The FFVT Fellowship 2027 in Germany is open to international PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and senior scholars working in forced migration and refugee studies. The fellowship covers accommodation, daily living expenses through a per diem, and travel costs for short-term research visits to German research institutions. Selected fellows can conduct collaborative research at the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (bicc) or the Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies (IMIS) at Osnabrück University. Research stays range from two weeks to two months, depending on the host institution.
The application deadline is December 31, 2026. Applicants must submit a motivation letter, research project outline, and academic CV in English as a single PDF by email. The programme is intended for researchers who want to develop existing projects, collaborate with German institutions, and advance research related to forced displacement and refugee protection.
FFVT Fellowship 2027: Quick Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship name | FFVT Fellowship Programme 2027 |
| Host country | Germany |
| Funding | Accommodation, per diem, and travel expenses |
| Academic levels | PhD candidates, postdoctoral and senior researchers |
| Research field | Forced migration and refugee studies |
| Host institutions | bicc and IMIS |
| Fellowship duration | From 2 weeks to 2 months, depending on host |
| Application language | English |
| Application method | Email submission |
| Deadline | December 31, 2026 |
| Application status | Open for 2027 |
What Is the FFVT Fellowship Programme?
The FFVT Fellowship Programme is part of Forced Migration and Refugee Studies: Networking and Knowledge Transfer, a German research initiative that promotes collaboration between researchers working on forced displacement and related issues.
The initiative brings together three institutions:
- Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (bicc): A research institution working on conflict, displacement, peace, and related policy challenges.
- Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies (IMIS): Based at Osnabrück University, with research covering migration, mobility, and social change.
- Centre for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg (CHREN): A partner in the wider FFVT initiative.
The programme is funded through the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).
For the 2027 fellowship call, however, research visits are available only at bicc and IMIS. Applicants should not select CHREN as their fellowship host based solely on its participation in the wider project.
Unlike a conventional PhD scholarship, the FFVT Fellowship is designed for researchers who already have an academic or practice-oriented research project. It supports a temporary stay in Germany rather than enrolment in a new degree programme.
Important for 2027 applicants: Some older FFVT fellowship announcements refer to additional host institutions, including the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), and longer fellowship periods. Those arrangements should not be assumed to apply to the 2027 call. The current official announcement specifies bicc and IMIS as the available hosts, with research stays ranging from two weeks to two months.
What Funding Does the FFVT Fellowship 2027 Provide?
The fellowship provides financial assistance for the approved research visit, including:
- Accommodation: Coverage of accommodation expenses during the fellowship.
- Daily allowance: Per diem support for living expenses.
- Travel expenses: Financial coverage of travel associated with the research stay.
- Research facilities: Access to the host institution’s academic infrastructure and support.
- Academic networking: Opportunities to participate in workshops, discussions, research activities, and the FFVT alumni network.
Fellows may also explore opportunities for joint publications, collaborative proposals, and future research partnerships.
The official announcement does not specify a fixed monthly stipend, daily allowance amount, or maximum travel reimbursement. Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that the programme provides a particular salary or unrestricted research grant. The published funding information does not separately confirm coverage of visa fees, health insurance, dependent expenses, or additional research costs. Applicants who may incur these expenses should contact FFVT to clarify the applicable funding arrangements before making travel commitments.
It is more accurate to describe FFVT as a funded short-term research fellowship than as a salaried postdoctoral position.
Who Is Eligible for the FFVT Fellowship 2027?
The programme welcomes international researchers working at academic or practice-oriented institutions whose research relates to forced migration and refugee studies.
Eligible applicant groups include:
1. PhD candidates and junior researchers
Doctoral candidates may apply if their research is relevant to the programme. The general fellowship information specifically welcomes PhD researchers who have been working on a relevant topic for at least one year.
2. Postdoctoral researchers
Researchers who have completed their doctorates and are actively conducting relevant research can apply to develop their projects or establish collaboration with German institutions.
3. Senior and established researchers
Experienced scholars may apply for short research visits involving academic exchange, teaching contributions, workshops, or collaborative research.
Can researchers working outside universities apply?
Yes. The 2027 call welcomes international researchers working in academic or practice-oriented institutions. Researchers based at relevant policy institutes or research organisations may therefore be eligible, provided their proposed work fits forced migration and refugee studies and they meet the programme’s other requirements.
However, the announcement does not describe the fellowship as a general professional training programme. Applicants should demonstrate a substantive research or knowledge-transfer project rather than relying solely on professional experience.
Can researchers from any country apply?
The 2027 call targets international researchers and does not publish a country-specific eligibility list or nationality exclusions.
However, the absence of a nationality restriction does not automatically establish that every applicant is eligible. Research relevance, career stage, and the international nature of the programme remain important.
The announcement also does not prescribe an IELTS or TOEFL score. Applications must nevertheless be written in English.
Applicants whose nationality, residence, or institutional affiliation raises eligibility questions should contact the programme before applying.
