The Asia in the World Fellowship Programme

Six Months at IIAS in Leiden, the Netherlands

The International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) at Leiden University provides a dynamic environment where you can participate in enriching debates that broaden your perspectives on Asian Studies. We value our fellows as active participants in our Institute. You will have the opportunity to connect with and collaborate on IIAS projects, participate in IIAS activities, publish your work in The Newsletter, propose and record podcasts and discuss your work through various types of events. In addition, the Fellowship Programme organises joint fellow activities with several partner institutions in the Netherlands and across Europe.

Three to Five Months at One of the Co-Hosting Institutes

The ‘Asia in the World’ Fellowship Programme partners with institutes in different world regions. At present, they include the following:

Airlangga Institute of Indian Ocean Crossroads (AIIOC) (Surabaya, Indonesia) 

Centre for Research in Anthropology (CRIA) (Lisbon, Coimbra, & Braga, Portugal) 

Centro de Estudos Afro-Orientais (CEAO) Federal University of Bahia (Salvador, Brazil)

French Institute of Pondicherry (IFP) (Puducherry, India) 

Institute for Urban Research (IUR) Malmö University (Malmö, Sweden)

Junges Kolleg (JK) (Re)Thinking and Doing Futures, Centre for East Asian Studies (ZO) at the Heidelberg Centre for Asian and Transcultural Studies (CATS) (Heidelberg, Germany)

Kasetsart University (KU) (Bangkok, Thailand) 

Max Weber Centre for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies University of Erfurt (Erfurt, Germany) 

Max Weber Forum For South Asian Studies (Delhi, India) 

School of Culture Resources of Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA) (Taipei, Taiwan)

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Madrid, Spain)

International Research Laboratory Environment, Health, Societies (Dakar, Senegal)

University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)

Return to IIAS in Leiden

Upon your return to Leiden, we will ask you to share your insights gained from your stay with the co-hosting institution. With IIAS support, you and the other fellows of your cohort will organise an event highlighting the diversity and critical scope of Asian Studies. Each cohort will choose the event’s focus, making it a dynamic platform open to the Leiden University community and beyond. Furthermore, we will provide an opportunity to reflect on how institutions shape our understanding and study of Asia.

The International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) at Leiden University is a globally oriented post-doctoral institute that actively promotes critical, humanistic, and collaborative work on, with, in, and beyond Asia.

We invite outstanding scholars to join a dynamic globally connected community of scholars dedicated to unravelling Asia’s intricate connections with the world, embracing a multitude of perspectives and intellectual traditions.

Application period

17 July – 15 September 2025

For whom?

The IIAS Asia in the World Fellowship is a 12-month initiative for early- to mid-career researchers from around the world who seek to broaden their perspectives beyond their particular geography, institution, or discipline.

The fellowship runs from October 2026 to October 2027. During this period, fellows participate in a three-phase programme:

1. In the first phase, fellows are required to reside in Leiden, the Netherlands, for six months.
2. This is followed by a second phase of three to five months at a co-host institution (see the list of partner institutions on this page under phase 2 tab). 
3. The final phase takes place back at IIAS in Leiden. 

Exact arrival and departure dates will be communicated to the selected candidates after the selection process has been completed.

Applicants must be able to commit to the full duration of the programme and its residential structure. Please note that fellows may not hold another fellowship or employment contract during this period.

The selection process involves multiple professionals who dedicate their valuable time to read and evaluate each application. If you are unable to meet the terms and conditions of the fellowship, we recommend considering applying in a future round of applications.

Eligibility - Terms and Conditions

The Asia in the World Fellowship is intended for outstanding researchers from around the world, working on themes of Asian studies in the Social Sciences, Humanities or the Arts. Interdisciplinary approaches to Asian Studies are encouraged. Please read the following carefully before applying.

1. Requirements

1.1. Applicants must have a PhD. Applicants finalising their PhD may apply, provided that their defense/viva takes place no later than 15 February 2026. Confirmation of this date from your university is required before any fellowship award can be confirmed.

1.2. Applicants must be fully available from October 2026 to October 2027. The fellowship cannot begin earlier or later than October, nor can it be concluded prematurely. Selected fellows must arrive during the first week of October 2026.

1.3. Applicants who are currently employed or affiliated with another institution must secure official release from their duties for the full duration of the fellowship. This fellowship may not be held in combination with other fellowships or employment contracts.

1.4. Applicants planning to conduct fieldwork are strongly advised to complete this prior to the start of the fellowship. IIAS does not provide funding for fieldwork activities during the fellowship period.

1.5. Applicants must have a good command of English. The fellowship activities, communication, etc. are conducted in English.

2. Fellowship structure

2.1. The fellowship is residential and requires fellows to reside in the designated apartment in Leiden during both the first and final phase of the fellowship period. 

