LONG WILL THE EVALUATION PROCESS TAKE?
Decisions will be announced roughly 4 months before the beginning of the fellowship.
Will I receive feedback if my application is rejected?
Regrettably, due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to provide individual feedback on applications or projects. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
DOES THE FELLOWSHIP INCLUDE A FAMILY ALLOWANCE OR COVER TRAVELING EXPENSES?
While fellows are welcome to bring their families, the fellowship does not include an additional family allowance. Travel expenses for the fellow’s arrival and departure to/from KWI may be partially reimbursed, but this does not extend to the fellow’s family or relatives. KWI provides a separate parent-child office that can be booked for hours or days to accommodate fellows with children.
I HAVE MISSED THE DEADLINE. CAN MY APPLICATION STILL BE CONSIDERED?
We do not accept applications that are sent to us after the deadline.
CAN I RESEND THE APPLICATION IF I FIND A MISTAKE IN THE MATERIAL?
You may send us an updated version of your application during the application period. Once the evaluation process is underway, we do not accept corrections to the application materials.
CAN I UPDATE MY APPLICATION AFTER THE APPLICATION PERIOD HAS ENDED?
We will not update application materials after the deadline; however, if you wish to inform the committee of significant developments relating to your career progress, you may notify us by e-mail. We will pass relevant information on to the committee.