STELLENBOSCH INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY TEAM 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 accepts and welcomes proposals for a team project of typically two to five participants. The same guiding principles, criteria and obligations as for individual fellowships apply.
Selection is carried out simultaneously with individual fellowship applications and according to the same selection process and deadlines. Assessment for each member of a proposed team project is carried out on the same selection process as individual fellowship applicants. It is recommended that teams will be composed of leading scholars from different regions, including from Africa. Furthermore, the proposal should demonstrate the contribution of each member to the project as well as the anticipated advantages of convening the team at STIAS.
With the introduction of STIAS digital platform, the main applicant is expected to submit the cover letter and proposal together with their CV and publication samples, They are also expected to submit the email addresses of the team members who each receive an invitation and link to complete their profiles and upload their CVs and publication samples.
It is preferable that team project members spend concurrent residency at STIAS of approximately two-and-a-half months, limited to a single period of residence. A minimum of six weeks is preferable for a team project. In rare instances a full-semester team project (five months) will be considered.
Support for a workshop/colloquium hosted by the members of a team project may be offered during the residency dates and will be limited to financing the local costs (airport transfers, accommodation, meeting venue and catering) for up to 12 participants (including the team Fellows in residence). Proposals for such a workshop/colloquium, including its goals, provisional dates, target participants and anticipated outcomes must be included in the fellowship project proposal.
Team members are accommodated in a large office at the STIAS Wallenberg Research Centre which has a maximum of five workspaces and access to an adjacent seminar room and lounge.
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.
No selection restriction is placed on the country of origin, discipline, or academic affiliation when STIAS considers a fellowship application.
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