2.2. After the first six months in Leiden, fellows will spend three to five months at a partner institute outside The Netherlands (see the list of partner institutes on this page under phase 2 tab). Fellows then return to Leiden for the final phase of the fellowship.

2.3. Fellows will have access to a shared office space, including a private seminar room and institutional facilities such as library access and a screening room.

3. Engagement and responsibilities

3.1. Fellows are expected to actively participate in IIAS and the co-hosting institution activities including lectures, seminars, workshops, and social events.

3.2. Fellows must join regular online check-ins with the IIAS Fellowship Coordinator during their period at the co-host institution. Fellows are also expected to comply with the rules and guidelines of the host institution.

3.3. All research outputs (e.g. publications, videos) must acknowledge that they were made possible, in part, by the International Institute for Asian Studies and the respective co-host institution.

3.4. Fellows consent to IIAS sharing fellowship related information on its website, social media and other communication channels. 

3.5. IIAS is committed to fostering a safe, respectful and collegial working environment. Should any issues arise during the fellowship period, fellows are encouraged to contact the Fellowship Programme Coordinator for support and guidance.

3.6. In accordance with Dutch law, all fellows are required to take out valid health insurance for the full duration of their stay in the Netherlands.

Research focus

IIAS' programmes and activities seek to cultivate humanistically informed and policy relevant knowledge about Asia which includes projects connecting academic and non-academic forms of knowledge.

In line with this vision, IIAS supports research fellows whose work promotes a more integrated and global understanding of Asian realities, including Asia’s place and presence in the world.

Applicants are invited to develop research, writing, and/or creative projects that align with one or more of IIAS’ thematic clusters:

• Asian Cities
• The Politics of Culture (formerly Asian Heritages)
• Global Asia

Please indicate which cluster your project best relates to in the application form. If your project fits more than one cluster, choose the one with which it has the strongest affinity

We also encourage applicants to highlight any non-academic experience that might be relevant to the project proposal, such as social work, activism, create/artistic or curatorial/editorial experience

Proposals should include a reflection on how the project contributes to the conceptual and methodological reconfiguration of the field of Asian Studies.

Selection Process and Assessment Criteria

Selection process

The selection process consists of two stages:

1. Application through the IIAS website: Applicants must submit the completed application form and all required documents via the IIAS Fellowship Application Form.
2. Shortlisting: Shortlisted candidates will be contacted to provide: 
   I. Two reference letters;
   II. A short video presentation (guidelines will be provided).

Joint applications

Researchers applying as a duo should each submit a separate application form with the same project title and shared project description. In your individual applications, please outline your specific contribution and how you plan to collaborate. Duo applicants are encouraged to select different partner institutes for the second phase of the fellowship. Kindly inform us of your joint application by email at iiasfellowships@iias.nl, using “JOINT APPLICATION CALL 2025–26” as the subject line.

The IIAS Fellowship selection committee

The IIAS Fellowship Selection Committee is composed of highly qualified academics from various disciplines based in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Please find their profiles here.

Assessment criteria

Applications are assessed based on the following criteria:

• The project’s potential to advance its field(s) of study; its original contribution to knowledge.
• The diversity of outputs and approaches to knowledge sharing.
• Open research practices such as sharing of data and methods (where possible).
• Interdisciplinarity.
• Ethical integrity and responsible research conduct.
• A clear and well-articulated motivation for participation in the Asia in the World programme, demonstrating both interest in IIAS and the preferred co-host institution.

Fellowship award details

Fellows rewarded the IIAS Asia in the World Fellowship receive:

1. A monthly stipend of €1250 during the residency in Leiden. The stipend for the second phase will be determined by the co-host institution.
2. Housing in Leiden (approx. 20-minutes walking distance from the institute). And housing during the period at the co-host institution.
3. A one-time travel grant of up to €1000, covering travel to Schiphol Amsterdam Airport and your next destination.
4. Opportunities for professional development (such as outings, workshops and other activities).
5. Please note: IIAS does not provide additional funding for participation in academic conferences, workshops, or symposia during the fellowship period. Fellows may participate in such events at their own expense.

Application form and deadline

The application period opens on 17 July 2025 and closes on 15 September 2025.

Application documents

Applications must include the following materials in English:

1. Completed online IIAS Fellowship Application Form (see the tab "Apply here"), including all required uploads 
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. List of publications
4. Work plan
5. (Reference letters will only be required for shortlisted candidates)

Submission requirements

• All materials must be submitted via the online application form. 
• Files larger than 4MB will not be accepted. 
• Please name your files using the following format: FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME_FILENAME.doc/pdf.

Results

Shortlisted applicants will be notified in November 2025. Final selections will be announced by February 2026. Any changes to the timeline will be posted on this webpage.