If your work sits at the crossroads of democracy, technology, and knowledge, this is a call you shouldn’t ignore. The Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) has officially opened applications for its Internet and Society Fellowship 2026, inviting global researchers to Berlin for an immersive, in-person academic experience. Designed for thinkers questioning how democracy survives in a digital age, this six-week fellowship offers space, community, and visibility for research that matters.
What This Fellowship Brings to the Table?
This is not a remote or symbolic fellowship—it’s an intensive, on-ground research residency inside one of Europe’s most respected digital society institutes.
- Six-week, fully in-person fellowship in Berlin from 1 June to 18 July 2026
- Dedicated research time within HIIG’s interdisciplinary environment
- Collaboration with international fellows, senior researchers, and research directors
- Participation in workshops, peer-learning sessions, and knowledge-exchange formats
- Opportunity to publish via open-access publications or the Digital Society Blog
- Mandatory one-week research sprint focused on Democratic Change and Knowledge
- Access to public academic events including The Long Night of the Sciences
- Office desk fee covered and institutional support for collaborative formats.
Please note: the fellowship itself is unpaid, but HIIG provides infrastructure and academic support.
Who Should Consider Applying?
The 2026 fellowship is carefully curated for researchers who are actively engaging with democratic challenges in the digital era and who want their work to influence public discourse.
- Master’s degree holders with a PhD in progress or planned (Junior Fellows)
- Advanced PhD candidates or postdoctoral researchers (Senior Fellows)
- Demonstrated research experience in relevant fields
- A clear research focus on Democratic Change and Knowledge
- Strong alignment with interdisciplinary approaches (political science, law, sociology, media studies)
- Fluency in English
- A concrete research idea to develop during the fellowship period.
How to Submit Your Application?
Applying is straightforward but requires clarity and purpose. Candidates must submit their materials through HIIG’s official application form.
Prepare and upload the following documents:
- Updated CV
- One-page motivation letter explaining your research background, interest in HIIG, and expectations
- One-page research idea outline connecting your work to the 2026 focus area and expected outcomes
- Optional writing or work sample in English or German.
Shortlisted fellows will be selected based on thematic alignment, research quality, and contribution to interdisciplinary dialogue.
Apply: https://www.hiig.de/en/call-for-applications-fellowship-2026/
Application Deadline
The last date to apply for the Internet and Society Fellowship 2026 offered by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) is 31 January 2026.