Deadline: 15 June 2025
The Western Balkans–Visegrad Fellowships (pilot program) offer funding for individual short-term stays for V4 and WB6 scholars, lecturers, academic staff, researchers & scientists in two main directions—citizens of V4 countries can apply to relevant host institutions in the Western Balkans (WB6), and citizens of the WB6 region can apply to relevant host institutions in V4 countries.
Funding Information
- The support is in the form of a lump sum scholarship amounting to €500/week paid in two instalments: the 1st instalment (ca. 80%) is transferred upon the fellow’s confirmed arrival at the host institution, and the 2nd instalment (remaining funds) is transferred upon the receipt of a summary report.
- Additionally, each applicant can request a lump sum travel grant calculated based on estimated travel costs but no higher than €500. (Note that travel grants cannot be automatically claimed as part of the scholarships.)
- Fellowships are offered for a minimum of 2 weeks and maximum 10 weeks.
Eligibility Criteria
- Citizens of V4 countries—Czechia (CZ), Hungary (HU), Poland (PL), Slovakia (SK)—can apply for support to be hosted by institutions in the WB6 region—Albania (AL), Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA), Kosovo (XK), Montenegro (ME), North Macedonia (MK), or Serbia (RS).
- Citizens of the WB6 region—Albania (AL), Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA), Kosovo (XK), Montenegro (ME), North Macedonia (MK), or Serbia (RS)—can be hosted by institutions in the V4 region (CZ, HU, PL, SK).
- The type of potential host institution is not prescribed but it shall be relevant to the nature of the fellowship. In general, the program is intended to provide access to private or public higher-education institutions (colleges, universities, science academies), research bodies, libraries/archives, laboratories, etc.
- Fellows must either be full-time doctoral students or holders of a doctoral degree (regardless of their current affiliation).
Application Requirements
- Scanned valid ID document (passport);
- Scan of the doctoral diploma including its English translation if the original document is not bilingual (note that this translation does not need to be formally certified or notarized) or a proof of enrollment in a doctoral study program;
- Letter of invitation signed/stamped by the host institution detailing the precise length of the fellowship, its exact nature, and the intended outcomes written in English;
- A letter of recommendation issued by the applicant’s affiliated (home) institution or by a relevant expert (for non-affiliated applicants) written in English.
For more information, visit International Visegrad Fund.
