The Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027 offers an outstanding opportunity for doctoral candidates and early-career postdoctoral researchers to undertake interdisciplinary research at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna, Austria. As part of the Digital Humanism Program, the fellowship supports projects that explore the relationship between technology and society, encouraging research that promotes human-centered digital transformation while upholding democratic values and universal human rights.
Open to applicants from all academic disciplines, the fellowship provides a monthly stipend, access to world-class research facilities, and the opportunity to become part of an international community of scholars. Researchers whose work examines the societal, political, economic, and ethical implications of digitalization are encouraged to apply.
About the Digital Humanism Fellowship
The Digital Humanism Fellowship is designed to support innovative research on the complex relationship between technology and humanity.
Rather than focusing on the application of digital technologies within the humanities, the program emphasizes research that investigates how digitalization shapes society and how technology can be guided to serve human values, democracy, and social well-being.
The fellowship welcomes interdisciplinary approaches that combine perspectives from computer science, social sciences, humanities, economics, law, political science, philosophy, and related fields.
Fellowship Benefits
Successful applicants will spend three consecutive months at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna between February and June 2027.
Financial support includes:
Postdoctoral Fellows
Applicants who have completed their PhD by the application deadline will receive:
- EUR 3,300 per month
Doctoral Fellows
Applicants currently enrolled in a doctoral program will receive:
- EUR 2,750 per month
The stipend is intended to cover:
- Accommodation.
- Travel to and from Vienna.
- Health insurance.
- Local transportation.
- Utilities.
- Telecommunications.
- Research-related expenses such as literature and conference fees.
Additional Support
In addition to the monthly stipend, fellows will receive access to:
- Dedicated office space.
- High-speed internet.
- IWM research facilities.
- Administrative support.
- An international academic community.
- Seminars, lectures, and scholarly events hosted by the Institute.
The fellowship period is synchronized with the residency of the Senior Digital Humanism Visiting Fellow, providing opportunities for academic collaboration and networking.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
- Be enrolled in a doctoral program; or
- Have obtained a PhD no earlier than 21 September 2022 (within four years of the application deadline).
Additional eligibility conditions include:
- Only one fellowship application may be submitted during the same academic year.
- Previous IWM fellows must wait three academic years before applying again.
- Applications are open to candidates from all academic disciplines whose research aligns with the goals of Digital Humanism.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must submit their application through the online application system.
The application package should include:
- A motivation letter explaining how the fellowship supports the proposed research and aligns with the Institute’s mission.
- A project description of up to 550 characters.
- A project proposal of up to 7,500 characters outlining:
- Project objectives.
- Current state of research.
- Research methodology.
- Work plan.
- A curriculum vitae with a list of publications.
- Two letters of recommendation submitted directly by referees.
All application materials must be prepared in English, and supporting documents must be combined into a single PDF file using Latin characters in the filename.
Application Deadline
The deadline for submitting applications is:
21 September 2026 (23:59 CEST).
Applicants will be informed of the selection results by 30 November 2026 following evaluation by an expert jury.
Why Apply?
The Digital Humanism Fellowship offers early-career researchers the opportunity to:
- Conduct interdisciplinary research in Austria.
- Receive financial support during a three-month residency.
- Collaborate with internationally recognized scholars.
- Access high-quality academic resources and research facilities.
- Expand professional networks across multiple disciplines.
- Contribute to global discussions on technology, ethics, democracy, and society.
The fellowship is particularly valuable for researchers exploring how digital technologies influence human rights, governance, public policy, economics, culture, and social development.
Final Thoughts
The Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027 provides an excellent opportunity for doctoral students and recent PhD graduates to advance interdisciplinary research at one of Europe’s leading research institutes. With generous monthly funding, access to outstanding academic resources, and a collaborative international environment in Vienna, the fellowship supports innovative projects that examine how technology can be developed and governed in ways that benefit society while protecting human values and fundamental rights. Researchers interested in the societal dimensions of digital transformation should consider preparing their applications before the 21 September 2026 deadline.
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