Self-funded Residential Fellowships at MIASA

The Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA) is dedicated to research in the Humanities and Social Sciences. The institute offers time and space for supporting innovative academic research of top international quality. All MIASA fellowships are residential and mainly focus on onsite reflection, discussion and writing. In addition, MIASA facilitates networking and collaboration amongst leading researchers from Germany, Ghana, other parts of Africa and Europe and elsewhere in the world. The institute is located on the beautiful campus of the University of Ghana (UG) at Legon (Accra), and has been implemented in collaboration with the University of Freiburg, the Goethe University of Frankfurt, the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) and the German Historical Institute Paris (GHIP). It is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) with co-funding from the University of Ghana.

MIASA now offers self-funded residential fellowships (between 3 and 6 months) for researchers with either external funding or on paid leave from their home institutions (e.g. sabbatical). This opportunity is open to scholars (both on junior and senior levels) who have been awarded their doctoral degree at least three months before the start of the fellowship. Starting dates for these types of fellowships are handled flexibly but may depend on office space availability. The earliest starting date is 1 September 2026.

The selection is made by MIASA’s distinguished international Academic Advisory Board. Applications can be submitted at any time but at least 4 months prior to the intended start of the fellowship.

The successful applicants become MIASA fellows with all the corresponding rights and obligations for the requested period. MIASA provides office space and organizational assistance for self-funded fellows during their stay. Applicants for self-funded fellowships can apply for an accommodation allowance of up to 1500€/month and for the reimbursement of travel costs at the beginning and the end of the fellowship. Please note that funding for this is limited and not guaranteed. Accommodation allowances and travel costs are funded by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space via the University of Freiburg.

MIASA supports academic exchange across existing boundaries: between disciplines, between different cultures and countries, between established and early-career researchers. Furthermore, MIASA engages in activities opening the research community to society, politics, and the arts. Self-funded fellows are part of this community, and benefit from the lively research environment of the University of Ghana. Applications for self-funded fellowships should indicate how the research project contributes to the activities at MIASA and, more broadly, to the academic life on Legon campus.

The Institute provides its fellows with office space on the University of Ghana – Legon campus. A full-time presence of fellows at MIASA for the entire fellowship period is required. Periods of leave need to be approved by the MIASA directors in advance and must not exceed 1/6 of the fellowship duration.

Application

Applications will be accepted in English and French. Applications must be submitted in one single pdf document via email to: miasa@act.uni-freiburg.de. Applications must be submitted at least 4 months prior to the intended start of the fellowship. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please respect formal requirements:

• Formatting: font Arial, 11 pt, line spacing 1.5, all margins 2.5 cm.
• Page limits may not be exceeded.

Applications must include the following information:

• Front page with general information on the applicant (1 page):
  • Title, name (last, first), e-mail address, link to webpage.
  • Date of doctorate.
  • Current position/affiliation, institution and business address (name of institution/city/country).
  • Research field.
  • Title of fellowship project.
  • Abstract of the fellowship project (max. 150 words).
  • Preferred dates for the fellowship at MIASA.
  • The two most important reasons why you apply for a residential fellowship at MIASA.
• Project proposal (max. 5 pages):
  • Project title (max. 50 characters).
  • Abstract of the fellowship project (150 words).
  • Aims, theoretical framework and methodology of the project.
  • Work and time plan.
  • Information on available funding during the stay at MIASA and need for financial support from MIASA for accommodation and travel at the beginning and end of fellowship.
  • Innovative potential, originality and relevance of the project.
  • Added value of conducting research at MIASA and the University of Ghana.
  • Bibliographical references (max. 1 page in addition to the 5 pages of the proposal).
• CV in tabular form (max. 2 pages).
• Publication list highlighting the most important publications (max. 2 pages).

All four documents must be submitted as one single pdf and sent to: miasa@act.uni-freiburg.de

For further information, please contact: miasa@act.uni-freiburg.de

Proviso: Fellowships are offered with the proviso that the Federal German Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) will grant funding for MIASA’s final phase from September 2026 until February 2030.