International Visegrad Fund Research Grant Programme

The International Visegrad Fund (IVF) and the European University Institute (EUI) offer grants to post-graduate scholars from Central and Eastern Europe interested in European integration to conduct research at the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU).

Six research grants of EUR 5,000 will be available each year. 

Purpose and Objectives

The grant programme provides young scholars from Central and Eastern Europe interested in European integration at large with a unique research experience in the HAEU embedded in the international scholarly community of the EUI in Florence. To address the challenges brought by the current health emergency, the HAEU offers the digitisation on demand of archival files needed by researchers, thus ensuring operational continuity of the grant programme also during the Covid pandemic.

Admission

The following candidates from Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, Western Balkans, and Eastern Partnership regions are eligible to apply:

• All current postgraduate students (master’s and doctoral candidates);
• All postdoctoral researchers or university teachers who have completed a master’s degree or doctorate within ten years preceding the date the application is submitted and who currently hold an academic appointment.

Successful applicants will prepare a publication (thesis, dissertation, book or scholarly article) relating to European integration in any of the disciplines of human and social sciences (e.g. law, history, political science, economics, sociology, public administration).

Research projects presented by postgraduate students or postdoctoral researchers should preferably relate directly to their master’s or doctoral field of research.

In view of the languages used in European Union archival documents, candidates should have a sound knowledge of English and basic knowledge of French.

Application Procedure and Deadline

The 2024 call for applications will be open from 1 February 2024 through 30 April 2024.

Candidates may apply through the HAEU's online application form. 

Applications and supporting documents must be submitted in either English or French. The research itself and subsequent publications may be in the language chosen by the grant holder.

The complete application file should include:

• a detailed presentation of the research proposal, including a description of the research subject, its academic significance and its contribution to research in the field, any previous academic work performed in the field of study, and the proposed research methodology and timetable (five pages maximum);
• a detailed annotated bibliography of sources and studies related to the research (five pages maximum);
• a justification of the need to use the HAEU archival holdings in Florence;
• a statement of the applicant’s plans for scholarly publication of the research results;
• a list of the applicant’s previous publications (no more than 10, including the most recent);
• a letter of recommendation from a professor of a university or university-level research institute, providing an evaluation of the scholarly significance of the project and an assessment of the candidate’s qualifications, abilities and motivation to carry out the proposed research.

Grant Awards

Successful applicants will receive a research grant of EUR 5000 to cover all research expenses.

The grant will be paid in two instalments:

• a first instalment of EUR 2000 at the start of the research, as attested by the Director of the HAEU;
• a second instalment of EUR 3000 after the research results have been published by the grant holder and once the grant holder has informed the Director of the HAEU on the publication. The results must be published within 30 months after the grant has been attributed.

The publication shall be issued at the latest 36 months since the grant has been attributed.

Selection

The selection of candidates is organized by the HAEU in consideration of the quality of the application file, the significance and originality of the proposed research, the feasibility of the project, the candidate’s ability to carry out the research, and the importance of using primary sources at the HAEU. The selection is based on equal treatment of applicants, i.e., without any discriminatory practices mainly due to nationality (ethnic origin), race, colour, religion or other beliefs, age, disability, sexual orientation and gender of the applicants.

Publications and Commitments

Grant holders undertake to ensure that all subsequent publications or productions using in whole or in part the results obtained under the auspices of the research grant appropriately acknowledge the grant programme. In addition, they will provide the HAEU and the Fund with a copy of any such publications or productions.