NOMIS Senior Fellowship 2027 Open at 3 Switzerland Universities: Apply Process

The NOMIS Senior Fellowship 2027–2028 is open for nominations until 30 September 2026, but this is not a conventional scholarship that researchers can simply apply for alone. It is a high-level Zurich research residency for internationally established scholars. Eligible candidates need a nomination from, or formal support by, faculty at ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich or the Zurich University of the Arts.

For mid-career and senior researchers with an original cross-disciplinary project, the fellowship can offer something more valuable than a standard grant: protected time in Zurich, tailored financial support and a serious academic partnership across three major institutions.

Applicants without a Zurich academic connection should first focus on securing two supporting faculty members rather than preparing a standalone application.

Who should pursue this fellowship?

This fellowship is for scholars who have already made a sustained, visible contribution to their field and can use a Zurich-based collaboration to take an ambitious research question beyond one discipline. The programme accepts basic-research proposals across all disciplines, including the sciences, social sciences, humanities and arts.

A suitable nominee must have a record of outstanding scholarly achievement, be recognized as having shaped their wider field, hold a permanent position at a recognised university or research institution, and present research that genuinely crosses disciplinary boundaries. The Collegium also expects fellows to have confirmed their interest before nomination.

It is therefore not a funding route for early-stage researchers looking for a first postdoctoral position. A strong publication record alone is also not enough if the proposed visit has no credible connection with ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich or the Zurich University of the Arts.

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What the NOMIS fellowship can fund?

The fellowship offers individually planned financial support, not a published fixed monthly stipend. Successful nominees discuss their actual financial needs during the invited application stage, within the programme’s set boundaries.

• Living expenses during the Zurich fellowship period.
• Childcare support where needed.
• Research-related costs and limited seed funding for collaborative research.
• Support to invite one collaborator for a short guest stay.
• Possible housing support; fellows are generally eligible for ETH Housing, subject to availability.
• In some cases, support connected to teaching relief at the fellow’s home institution.

The official guidance generally expects the home institution to contribute through sabbatical credit. Candidates should not describe this as a guaranteed “fully funded scholarship” until their proposed budget is approved.

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The nomination route explained

You cannot bypass the institutional partnership requirement by submitting an ordinary self-application. The process has two stages: nomination first, then an invitation to submit a full fellowship application.

1. Identify faculty members at ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich or Zurich University of the Arts whose work can meaningfully connect with your proposed research.
2. Discuss the project and fellowship period with the potential academic partner before a nomination is submitted.
3. Arrange nomination by an eligible faculty member, research unit, university leadership body or Collegium advisory-board member.
4. If self-nominating, obtain support from at least two faculty members at the Collegium’s supporting institutions.
5. Ensure the nomination is prepared in English and submitted through the official nomination route.
6. Wait for an invitation before preparing the full application and detailed proposed budget with the supporting faculty member.

Nominations for the 2027–2028 period are for fellowships beginning between 1 September 2027 and 30 June 2028. The Collegium says candidates in this round can expect a decision by mid-December 2026.

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Zurich residency is central, not optional

Selected fellows are expected to live in Zurich and work at the Collegium full-time. They participate in weekly meetings, lunch seminars, workshop discussions and the wider Zurich academic community. Up to 40% of time may be spent with the associate fellow’s group if approved by the Collegium director.

Each fellow is also expected to contribute publicly to Zurich’s academic life, normally through a public lecture or interdisciplinary event. This makes the NOMIS Senior Fellowship especially suitable for researchers who want their project to create an exchange between disciplines—not simply a quiet writing retreat.

NOMIS Senior Fellowship 2027–2028 deadline

The last date to submit a nomination for the NOMIS Senior Fellowship period from 1 September 2027 to 30 June 2028 is 30 September 2026. The fellowship typically lasts five or ten months, and all nominations must normally be submitted 12 months before the relevant fellowship term begins.

Read the official NOMIS Senior Fellowship guidance before approaching a Zurich-based academic partner or submitting a nomination.