Safe Haven Fellowship 2027 at Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIAS)
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NIAS Safe Haven 2027–2028.
The Safe Haven Fellowship at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIAS) is accepting applications for the first semester of 2027–2028. Based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, it offers experienced researchers, writers, journalists and artists temporary relocation to continue work disrupted by conflict or war.
For international students exploring this opportunity, the essential distinction is eligibility: NIAS does not offer student scholarships, degree programmes or PhD places through Safe Haven. If you already have the required professional record, what support could you receive, and how should you present your project? This guide explains both.
Up to three fellowships per semester. Official information checked: 11 November 2026.
01 Who qualifies for NIAS Safe Haven?
Your work must be threatened or obstructed, and your application must demonstrate an established research or professional record. The qualification depends on your proposal:
- Academic research: a PhD plus at least three years of postdoctoral research experience when applying.
- Literary, journalistic or artistic research: a university or university-of-applied-sciences bachelor’s degree plus at least seven years of relevant professional experience.
The proposed project must concern humanities or social sciences. Affiliations with institutions boycotted by the Dutch state are excluded; Russian or Belarusian nationality alone does not exclude an independent researcher or someone affiliated outside Russia or Belarus.
02 What does NIAS support cover?
The stipend supports fellows with insufficient income who are affiliated abroad, unaffiliated or self-employed. NIAS also offers office space, library services, weekday lunches and interdisciplinary exchange. Subsidised accommodation is available to eligible fellows; international fellows must arrange their own health and liability insurance.
The practical value is time to develop your own project alongside researchers from other fields. Seminars and Amsterdam’s research collections can help you test ideas and advance a publication or creative output. Plan for full-time participation: the opening fortnight is an introduction period, followed by attendance at least four days weekly, including Thursday seminars.
03 How do you apply to NIAS?
Prepare four separate English files in DOC, DOCX or PDF format:
| Document | Required preparation |
|---|---|
| Research proposal | Maximum 1,500 words, including footnotes but excluding references; explain your question, methods, contribution and feasible output. |
| CV | Maximum two A4 pages; list degrees, institutions, relevant positions and dates, identifying full-time or part-time work. Add up to ten linked outputs outside this page limit, translating non-English titles. |
| Motivation | Explain why NIAS suits your project and what you would contribute to its community. |
| Risk statement | Maximum 500 words explaining the specific threat and why relocation is necessary. |
I would build the proposal around one achievable result, then explain how conversations across disciplines could improve it. Our research-proposal guide can help structure that argument; NIAS’s own requirements take priority.
- Read the official Safe Haven call and current selection regulations before finalizing your documents.
- Open the NIAS application page. In its form, choose Academic, Journalistic, Literary or Artistic; complete your personal, career, project and fellowship information.
- Upload your documents and complete the consent declarations. Submit the application yourself online; email submissions are not accepted.
- Confirm registration through the automated email within 48 hours. Save the receipt and monitor your inbox for eligibility and selection decisions.
Before accepting an offer, review NIAS residency and insurance obligations. NIAS provides an invitation and handles any required work-permit application; selected fellows arrange their visa and travel.
04 Avoid an ineligible submission
Incomplete applications are ineligible, and submitted files cannot be changed. I recommend submitting several days early so you can complete the email confirmation calmly. If you use generative AI, verify its output and disclose its use, including in your proposal’s references.
05 Questions before committing
Can I participate remotely?
No. NIAS requires an in-person residency. Arrange release from routine professional commitments so you can participate throughout the semester.
Does the fellowship provide employment or permanent residence?
No. It creates no employment relationship or long-term residence entitlement. Treat it as a temporary research placement, not a relocation guarantee.
Is Safe Haven an emergency evacuation programme?
No. NIAS cannot provide evacuation or asylum assistance. Applying starts a competitive selection process; it does not secure immediate protection.
06 When must you apply NIAS Haven Fellowship?
The NIAS Safe Haven Fellowship application deadline is 14 December 2026 at 12:00 noon CET (UTC+1).
This round opened on 21 July 2026. Although Safe Haven accepts applications throughout the year, this cutoff determines consideration for the September 2027 semester.
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