The Centre for Applied Turkey Studies (CATS) at Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) is inviting applications for the CATS Fellowships 2026–2027 in Germany. This prestigious fellowship is designed for post-doctoral researchers, think tank experts, practitioners, and advanced PhD researchers working on Turkey-related issues. Hosted in Berlin, the fellowship offers scholars an opportunity to conduct policy-relevant research while collaborating with leading experts at CATS and SWP.
The fellowship duration ranges from six to twelve months, beginning in September 2026, and selected fellows will receive a monthly stipend of €3,000, along with research travel funding and additional family support for fellows accompanied by children.
Scholarship Overview
- Fully Funded
- Germany Universities
- Fellowship
- Climate Change, energy transition, Turkish Studies, Digitalization, applied artificial intelligence
- International Students
- Germany
Degree Level
The CATS Fellowships 2026–2027 are available for:
- Postdoctoral researchers
- PhD researchers with a strong publication record
- Think tank researchers
- Policy practitioners
Available Subjects
Applicants may submit proposals in the following research areas:
- Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence
- Critical Raw Materials
- Energy Transition and Climate Change
- Turkish Foreign and Security Policy
These themes focus on the evolving domestic and international dynamics of Turkey and their implications for Europe.
Benefits
Selected fellows will receive the following benefits:
- Monthly grant of €3,000
- Budget for research trips
- Travel costs to and from Berlin covered
- Additional support for fellows accompanied by children
- Collaboration opportunities with CATS and SWP researchers
- Publication opportunities in peer-reviewed CATS and SWP outputs
This fellowship provides not only financial support but also access to an influential research and policy network in Europe.
Eligible Nationalities
The fellowship is open to all nationalities. Researchers from around the world with expertise in Turkey-related political, economic, technological, or environmental issues are encouraged to apply.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
- Academic and professional merit
- Relevance to the fellowship themes
- Feasibility and coherence of the research project
- Public outreach value
Preference may be given to applicants who have not previously received CATS funding.
Application Procedure
Applicants must submit one PDF file in English or German containing the following documents:
- Cover Letter
- Research Proposal (maximum five pages), including:
- Research topic overview
- Research questions/objectives
- Academic and policy relevance
- Literature overview
- Theoretical and methodological framework
- Bibliography
- Curriculum Vitae, including publications
- Relevant academic transcripts and diplomas
Applications must be emailed as a single PDF to:
CATSapplication@swp-berlin.org
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for the CATS Fellowships 2026–2027 is:
30 April 2026
Incomplete applications will not be considered.