Call for Applications: Policy Leader Fellowship Program

This unique programme is nested within one of the most renowned academic institutions in Europe and provides the fellows with an insider view into the EU policy making processes. The programme is particular in its aim to attract individuals with diverse hands-on experiences in policy-making across the world and does not require academic training background. Besides having direct access to the STG and the EUI faculty and researcher community, the fellows learn from each other and form lasting professional and personal connections.

The fellows spend five or ten months at the STG developing policy recommendations and practical solutions for pressing issues of transnational relevance inspired and informed by their work experience.

They welcome applications from anywhere in the world, regardless of nationality. EU citizenship is not required. While there is no age limit, the applicants are expected to demonstrate at least 10 years of relevant professional experience.

Funding Information 

• The basic grant is €2,500 per month.
• The fellowships are offered for a duration of five or ten months.

Eligibility Criteria

• The general profile of the candidates:
  • Mid-career professionals able to demonstrate solid professional experience (minimum 10 years) and potential for future excellence in a given policy area; candidates with strictly academic profile typically will not be considered;
  • Self-motivated and driven, able to autonomously accomplish the activities presented under the fellowship work plan;
  • Open-minded and curious individuals willing to engage in peer discussions on topics which may go beyond their area of expertise;

Evaluation Criteria

• Accomplishments and potential: Professional excellence is assessed on the basis of the candidate’s contributions to a given policy field based on the CV and any other supporting evidence of the application. Minimum Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required.
• Focus area: The candidate’s field of work should be broadly aligned with the STG programmes and faculty research a Other themes can also be considered but preference will be given to applicants that cover policy areas of the STG faculty and programmes.
• Fellowship work plan: Applicants are assessed on the professional substance of their work plan as well as its feasibility, applicability in a transnational policy context and potential impact.
• Motivation: Applicants should be able to articulate what difference the fellowship experience will make to their professional journey as well as what they can offer to the STG. Preference is given to applicants who can both contribute to the STG programmes and activities as well as benefit from their stay at the STG and the EUI.
• Diversity: The programme strives for thematic and geographic diversity as well as gender balance among the fellows.

Application Requirements

• CV (maximum 3 pages);
• Short biography (maximum 250 words); the bio serves as a quick overview of the candidate’s profile for the selection process and will also be used for communications purposes if the applicant is accepted for the fellowship.
• Two reference letters (see separate section on reference letters);
• Copy of highest educational certificate;
• Letter of motivation (maximum 1000 words) outlining the applicant’s main reasons to apply for the fellowship, the objectives to be pursued during the programme highlighting interest in specific transnational policy issues and future professional aspirations;
• Work plan (maximum 2500 words) should include the project title, a short summary/abstract, the main objectives, milestones and the related activities to achieve the envisaged outputs; the activities should be allocated appropriately based on five or ten months’ fellowship timeline; the applicant should highlight any individuals/groups/resources at the STG and/or EUI where they see potential synergies or opportunities for collaboration as well as any external partners (if relevant); the work plan should take into account several of the required STG outputs/deliverables; the applicant should include a section on the desired impact of the proposed project beyond the STG as well as a short dissemination plan for the final outputs. There is no template for the work plan but it should be clear, well-structured and include all the above mentioned sections.
• Optional work sample(s) (maximum 2 samples) If relevant, you can submit work samples to support your application and to demonstrate your expertise in a given topic e.g. a policy paper/report/brief, an article, an op-ed, a weblink, interview, social media piece, blogpost, etc.

For more information, visit EUI.