Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027 in Vienna, Austria – Apply for a €3,300 Monthly Stipend
The Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027 in Vienna, Austria is an international research opportunity for doctoral candidates and early-career postdoctoral researchers interested in the relationship between technology and society.
Hosted by the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna, the fellowship invites researchers from all academic disciplines to develop independent research projects examining how digitalization affects society, economics, politics, geopolitics, human rights and other areas of human life.
Selected fellows will spend three consecutive months at the IWM in Vienna between February and June 2027, where they will pursue their research projects while becoming part of an international scholarly community.
The fellowship provides a monthly stipend of €3,300 for postdoctoral candidates and €2,750 for candidates currently pursuing a doctoral degree. However, applicants should understand that the stipend is intended to cover the fellow's expenses during the research stay, including accommodation, travel, health insurance and other living and research costs.
The application deadline is 21 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST.
Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027 Overview
- Fellowship: Digital Humanism Junior Visiting Fellowship
- Host Institution: Institute for Human Sciences (IWM)
- Location: Vienna, Austria
- Academic Year: 2026–2027
- Duration: Three consecutive months
- Fellowship Period: February–June 2027
- Postdoctoral Stipend: €3,300 per month
- Doctoral Stipend: €2,750 per month
- Academic Disciplines: All academic disciplines
- Eligibility: Current doctoral candidates and eligible recent PhD graduates
- Application Language: English
- Application Deadline: 21 September 2026, 23:59 CEST
- Selection Notification: By 30 November 2026
- Application Method: Online
🎓 Invest in Your Future
Master in-demand skills with expert-led courses on Programming, AI, Data Science, Business, Finance, Marketing, Design and thousands more.
🚀 Explore Udemy Courses✔ Learn at your own pace | ✔ Lifetime access | ✔ Certificates of completion
Official IWM Fellowship Information and Application
What Is Digital Humanism?
Digital Humanism examines the complex relationship between technology and human beings.
Rather than focusing only on technological development, the field considers how digital technologies influence society and how technology can be developed and governed in ways that respect human rights and human values.
The IWM describes Digital Humanism as an approach that analyzes and seeks to influence the relationship between technology and humankind with the goal of building a better society while respecting universal human rights.
Potential research areas can therefore include topics related to:
- Artificial intelligence and society
- Digital rights
- Democracy and technology
- AI governance
- Digital inequality
- Social justice
- Technology and politics
- Digital transformation
- Geopolitical consequences of technology
- Human rights and digitalization
- Economic effects of digital technologies
The programme is deliberately interdisciplinary.
Digital Humanism Is Not the Same as Digital Humanities
Applicants should pay particular attention to this distinction.
The IWM explicitly states that the programme is not intended for projects that merely use digital tools or technologies to conduct research in the humanities.
For example, a project that simply uses artificial intelligence to analyze historical documents may not fit the programme.
Instead, the research should examine the broader relationship between digitalization and society, economics, geopolitics or other relevant questions in the humanities and social sciences.
This distinction is important when preparing your research proposal.
Fellowship Benefits
Selected fellows receive financial and academic support during their three-month stay.
€3,300 Monthly Stipend for Postdoctoral Researchers
Postdoctoral candidates who have defended their PhD by the application deadline receive a stipend of €3,300 per month.
€2,750 Monthly Stipend for Doctoral Candidates
Researchers who are still pursuing their doctoral degree receive €2,750 per month.
Research Office
Fellows receive office space at the Institute for Human Sciences.
This provides a dedicated environment for working on their research project during their stay.
Internet and Research Facilities
Fellows have access to internet services, research infrastructure and administrative support at the institute.
International Academic Community
One of the major benefits of the fellowship is the opportunity to join the IWM's scholarly community.
Fellows can interact with researchers from different disciplines and participate in the institute's academic environment.
What Does the Stipend Cover?
The fellowship should not be interpreted as a scholarship where every expense is paid separately by the host institution.
According to the official IWM call, fellows are responsible for covering their living expenses from the monthly stipend. These include:
- Travel to and from Vienna
- Accommodation
- Health insurance
- Utilities
- Local transportation
- Telecommunications
- Research costs
- Literature
- Conference fees and related expenses
Therefore, while the fellowship offers substantial financial support, applicants should prepare a realistic budget for their three-month stay in Vienna.
Who Can Apply?
The fellowship is intended for researchers at the doctoral and early postdoctoral stages.
Applicants must either:
- Be currently pursuing a doctoral degree, or
- Have defended their PhD by the application deadline and meet the programme's early-career eligibility requirements.
The official call is open to all academic disciplines.
However, the proposed research must fit the thematic focus of the Digital Humanism programme.
Applicants should therefore demonstrate a clear connection between their research and the social, economic, political, geopolitical or humanistic implications of digitalization.
Research Project Requirements
The research proposal is one of the most important components of the application.
The proposal must be no longer than 7,500 characters including spaces.
It should include:
- Research objectives
- Current state of research
- Research methods
- Work plan
🎓 Invest in Your Future
Master in-demand skills with expert-led courses on Programming, AI, Data Science, Business, Finance, Marketing, Design and thousands more.
🚀 Explore Udemy Courses✔ Learn at your own pace | ✔ Lifetime access | ✔ Certificates of completion
Applicants should make the project specific and demonstrate why spending three months at the IWM would significantly contribute to their work.
