Scholars at Risk (SAR) Academic Freedom Fellowships 2026/2027 for early-career researchers. – Opportunities For Africans

Application Deadline: May 29, 2026 (midnight, New York time).

Applications are actually open for the 2026/2027 Scholars at Risk (SAR) Academic Freedom Fellowships. Scholars at Risk (SAR) is happy to ask early-career researchers to apply for distant analysis fellowships specializing in educational freedom and associated greater schooling values. The fellowship program is supported by the Mellon Foundation, amongst different donors, and is meant to foster an expert group of researchers devoted to growing new analysis, formal written publications, new course choices, workshops, webinars or different vital finish merchandise. 

Fellowship Tracks

Please apply for one of the 2 following tracks:

• Track 1: Global Mellon Academic Freedom Fellowship
  • Focus: Global, comparative, or single-country points (excluding the US).
  • Availability: as much as 6 fellowships.
• Track 2: US Academic Freedom Fellowship
  • Focus: Academic freedom points particularly inside the United States.
  • Availability: as much as 6 fellowships.

Program Details

• Duration: 10 months (September 2026 – June 2027).
• Structure: Fellows will full their proposed venture whereas collaborating in month-to-month distant, on-line workshops to share progress and change peer suggestions.
• Outputs: Fellows will every produce a major finish product (e.g., a proper publication, new course, or workshop). The cohort will even discover a collaborative joint output, resembling a particular journal version, an edited quantity or a SAR-produced assortment.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Academic & skilled standing

• Education: PhD diploma acquired inside the final 8 years. In restricted circumstances, doctoral candidates within the remaining phases of dissertation completion could also be thought-about; please clearly state your present standing .
• Affiliation: Current analysis or educating affiliation with the next schooling establishment, affiliation, or analysis group.
• Focus: A demonstrated curiosity in educating, researching, or publishing about points of educational freedom or associated greater schooling values.

2. Track-specific priorities 

• For observe 1 (Global): Preference will likely be given to tasks involving comparative, worldwide, or collaborative analysis. All related subjects are welcome for application.

Benefits

• Stipend: Fellows will obtain a stipend of USD ~$8,000 supposed to cowl analysis bills, publication, or different prices, as the man could resolve.
• Networking: Participants can have the chance to achieve publicity to SAR’s programming and to community with SAR partner-experts on educational freedom points

Participation & logistics 

• Commitment to take part in month-to-month distant workshops/webinars with co-recipients, SAR employees, community members, and friends (with correct safety lodging) from September 2026 to June 2027, with remaining scheduling to be mounted after choice of individuals. 
• Financial: Ability to lawfully obtain stipend funds and full program necessities within the nation of present location, assuming duty for any native tax or reporting necessities.

• While private expertise with threat is just not a range requirement, present or previously at-risk researchers are extremely inspired to apply. 
• Candidates in/from the Global South and/or from marginalized communities are strongly inspired to apply.

How to Apply

1. Application bundle 

Please mix the next into a single PDF file, saved as “LAST NAME, First Name – Project Title”: 

• An summary* (max 250-500 phrases), summarizing your analysis (see tips under).
• A analysis plan & timeline (max 2 pages), detailing your methodology and 10-month timeline (September 2026 – June 2027).
• A CV (max 2 pages), together with the contact data of two skilled references who can converse to your candidacy for this fellowship program. Note: If your PhD is pending, please embrace your anticipated completion date.

Applications that don’t embrace all the above will likely be ineligible for consideration.

Abstract Guidelines. Your summary ought to particularly handle:

• Research Question: What particular analysis query(s) do you want to handle and why is it vital?
• Relevance: How is your analysis query associated to educational freedom and its values?
• Methodology: What methodology will you use to deal with your analysis query(s), and what sorts of proof do you intend to collect?
• Contribution: How will your findings enhance our understanding or safety of educational freedom?

*The summary refers back to the formal publishable analysis proposed by the applicant, whereas the top product refers to each the analysis and the shape(s) of its dissemination.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Academic Freedom Fellowships