STIAS Fellowships 2028: Research Residencies in Stellenbosch, South Africa

What Is STIAS?

STIAS is an independent institute for advanced study in Stellenbosch, South Africa. It describes itself as a "creative space for the mind." It supports original, cross-disciplinary research and especially values work rooted in African contexts.

Fellows spend their residency writing, researching and creating, while joining weekly seminars, public lectures and daily conversations with other fellows from around the world.

Fellowship Types

• Individual Fellowship: For scholars and scientists from any country, discipline or institution.
• Team Fellowship: For teams of 2–5 researchers working on a shared project, ideally including scholars from Africa and other regions.
• Artist-in-Residence Fellowship: For established artists, such as writers, composers, filmmakers and choreographers.
• Iso Lomso Fellowship: A three-year programme for early-career African scholars.

Important Dates

First semester 2028 (mid-January to mid-June 2028):

• Deadline: 31 October 2026
• Feedback: By 31 March 2027

Second semester 2028 (mid-July to mid-December 2028):

• Applications open: 1 January 2027
• Deadline: 30 April 2027

Iso Lomso Fellowship 2027 call:

• Opens: 15 October 2026
• Closes: 15 February 2027
• Results: June 2027

Who Can Apply?

Individual, Team and Artist fellowships:

• Open to all nationalities and disciplines
• Scholars with a strong research record, or artists with an established, recognised body of work

Iso Lomso Fellowship:

• African nationals working at an African university or research institution
• A PhD earned within the last eight years
• Completed a postdoc or equivalent
• 42 years old or younger on 1 January of the call year

What You Get

• Return economy airfare
• Accommodation near the Institute
• A monthly stipend for living costs
• A private office with a computer
• Daily lunch with fellows
• Access to Stellenbosch University's library
• Weekly seminars, public lectures and social events
• A childcare subsidy for fellows with young children

Iso Lomso fellows can also receive support for conferences, project costs and hosting a workshop.

How to Apply

1. Choose your fellowship type: Individual, Team, Artist-in-Residence or Iso Lomso.
2. Prepare:
   • A cover letter explaining your motivation
   • A project proposal (2–4 pages for individuals and artists, up to 5 pages for teams)
   • Your CV with publications or creative works
   • One or two recent publications or creative samples
3. Submit your application online through the STIAS website.

Simple Tips

• Think across disciplines. STIAS favours projects that connect different fields.
• Show your link to Africa where possible. Work rooted in African contexts is especially valued.
• Keep your proposal clear and focused. Explain what you'll achieve during your residency.
• Plan your time. Individual fellows usually stay for the full semester (around five months).
• Early-career African scholars: the Iso Lomso call is now open, so start preparing.

Apply Here

📌 Official application page: https://www.stias.ac.za/fellowships/apply/

📌 Individual Fellowship: https://www.stias.ac.za/fellowships/apply/individual

📌 Questions: stias@sun.ac.za

Disclaimer: World Opportunities Hub is an independent information platform. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study. Always confirm details on the official website before applying.

| Organization | Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) | | Region | Stellenbosch, South Africa | | Deadline | 31 October 2026 (first semester 2028) | | Level | Scholars, scientists and artists | | Funding | Airfare, accommodation, stipend and office |