Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study Individual Fellowship
STIAS provides and maintains an independent ‘creative space for the mind’ to advance scientific inquiry and engaged scholarship across all disciplines. The Institute is global in its reach and local in its African roots, and values original thinking and innovation in this context. The Fellowship programme comprises projects which are entirely self-generated and proposed by applicants, as well as projects or programmes initiated and led by STIAS typically with select partner organisations. A prospective STIAS Fellow may apply either individually, or as part of a team, or as an Iso Lomso early career scholar, or as an artist-in-residence.
The STIAS terms run from mid-January to mid-June (first semester), and from mid-July to mid-December (second semester). The Fellowship programme is guided by the Institute’s commitment to being a creative space for the mind, an inter/cross generation space as well as a cross-disciplinary space that encourages cross-pollination of ideas and hence gives preference to projects that will tap into, and benefit from, a multi-disciplinary discourse while also contributing unique perspectives to individual, collective and engaged discourses, an opportunity for a Fellow beyond self. STIAS Fellows are, except in prior agreed-to circumstances, expected to be resident at STIAS for the duration of a Fellowship in pursuit of their proposed research project.
STIAS Individual Fellows are selected on the basis of academic excellence and the originality of their proposed research project. The following criteria serve as important guidelines:
1. Level
Does the proposal entail research at the highest level?
2. Innovation
Does the project break new ground? Does it hold the promise of new insights and the potential to produce new knowledge?
3. Interdisciplinarity
To what extent does the project draw on and contribute to different disciplines? Will the project facilitate an interdisciplinary, cross-pollinating engagements during the residency?
4. Relevance
Is the project appropriate for a programme of an institute for advanced study? Does the project have relevance for South Africa and Africa?
5. Feasibility
How convincing is the proposed methodology and research design, and how realistic is the research plan? Is the applicant equipped to deliver on the proposed project?
Obligations while in residence include participating in the Tuesday and Thursday STIAS Fellows’ seminar where Fellows in turn present their work to other Fellows and invited academics from the local community; and to have lunch at the STIAS Wallenberg Research Centre from Monday to Friday.
STIAS Fellows who have been in residence previously are welcome to submit new applications from two years after their residency, bearing in mind that during a five-year cycle preference is given to first-time applicants.
How selection works
Fellowship applications for the first semester open 1 July with a deadline of 31 October and selection feedback by March of the following year. For example, for first semester 2028, applications open 1 July 2026, deadline 31 October 2026 and feedback by 31 March 2027. Applications for the second semester open 1 October with a deadline of 30 April of the following year, and selection feedback by September. For example, for second semester 2028, applications open 1 October 2026, deadline 30 April 2027 and feedback by 30 September 2027.
Selection is carried out on an individual applicant basis. Applications for Fellowships of one semester (mid-January to mid-June; or mid-July to mid-December) may be submitted to open Calls in advance of announced deadlines. Selection is ordinarily concluded 9 months in advance of the proposed period of respective semester residence.
The STIAS Fellowship and Research Programme Committee meets regularly for preliminary selection of candidates against the criteria listed above. Final selection is concluded during a biannual meeting of the committee where the overall composition of a semester programme is also taken into consideration. The Director is further advised by the STIAS Academic Advisory Committee.
At the STIAS Director’s discretion, consideration may be given to individual Fellowship applications for either a shorter period of residency (with a minimum of eight weeks) or a period overlapping two semesters.
No selection restriction is placed on the country of origin, discipline, or academic affiliation when STIAS considers a fellowship application.