Exploring other international research fellowships? Researchers who already hold a PhD or expect to complete one by June 30, 2027, can also consider the Columbia University Italian Academy Fellowships 2027–28 in the USA. The programme welcomes interdisciplinary research across the humanities, social sciences, and other fields, with advertised annual salaries ranging from $74,279 to $104,099. Applications close on December 4, 2026.
Research Areas Supported by the FFVT Fellowship
The programme takes an interdisciplinary approach. Applicants do not necessarily need a degree specifically titled Migration Studies or Refugee Studies, but their proposed project must connect meaningfully to forced migration or refugee research.
The official thematic areas include:
- Forced migration, mobility, and immobility
- International refugee protection standards
- Postcolonial perspectives on migration
- Refugee experiences and representation
- Data production, classification, and research bias
- Research ethics in displacement studies
- Global governance and externalisation of migration policies
- Climate change and forced displacement
- Public health and the consequences of COVID-19
Related work in development studies, conflict and violence, governance, and human rights may also be relevant.
For example, a researcher studying climate-related displacement could investigate how environmental change interacts with conflict, livelihoods, and migration decisions. A human rights researcher might examine refugee protection policies or access to legal safeguards.
These are illustrative research directions, not guaranteed project approvals. The central requirement is a convincing connection to the FFVT initiative and the selected host institution.
Interested in longer-term research opportunities in Europe? Researchers working in sociology, political science, law, humanities, or related interdisciplinary fields may also explore the TIES2 Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027 at the University of Turku in Finland. The programme offers seven three-year postdoctoral positions with an advertised gross monthly salary of €4,592. Applicants must hold a PhD, satisfy MSCA mobility requirements, and include intersectoral collaboration in their research plans. The deadline is November 13, 2026.
Fellowship Duration and Host Institutions
The length of the research visit depends on the host institution. According to the official FFVT programme information, research stays range from two weeks at IMIS to up to two months at bicc. The exact duration and available dates depend on the host institution and fellowship arrangements.
Applicants must include a preferred period of stay and an alternative period in their motivation letter. If your proposed project requires a specific duration, confirm its feasibility with the relevant institution before finalising your application.
The programme describes these as flexible research stays. It does not publish a complete institution-specific schedule of available dates for 2027.
Applicants must state their preferred fellowship period and an alternative period in the motivation letter.
Choosing a realistic stay is important. A short visit may be suitable for developing a joint proposal or holding research discussions, while a longer visit may provide more time for sustained collaboration or research activities.
Required Documents for the FFVT Fellowship 2027
The official application requires three documents, combined into one PDF file.
| Document | Official requirements |
|---|---|
| Motivation letter | 2–4 pages |
| Project outline | 4–6 pages, including references |
| Academic CV | Include a list of key relevant publications |
Motivation letter
Your motivation letter must describe your current research project, explain why you have selected bicc or IMIS, and specify your preferred research period plus an alternative.
It must also contain your full contact details.
Rather than writing a general statement about wanting international research experience, explain what you intend to achieve at the selected institution and why that particular research environment is relevant.
A convincing motivation letter should connect your previous research with the work you plan to undertake at bicc or IMIS. For help developing a clear structure and supporting your statements with evidence, read our scholarship motivation letter writing guide with examples. Remember that FFVT specifically requires a 2–4-page letter explaining your host choice and preferred research dates.
Project outline
The project outline should explain what you intend to develop or undertake during the fellowship, its relevance to FFVT, and a proposed timeline.
Because the outline is limited to 4–6 pages including references, focus on a manageable project rather than attempting to describe an entire doctoral thesis or multi-year research programme.
If you are unsure how to organise your research question, methodology, expected contribution, and timeline, our guide to writing a PhD research proposal explains these elements with examples. The FFVT project outline is a separate, shorter document, so adapt the guidance to the fellowship’s specific 4–6-page requirement rather than copying a full doctoral proposal structure.
Academic CV
Submit an academic CV with your relevant publications. If your publication record is limited, present your research experience accurately rather than suggesting publications that have not been completed.
The official call does not list recommendation letters, IELTS certificates, or a separate research supervisor acceptance letter among the required application documents.
Your academic CV should make your research experience, relevant methods, publications, and academic contributions easy to identify. If you need help organising these details, see our guide to writing an academic CV for PhD and postdoctoral applications, including examples for researchers at different career stages.
What Does FFVT Look for in Applications?
FFVT identifies several characteristics that it particularly encourages in research proposals.
Applications should demonstrate:
- Relevance to forced migration and refugee studies beyond the applicant’s individual project.
- Engagement with fundamental questions in the research field.
- Thoughtful methodological or theoretical approaches.
- Innovative or reflexive research perspectives.
Applicants must also explain how their project supports the FFVT initiative or contributes to the research and knowledge-transfer priorities of the selected institution.
These are published application priorities, not a numerical scoring rubric. The programme does not disclose a weighted assessment system or a fixed number of available fellowships.
