We highly encourage graduates from all academic fields, young professionals, and employees of scientific, political or public institutions and organisations to hand in their research ideas for the research year. The next application period will begin in summer 2024. Find out more about the application requirements here.
The Fellowship programme is open to all projects and disciplines that offer concrete, innovative, and feasible approaches to address the annual focus topic.
You will need to upload the following documents [in English]:
- Your CV (pdf) - mandatory
- Your Research Proposal (pdf) - mandatory
- Supporting documents, references, and certificates (as one pdf file) - optional
Within the application form, you will also be asked about your thoughts on the biggest challenge(s) for Europe's future. The main focus of our evaluation will be your research proposal.
Your Research Proposal should include:
As the key document of your application, your research proposal presents your innovative idea to address a question about Europe's future. It is important that the project is defined as concretely as possible and that the goals and your research methodology are clearly explained. In our selection, we will primarily consider projects that stand out from the crowd because of their foresight and creativity, and that deal with questions long overlooked in the public discourse.
- A maximum amount of 6,000 characters (max. 2 pages)
- The research question and a brief description of your research idea (based on our annual focus topic)
- Your motivation to research on this particular topic and its social/political relevance
- First ideas about your personal timeline and possible milestones you want to achieve during the Fellowship programme
- A first description for which audience groups (outside of academia) your research could be of special interest
- A short explanation of what makes your research question unique and progressive in shaping Europe’s future
You can find a sample with all important aspects here.
Selection Process:
After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation e-mail.
All applications are then checked for completeness and fulfilment of all application criteria before they will be analysed by our high-level and diverse selection committee. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to short (approx. 10-15 minutes) online interviews.
The final decision will be made by the Foundation Board in October. Subsequently, all applicants will be informed about the final decision.
If selected, the grant agreement and mentoring contract will be drawn up and signed before the official stipend award ceremony will take place in autumn.
With accepting the Fellowship contract, the Fellow will agree:
- to fulfil individually appointed milestones as part of the research progress (surveys, workshops, articles…)
- to attend the kick-off event and the concluding summit in autumn each year
- to cooperate with academic mentors and the Charlemagne Prize Foundation
- that the individual research outcomes will be published during and after the research process