Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026-27 – Full Details
The Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026-27 is a fully funded research opportunity hosted by the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna, Austria. The fellowship invites doctoral candidates and early-career postdoctoral researchers from different academic disciplines to examine the relationship between digital technologies, society, politics, and human life.
The programme encourages critical research on the broader social and political consequences of digitalization, including topics such as artificial intelligence, human rights, technology governance, and changing social structures.
💰 Fellowship Benefits
Selected fellows receive financial and institutional support during their research residency in Vienna.
Postdoctoral Fellows: €3,300 per month.
Doctoral Candidates: €2,750 per month.
Fellowship Duration: 3 consecutive months.
Purpose of Stipend: The monthly fellowship payment is intended to cover living and travel expenses associated with the residency.
Office Space: Fellows receive dedicated workspace at the IWM.
Research Facilities: Access to the institute's research infrastructure and facilities.
Internet Access: Research-related internet facilities are provided.
Administrative Support: Fellows receive institutional and administrative assistance during their stay.
Academic Exchange: Junior fellows have the opportunity to interact with Senior Digital Humanism Visiting Fellows and participate in an international research environment.
📅 Fellowship Structure and Timeline
The Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026-27 is structured as a residential research programme.
Fellowship Duration: 3 months.
Residency Period: The fellowship must take place between February and June 2027.
Location: Institute for Human Sciences (IWM), Vienna, Austria.
Research Environment: Junior Visiting Fellows are expected to be in residence and participate in an interdisciplinary academic environment.
Collaboration: The residency is designed to overlap with Senior Digital Humanism Visiting Fellows to encourage discussion, exchange, and academic networking.
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
Applicants for the Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026-27 must meet the following requirements:
Academic Status: Open to doctoral candidates and early-career postdoctoral researchers.
PhD Requirement for Postdocs: Postdoctoral applicants must have defended their PhD after 21 September 2022.
Disciplinary Scope: Applications are welcome from all academic disciplines.
Research Focus: Proposed research should critically examine the relationship between digital technologies and society.
Thematic Areas: Relevant research may address subjects such as:
Artificial Intelligence and Ethics
Human Rights and Digital Technologies
Technology Governance
Political and Social Consequences of Digitalization
Digital Technology and Society
Other critical questions concerning the impact of technological change
Interdisciplinary Approach: Projects should engage meaningfully with broader social, political, cultural, ethical, or human implications of digital technologies.
Applicants should carefully review the fellowship's current thematic guidance to ensure that their proposed research aligns with the programme's understanding of Digital Humanism.
📂 Documents Required
Applicants must submit their application materials in English through the IWM online application system.
Motivation Letter
A clear motivation letter explaining the applicant's academic background, research interests, and reasons for applying to the fellowship.
Short Project Description
A brief project description of a maximum of 550 characters.
Detailed Project Proposal
A detailed research proposal of up to 7,500 characters.
The proposal should clearly explain the research question, objectives, approach, and relevance of the proposed project.
Curriculum Vitae
Updated academic CV.
Publications and relevant research experience should be included.
Recommendation Letters
Two recommendation letters.
The referees are required to upload their letters directly through the application system.
Applicants should ensure that all written materials are concise, clearly structured, and directly connected to the fellowship's Digital Humanism theme.
💻 How to Apply
The application process for the Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026-27 is conducted online through the official IWM application portal.
Visit the official Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) Digital Humanism Fellowship page.
Review the fellowship's eligibility and thematic requirements.
Prepare the application materials in English.
Write the motivation letter.
Prepare the short project description within the 550-character limit.
Develop the detailed project proposal within the 7,500-character limit.
Prepare your academic CV including your publications.
Provide the names and contact details of two suitable academic referees.
Ask the referees to upload their recommendation letters directly to the application system.
Complete the online application form.
Upload the required documents and project materials.
Review the application carefully to ensure that all information is correct.
Submit the application before the deadline.
Save the application confirmation or reference details for future use.
🗓️ Important Dates
Application Deadline: 21 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST
Decision Notification: By 30 November 2026
Fellowship Period: February to June 2027
Residency Duration: 3 consecutive months
Application Mode: Online
Application Language: English
Applicants should submit the complete application before the stated deadline and ensure that both referees have uploaded their recommendation letters.
🔍 Selection Process
Applications are evaluated by an expert academic jury.
The selection may consider:
Research Quality – strength and clarity of the proposed project.
Thematic Relevance – alignment with Digital Humanism and the fellowship's research priorities.
Academic Background – quality of the applicant's doctoral or postdoctoral research.
Interdisciplinary Potential – ability of the project to engage with broader social, political, ethical, or cultural questions.
Originality and Significance – contribution of the proposed research to understanding digital technologies and society.
Motivation and Fit – reasons for joining the IWM research environment.
Selected candidates are expected to undertake the fellowship as a residential research stay in Vienna during the specified period.
📌 Important Points to Remember
The fellowship is hosted by the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM), Vienna.
It is designed for doctoral candidates and early-career postdoctoral researchers.
Postdoctoral applicants must have defended their PhD after 21 September 2022.
Applications are open to researchers from all academic disciplines.
The research must critically examine the relationship between digital technologies and society.
Relevant themes include AI ethics, human rights, governance, politics, and society.
The fellowship lasts three consecutive months.
The research residency must take place between February and June 2027.
Doctoral fellows receive €2,750 per month.
Postdoctoral fellows receive €3,300 per month.
The stipend is intended to cover living and travel expenses.
Fellows receive office space, internet, research facilities, and administrative support.
Junior fellows are expected to participate in an interdisciplinary research environment.
The programme encourages interaction with Senior Digital Humanism Visiting Fellows.
Applications must be submitted in English.
The short project description cannot exceed 550 characters.
The detailed project proposal cannot exceed 7,500 characters.
An updated CV with publications is required.
Two recommendation letters are required and must be uploaded directly by the referees.
The application deadline is 21 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST.
Fellowship decisions are expected to be communicated by 30 November 2026.
Selected fellows must undertake the residency within the prescribed February-June 2027 period.
🔗 Official Fellowship Information
Eligible researchers can find the fellowship announcement, eligibility details, application instructions, and official application system on the IWM website:
Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026-27 – Official IWM Website
The Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026-27 offers doctoral candidates and early-career postdoctoral researchers an opportunity to undertake a fully supported three-month research residency in Vienna. Researchers working on the social, political, ethical, cultural, or human implications of digital technologies should prepare their motivation letter, project descriptions, CV, and recommendation letters and submit the online application before the 21 September 2026 deadline.
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