The IIAS Asia in the World Fellowship offers funded academic fellows a nine-month global residency with €14,700 in Leiden support. The International Institute for Asian Studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands runs the 2027–2028 programme across an international co-host institution and IIAS Leiden. Applications close on 10 September 2026. The real selection test goes beyond funding. IIAS wants one coherent project that connects the three-month co-host placement with six months in Leiden.
IIAS Asia in the World Fellowship 2027-Overview
| Category | Official Details |
|---|---|
| Host Country | Netherlands, with an initial placement in Asia, Africa, Latin America, or Europe |
| Host Institution | International Institute for Asian Studies, Leiden University |
| Programme Name | Asia in the World Fellowship Programme |
| Fellowship Level | Post-PhD researchers and experienced professionals |
| Funding Status | Funded and self-funded categories |
| Verified Leiden Funding | €1,250 monthly stipend plus €1,200 monthly housing allowance |
| Total Fixed Leiden Support | €14,700 for funded fellows |
| Duration | 9 months |
| Cohort 1 | September 2027 to the end of May 2028 |
| Cohort 2 | March 2028 to the end of November 2028 |
| Application Deadline | 10 September 2026 |
| Deadline Time Zone | The official source has not specified this detail. |
| Eligible Nationalities | The official source has not specified this detail. No nationality restriction appears in the call. |
| Application Method | Online through the IIAS application form |
IIAS will hold an online information session on 13 August 2026 from 10:00 to 11:00 CEST.
The institute expects to notify shortlisted candidates by December 2026 and announce final selections by March 2027.
What Is the Asia in the World Fellowship in Netherlands?
The fellowship supports early- and mid-career researchers and knowledge professionals who study Asia through global, interdisciplinary, and cross-regional perspectives.
Each fellow completes two connected phases:
- Phase 1: Three months at an international co-host institution
- Phase 2: Six months at IIAS, Leiden University
- Total duration: Nine consecutive months
During Phase 1, fellows join local activities, give a talk or lecture, and attend online meetings with the IIAS Fellowship Coordinator.
During Phase 2, fellows receive access to IIAS offices, seminar rooms, Leiden University library resources, and a screening room. They can also contribute to The Newsletter, propose podcasts, join research activities, and organise a public cohort event.
The official programme flyer describes this structure as a way to connect Asian Studies across disciplines and world regions.
Opportunity and Entity Snapshot
- The International Institute for Asian Studies administers the Asia in the World Fellowship.
- Leiden University hosts the six-month Netherlands residency.
- Partner institutions provide the three-month international placement.
- The fellowship connects Asian Studies with wider global formations.
IIAS seeks more than a strong country-specific project. Your proposal should show how Asia interacts with global institutions, cultures, cities, political systems, knowledge networks, or environmental processes.
Available Research Themes
Applicants can connect their projects with one or more IIAS clusters:
- Cities and Environment
- Politics of Culture
- Asia in the World
- Africa-Asia Axis of Knowledge
- Humanities Across Borders
- Knowledge Diplomacy in Action
IIAS encourages interdisciplinary projects and work that connects academic research with policy, journalism, diplomacy, cultural practice, public engagement, or institutional collaboration.
Who Can Apply for Asia in the World Fellowship?
You can apply as a funded academic, self-funded academic, or self-funded independent professional. Academic applicants need a PhD or a defence scheduled no later than September 2026. Every applicant needs strong English, full nine-month availability, and institutional release when employed. A detailed IIAS Asia in the World Fellowship eligibility as follows
Category A: Funded Academic
You must:
- Hold a PhD or complete your defence by September 2026
- Commit to the full nine-month programme
- Obtain official release from your employer or institution
- Avoid combining the fellowship with employment
- Avoid combining it with another fellowship
- Demonstrate a good command of English
Category B: Self-Funded Academic
You must meet the same PhD, English, and availability conditions.
You must also confirm external or personal funding for the full programme. IIAS does not provide this category with a stipend, housing allowance, or travel grant.
Category C: Self-Funded Independent Professional
This route welcomes experienced:
- Journalists
- Writers
- Diplomats
- Policy makers
- Curators
- Cultural practitioners
- Independent researchers
- Civil society professionals
You do not need a PhD for Category C. You need a substantial professional track record and confirmed funding for the complete fellowship period.
Age, Nationality, and English Rules
The official source has not specified an age limit.
The official source has not specified a nationality restriction. The call does not list any excluded country or nationality.
IIAS requires a good command of English. The official source has not specified an IELTS, TOEFL, or other minimum test score.
Phase 1 Co-Host Institutions
The application asks you to select four preferred co-host institutions.
Current options include institutions in:
- Indonesia
- Portugal
- Brazil
- India
- Greece
- Sweden
- Germany
- Thailand
- Taiwan
- Spain
- Senegal
- Tanzania
IIAS considers your preferences, but the selection committee makes the final placement with partner institutions.
Do not choose four institutions only because you like their locations. Explain what each host contributes to your research question, method, regional access, archive, network, or professional development.
How to Apply for IIAS Fellowship 2027
Step 1: Select your category
Choose funded academic, self-funded academic, or self-funded professional.
Review the IIAS Asia in the World Fellowship 2027 Application Guidelines
Step 2: Choose your preferred cohort
Select the September 2027 or March 2028 intake. IIAS makes the final cohort decision.