A proposal that clearly explains its research contribution, intended collaboration, and feasible outputs will address the published expectations more directly than one focused mainly on the applicant’s personal career development.
Careers Help Desk Counter Angle: Host Fit Matters More Than a Broad Research Topic
One of the most important decisions is choosing between bicc and IMIS.
Both institutions participate in the same fellowship programme, but applicants must explain why their selected host is appropriate for the proposed work.
This creates a practical challenge: a research topic may fit the overall FFVT mission without demonstrating why the applicant needs to spend time at a particular institution.
For example, a project on displacement caused by armed conflict could have a strong connection to conflict research at bicc. A project investigating migration governance, mobility, or migrant experiences might find relevant expertise at IMIS.
These are starting points for evaluating research fit, not exclusive subject allocations.
Before submitting your application, examine the selected institution’s current research activities and identify a specific connection to your proposed project.
Then make three points clear in your project outline: what you will investigate during the visit, how collaboration with the host could contribute, and what realistic output you expect to produce.
Possible outputs mentioned in the official call include lectures, teaching contributions, and collaborative proposal development.
The practical advantage is a more focused application: reviewers can see why your project belongs at the chosen host and what can reasonably be accomplished during the available research period.
If you need to clarify whether a particular research activity fits a host institution, FFVT provides institution-specific contact details in its official call. Keep any enquiry concise and focused. Our guide to emailing professors about research opportunities offers useful advice on explaining research fit and asking specific questions. However, FFVT does not state that applicants must obtain a professor’s acceptance before applying.
How to Apply for the FFVT Fellowship 2027
Applications are submitted directly by email rather than through an online application portal.
Step 1: Read the official call. Check the programme requirements and decide whether your research aligns with the fellowship.
FFVT Fellowship Call for Applications 2027
Step 2: Choose your host institution. Select bicc or IMIS and review its research activities before writing your application.
Step 3: Prepare your motivation letter. Include your research background, host justification, preferred dates, alternative dates, and contact details.
Step 4: Write your project outline. Explain the research objectives, relevance to FFVT, planned activities, and timeline within the specified page limit.
Step 5: Update your academic CV. Include relevant publications and research experience.
Step 6: Combine the documents into one PDF. Check that the file is readable and contains all required sections.
Step 7: Submit by email. Send your completed application to fellowships@ffvt.net no later than December 31, 2026.
A suitable email subject would be: FFVT Fellowship 2027 Application – [Applicant Name]. This is an editorial suggestion, not a prescribed subject line.
The official call does not specify a submission cutoff time or time zone. Submitting before the final day is advisable.
Ready to Apply for FFVT Research Fellowship in Germany 2027
The FFVT Fellowship 2027 offers international researchers an opportunity to undertake a funded research visit in Germany while developing work on forced migration, refugee protection, and related interdisciplinary questions. Applicants should pay particular attention to their choice of host institution and the feasibility of their proposed research activities. The programme asks for a clear connection between the applicant’s project, the FFVT research framework, and the selected institution. Applications close on December 31, 2026. Researchers interested in applying should consult the official call, prepare the required documents, and submit their application directly to the FFVT fellowship team.
Official application resources:
- FFVT Fellowship 2027 – Official Call for Applications
- FFVT Fellowship Programme – Funding and Duration
- Application email: fellowships@ffvt.net
For institution-specific enquiries, applicants can contact Maarit Thiem at maarit.thiem@bicc.de for bicc or Franck Düvell at franck.duvell@uni-osnabrueck.de for IMIS.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is the FFVT Fellowship 2027 fully funded?
The fellowship covers accommodation, per diem, and travel expenses during the approved research stay. However, the official call does not specify exact allowance amounts or reimbursement limits. It should not be interpreted as a full academic salary or unrestricted research grant.
2. Can international PhD students apply?
Yes. International doctoral candidates conducting relevant research can apply. The programme information specifically welcomes PhD candidates who have worked on a relevant research topic for at least one year.
3. Is IELTS required for the FFVT Fellowship?
The published application requirements do not list IELTS or TOEFL certificates. Applicants must submit their documents in English, but no minimum English-language test score is stated.
4. Do applicants need a supervisor acceptance letter?
A supervisor acceptance letter is not listed among the required documents. However, applicants must justify their chosen host institution and explain how their project connects to its research activities.
5. What is the deadline for the FFVT Fellowship 2027?
The deadline is December 31, 2026. Applications must be sent as one PDF attachment to fellowships@ffvt.net. The official announcement does not specify an exact closing hour.
6. Can researchers apply for a full PhD or postdoctoral job through FFVT?
No. The FFVT Fellowship Programme supports temporary research visits and collaboration. It is not advertised as a PhD degree scholarship or a permanent or fixed-term postdoctoral employment position.
Stay connected with Careers Help Desk for the latest international fellowships, scholarships, research opportunities and jobs abroad to empower your future!
0 Comments