The application should not simply describe a broad research interest.
Instead, explain exactly what you intend to accomplish during the fellowship.
Required Documents
Applicants must prepare several materials.
Motivation Letter
The motivation letter should explain:
- Why you want to join the IWM
- How the fellowship would benefit your project
- How your research connects with the IWM's mission
- What you plan to accomplish during the fellowship
Project Description
Applicants must provide a short project description of no more than 550 characters including spaces.
This requires applicants to summarize their research idea very clearly.
Research Proposal
A detailed proposal of up to 7,500 characters including spaces is required.
It should discuss the project's objectives, current research, methodology and work plan.
Academic CV
The CV must include a list of publications.
Applicants should emphasize relevant research experience, academic achievements, publications, conferences and other scholarly activities.
Two Recommendation Letters
Applicants must provide two recommendation letters from scholars familiar with their academic work.
Importantly, recommenders must submit their letters directly through the system.
After an applicant submits the application, the recommenders receive an automatic email containing a link to the relevant web form.
Applicants should therefore contact their recommenders early rather than waiting until the deadline.
Language of Application
All application materials must be prepared in English.
Applicants should ensure that their research proposal and motivation letter are professionally written and easy to understand.
How to Apply
Interested researchers should complete the application online through the official IWM application system.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Determine whether you are currently pursuing a PhD or qualify as an eligible recent postdoctoral researcher.
Step 2: Develop Your Research Idea
Your project should clearly address the relationship between digitalization and society or another relevant Digital Humanism research area.
Step 3: Prepare the Proposal
Write the project description and full research proposal according to the character limits.
Step 4: Prepare Your CV
Include your academic background and publication list.
Step 5: Contact Your Referees
Ask two scholars who are familiar with your academic work to provide recommendation letters.
Step 6: Combine Your Documents
The official call states that attached documents must be combined into one PDF, because the online submission form allows only one attachment. File names should use Latin characters only.
Step 7: Submit Online
Complete the online application before the deadline.
Applications sent by email will not be considered.
Application Deadline
The official application deadline is:
21 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST.
Applicants should submit several days before the deadline where possible, especially because recommendation letters must also be submitted by the recommenders.
The IWM states that applicants will be informed of the jury's decision by 30 November 2026.
Why Apply for the Digital Humanism Fellowship?
This fellowship can be particularly valuable for researchers working on the social consequences of artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
The programme offers three important advantages.
First, it provides dedicated research time away from many routine responsibilities.
Second, fellows become part of an international scholarly environment in Vienna.
Third, the fellowship provides an opportunity to develop research that connects technology with major societal questions such as democracy, inequality, social justice and human rights.
For researchers interested in AI governance, digital rights, technology policy or the political economy of digital transformation, the programme can provide an especially relevant academic environment.
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should demonstrate clear intellectual focus.
Avoid presenting technology as the subject of your research without explaining its broader human or societal implications.
Instead, show:
- What problem your research addresses
- Why the problem matters
- What existing research has established
- What gap your project addresses
- What methods you will use
- What you will accomplish in three months
- Why the IWM is the right environment for your project
Your motivation letter should also explain specifically why the IWM would benefit your research.
Do not use a generic scholarship motivation letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the fellowship open to all nationalities?
The official call does not impose a specific nationality restriction and is open across academic disciplines.
How long is the fellowship?
The fellowship lasts three consecutive months between February and June 2027.
How much is the stipend?
Postdoctoral candidates receive €3,300 per month, while current doctoral candidates receive €2,750 per month.
Is accommodation provided separately?
No. The official call states that fellows are responsible for accommodation and other living expenses from the stipend.
Can I apply by email?
No. Email applications will not be considered. Applications must be submitted through the official online application system.
What is the deadline?
The deadline is 21 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST.
When will applicants receive the results?
The IWM expects to notify applicants of the jury's decision by 30 November 2026.
🎓 Invest in Your Future
Master in-demand skills with expert-led courses on Programming, AI, Data Science, Business, Finance, Marketing, Design and thousands more.
🚀 Explore Udemy Courses✔ Learn at your own pace | ✔ Lifetime access | ✔ Certificates of completion
Official Application Link
Researchers interested in this opportunity should use the official IWM application page rather than relying on third-party application links.
Apply through the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM):
Conclusion
The Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027 in Vienna offers doctoral candidates and early-career postdoctoral researchers an opportunity to spend three months developing research at the Institute for Human Sciences.
With a monthly stipend of €2,750 for doctoral candidates and €3,300 for eligible postdoctoral researchers, the fellowship provides meaningful financial support alongside office space, research facilities and access to an international scholarly community.
The opportunity is particularly relevant to researchers examining how digitalization affects society, economics, politics, geopolitics, human rights and social well-being.
Applicants should remember that the programme is Digital Humanism, not simply Digital Humanities. Research that only uses digital tools to study traditional humanities topics may not meet the thematic requirements.
The application deadline is 21 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST, and all materials must be submitted online in English.
If your research explores the human and societal consequences of digital technology, this fellowship could provide an excellent environment to develop your work, build international academic connections and spend dedicated research time in Vienna.
Prepare your proposal carefully, contact your referees early and submit your application before the official deadline.
Good luck with your fellowship application!
Comments
Post a Comment