About the University of Vienna
Founded in 1365, the University of Vienna is the oldest university in the German-speaking world and one of Europe’s largest and most prestigious research institutions. Home to more than 85,000 students from over 120 countries, it maintains a broad disciplinary reach spanning the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and life sciences. The University is renowned for its commitment to academic excellence and internationalism, offering an environment rich in tradition, innovation, and scholarly exchange
for the academic year 2026/27
The Vienna Center for Advanced Studies (ViCAS) invites applications for its Senior Fellowship Programme for the academic year 1 October 2026 to 30 June 2027. ViCAS is a new interdisciplinary center at the University of Vienna committed to supporting international and interdisciplinary cooperation, cutting-edge research in all fields, and to fostering dialogue across disciplines, generations, and intellectual traditions.
Founded in 1365, the University of Vienna is the oldest university in the German-speaking world and one of the largest research institutions in Europe. With around 85,000 students from over 120 countries and a vibrant academic community spanning the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and life sciences, the University offers a uniquely interdisciplinary and international environment. It is renowned for its commitment to excellent research and teaching across a broad spectrum of disciplines and serves as a hub for innovation and intellectual exchange at the heart of Europe.
We offer up to ten senior fellowships each year to established international scholars from all academic disciplines with an outstanding academic record and an interest in interdisciplinary engagement. Fellows are provided with a stipend of €7,000 per month, fully equipped workspaces in the heart of Vienna, and a lump sum of €1,500 per month to cover accommodation expenses. The allowance increases by € 500 per month for each accompanying child under the age of 18. Fellows are expected to reside in Vienna for the duration of the fellowship and to participate in the Center’s intellectual life.
About ViCAS Senior Fellowships
Each year, up to ten Senior Fellowships are awarded to internationally recognized scholars who hold, or have held, a professorial or equivalent senior academic position. Fellows are selected based on their outstanding academic record, the originality of their proposed research, and the potential of their work to enrich interdisciplinary dialogue within the ViCAS community and the broader University of Vienna academic network
Senior Fellows are expected to reside in Vienna for the full duration of the fellowship and participate actively in the intellectual life of the Center, including public lectures, workshops, and collaborative projects with faculty and students across disciplines. The program seeks to create a vibrant, inclusive space for scholarly engagement and exploration of global challenges through cross-disciplinary approaches.
Fellowship Support and Benefits
ViCAS Senior Fellows will receive:
- A monthly stipend of €7,000
- A monthly accommodation allowance of €1,500
- An additional €500 per month per accompanying child under the age of 18
- A fully equipped workspace at the ViCAS offices in central Vienna
- Full access to the University of Vienna’s academic resources, libraries, and research infrastructure
These benefits are designed to support uninterrupted research and active engagement with the ViCAS and University of Vienna communities.
Eligibility and selection
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Show an interest in engaging with a diverse academic community beyond their primary field of expertise
- Hold, or have previously held, a senior academic position, such as a full professorship or its equivalent
- Demonstrate a distinguished record of research and peer-reviewed publications
- Propose a research project that is original, feasible, and relevant to interdisciplinary scholarly dialogue
Application deadline: 1 September 2025
Please complete the following form and upload the requested documents as a single PDF file:
Selection Process
Applications are evaluated by a multidisciplinary selection committee. Key evaluation criteria include:
- Academic excellence and international recognition
- The innovative nature and intellectual merit of the proposed project
- The project’s potential to foster collaboration and stimulate cross-disciplinary exchange
- The candidate’s ability to contribute meaningfully to the intellectual life of ViCAS
Successful applicants will join a community of scholars committed to advancing knowledge, addressing complex societal issues, and building academic bridges across cultures and fields.
*) Please note
- The application system does not have a “save and continue later” function, so the form must be completed and submitted in one session. We therefore recommend preparing all required documents and information in advance before starting the online form.
- If you submit more than one application, only the last one will be considered for evaluation.
- Make sure that all uploaded documents are in PDF format and that file names follow a simple convention without spaces or special characters (e.g., Lastname_Firstname_CV.pdf or Lastname_Firstname_Publicatioin.pdf).
- All information has to be provided in English.
