IWM Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027 in Vienna
The Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027 invites doctoral and recent postdoctoral researchers to spend three consecutive months at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna. The call welcomes applications from all academic disciplines, with research focused on the relationship between digitalization, technology, society, economics, and geopolitics. Selected fellows receive a monthly stipend of EUR 2,750 or EUR 3,300, depending on their academic status. Applications are open until 21 September 2026, 23:59 CEST.
Quick Overview
Programme: Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027
Opportunity Type: Junior Visiting Fellowship
Host Institution: Institute for Human Sciences (IWM)
Location: Vienna, Austria
Duration: Three consecutive months
Fellowship Period: Between February and June 2027
Monthly Stipend: EUR 2,750 for doctoral candidates; EUR 3,300 for postdoctoral candidates
Deadline: 21 September 2026, 23:59 CEST
About the Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027
The Digital Humanism Fellowship is part of the IWM Digital Humanism Program. The call is open to candidates from all academic disciplines.
Digital Humanism examines and seeks to influence the complex relationship between technology and humankind. Its approach aims to ensure that technological development remains aligned with human values, social well-being, and universal human rights.
The programme encourages interdisciplinary collaboration across fields ranging from computer science to the humanities.
For the Junior Visiting Fellowship, proposed research should address the intersection of digitalization with societal, economic, geopolitical, or related humanities and social science dimensions.
The programme distinguishes Digital Humanism from Digital Humanities. Applications that merely use digital methods or new technologies for humanities research are not considered within the fellowship’s research scope.
Fellowship Period and Research Environment
Selected candidates will spend three consecutive months at the IWM in Vienna between February and June 2027.
The fellowship period will be arranged to overlap with the presence of the Senior Digital Humanism Visiting Fellow.
Fellowships begin on the first day of the first month and end on the final day of the third month.
During their stay, fellows become part of the IWM scholarly community and are invited to participate in the Institute’s activities.
The IWM provides:
✓ Office space
✓ Internet access
✓ In-house research facilities
✓ Administrative services
These institutional services are provided free of charge.
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Stipend and Financial Conditions
Financial support depends on the fellow’s academic status at the application deadline.
✓ Postdoctoral candidates who have defended their PhD by the application deadline receive EUR 3,300 per month.
✓ Candidates who are currently pursuing a doctoral degree receive EUR 2,750 per month.
Visiting fellows are responsible for paying their living and research expenses from the stipend.
These expenses include:
• Travel to and from Vienna
• Accommodation
• Health insurance
• Utilities
• Local transportation
• Telecommunications
• Research-related expenses, including literature and conference fees
Applicants should therefore consider these costs when planning their three-month research stay.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates for the Digital Humanism Junior Visiting Fellowship must meet one of the following academic conditions:
• Be enrolled in a doctoral programme; or
• Have obtained a PhD no longer than four years before the application deadline.
For the current call, applicants with a PhD must have obtained their degree not before 21 September 2022.
Candidates may not submit applications for multiple IWM fellowship programmes within the same academic year.
Applicants who have previously received an IWM fellowship must wait three academic years before applying for another IWM fellowship.
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Required Application Materials
Applicants must prepare the following materials:
• A brief motivation letter
• A project description of no more than 550 characters, including spaces
• A project proposal of no more than 7,500 characters, including spaces
• A curriculum vitae, including a list of publications
• Two letters of recommendation from scholars familiar with the applicant’s academic work
The motivation letter should explain how the proposed project would benefit from time at the IWM. It should also address the project’s connection to the Institute’s mission and research and identify concrete research or writing goals for the fellowship period.
The project proposal must include:
• A description of the project objectives
• A discussion of the current state of research
• Research methods
• A work plan
All application materials must be submitted in English.
Recommendation Letters
Two academic recommendation letters are required.
The letters must be submitted directly by the applicant’s recommenders before the deadline. After the applicant submits the application, each recommender receives an automatic email containing a link to the relevant web form.
Applicants should therefore ensure that the recommender details entered in the application are accurate.
Document Submission Requirements
Application documents must be combined into a single PDF file, because the online application form permits only one attachment.
Attachment file names must use Latin characters only.
Applications sent by email are not considered.
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Application Process
Applicants must submit their materials through the official online application form.
The application process includes:
• Confirming eligibility for the fellowship
• Preparing the motivation letter
• Preparing the short project description
• Preparing the full project proposal
• Preparing the curriculum vitae and publication list
• Combining the required attached documents into one PDF
• Providing details for two academic recommenders
• Submitting the completed online application before the deadline
Recommendation letters must also reach the IWM before the application deadline.
Evaluation and Selection Process
Applications that satisfy the formal and thematic requirements are evaluated as part of the selection process.
Finalists are selected by a jury of experts.
Applicants will be notified of the jury’s decision by email by 30 November 2026.
The jury is not required to provide public explanations for its decisions or individual feedback to applicants.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027 is:
21 September 2026, 23:59 CEST
Applications and required recommendation letters must be submitted by the stated deadline.
Official Link
Submit your application through the official application link below.
Apply for the Digital Humanism Junior Visiting Fellowship 2026–2027