Review the ASIA IN THE WORLD FELLOWSHIP Full Terms & Conditions
Step 3: Build one nine-month project
Show what you will do during the co-host phase and how Leiden will extend that work.
Step 4: Select four co-hosts
Connect each institution to a specific project need.
Review the IIAS Fellowship co-host institutions
Step 5: Draft outside the application form
The form can lose saved information after you close your browser. Write each answer in a separate document first.
Step 6: Upload and submit
Check word limits, file sizes, document formats, and contact details before submitting by 10 September 2026.
Apply Now for IIAS Asia in World International Research Fellowship 2027
Required Documents and Application Sections
Prepare the following materials:
- Curriculum vitae
- One file
- Maximum 4 MB
- Publication list, if applicable
- One file
- Maximum 4 MB
- Writing or professional sample
- Maximum three files
- Up to 50 MB
The online form also requests:
| Written Section | Maximum Length |
|---|---|
| Project description | 800 words |
| State of the art and methodology | 500 words |
| Career positioning | 300 words |
| Work plan | 500 words |
| Expected outcomes | 300 words |
| Language skills | 300 words |
| Co-host rationale | 600 words |
| Contribution to global understanding of Asia | 500 words |
| Projected impact | 500 words |
| Professional development | 250 words |
| Why IIAS? | 300 words |
| Planned IIAS engagement | 300 words |
You do not submit reference letters with the initial application.
IIAS asks shortlisted candidates for:
- Two reference letters
- A short video presentation
Careers Help Desk Strategic Counter-Angle: What Strong Applicants Will Do Differently
1. Use the co-host as part of the methodology
Average applicants choose institutions by prestige or location.
Strong applicants explain why a host provides access to a specific archive, community, research tradition, case study, or professional network.
2. Show Asia through a global relationship
A good project about one Asian country does not automatically match the programme.
Connect your topic with wider movements of people, culture, policy, knowledge, capital, institutions, or environmental change.
3. Show what you will contribute
Do not focus only on funding and research time.
Explain how you will contribute through a lecture, cohort event, article, podcast, policy output, public discussion, or lasting collaboration.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Calling every category fully funded
- Treating the two phases as separate visits
- Choosing co-hosts without a clear rationale
- Repeating the same content across application sections
- Ignoring housing and insurance responsibilities
- Assuming IIAS guarantees your preferred host
- Planning fieldwork without separate funding
- Combining the funded fellowship with employment
- Closing the browser before copying your draft
- Submitting generic or heavily generated application text
IIAS allows limited AI support for brainstorming and language editing. However, applicants must write their own responses and express their own research ideas, experience, and motivation.
Alternative Global Opportunities
- If you need a funded research fellowship in Germany, consider the Humboldt Research Fellowship 2026.
- If you need flexible postdoctoral funding with a German host, consider the DFG Walter Benjamin Programme.
- If you work mainly in literary writing, consider the NIAS Letterenfonds Fellowship 2027.
IIAS Fellowship Funding and Benefits
Only funded academic fellows receive the financial package below.
| Benefit | Official Support |
|---|---|
| Leiden stipend | €1,250 gross per month for six months |
| Total Leiden stipend | €7,500 gross |
| Housing allowance | €1,200 per month for six months |
| Total housing allowance | €7,200 |
| Fixed Phase 2 support | €14,700 |
| Phase 1 stipend | Determined by the co-host institution |
| International travel | Contribution under an approved travel plan |
| Visa procedure | Leiden University provides institutional support |
| Health insurance | Not provided |
The travel contribution can cover:
- Travel from your country of residence to the co-host institution
- Travel from the co-host institution to the Netherlands
- Return travel home after the fellowship
The official source has not specified the Phase 1 stipend amount or the maximum travel grant.
IIAS gives funded fellows a housing allowance, but fellows must secure their own accommodation. IIAS provides a list of rental agencies without guaranteeing availability.
Fellows must also arrange valid health insurance for the Netherlands. IIAS does not fund external conferences, symposia, workshops, or fieldwork.
Ready to Apply for IIAS Netherlands Research fellowship?
The IIAS Asia in the World Fellowship 2027 suits researchers and professionals who can study Asia through wider global relationships. Funded fellows receive €14,700 during six months in Leiden, plus Phase 1 and international travel contributions. Yet funding alone does not define this opportunity. Build one clear project across two institutions. Choose co-hosts for academic reasons, show how you will contribute to both communities, and submit before 10 September 2026.
Official Source: IIAS The Asia in the World Fellowship Programme 2027 Call for Applications
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the IIAS Asia in the World Fellowship fully funded?
Yes, the funded academic category provides financial support. Funded fellows receive €14,700 during the Leiden phase, a Phase 1 stipend, and an approved travel contribution.
Can current PhD candidates apply?
Yes. You can apply when your defence takes place no later than September 2026.
Can applicants from any country apply?
No nationality restriction appears in the official call. The official source has not published a restricted nationality list.
Can professionals apply without a PhD?
Yes. Experienced journalists, writers, diplomats, policy makers, curators, and other professionals can apply under the self-funded professional category.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?
No specific test score appears in the official source. IIAS requires a good command of English.
Do I need reference letters during the first stage?
No. IIAS requests two references and a video only from shortlisted applicants.
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