Scholars at Risk (SAR) Academic Freedom Fellowships 2026/2027 for early-career researchers.

Application Deadline: May 29, 2026 (midnight, New York time).

Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 Scholars at Risk (SAR) Academic Freedom Fellowships. Scholars at Risk (SAR) is pleased to invite early-career researchers to apply for remote research fellowships focusing on academic freedom and related higher education values. The fellowship program is supported by the Mellon Foundation, among other donors, and is intended to foster a professional community of researchers dedicated to developing new research, formal written publications, new course offerings, workshops, webinars or other significant end products. 

Fellowship Tracks

Please apply for one of the two following tracks:

• Track 1: Global Mellon Academic Freedom Fellowship

  • Focus: Global, comparative, or single-country issues (excluding the US).

  • Availability: up to 6 fellowships.

• Track 2: US Academic Freedom Fellowship

  • Focus: Academic freedom issues specifically within the United States.

  • Availability: up to 6 fellowships.

Program Details

• Duration: 10 months (September 2026 – June 2027).

• Structure: Fellows will complete their proposed project while participating in monthly remote, online workshops to share progress and exchange peer feedback.

• Outputs: Fellows will each produce a significant end product (e.g., a formal publication, new course, or workshop). The cohort will also explore a collaborative joint output, such as a special journal edition, an edited volume or a SAR-produced collection.

Eligibility Criteria

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Fellowship application support

Pan-African networking

African development initiatives

Academic writing help

1. Academic & professional standing

• Education: PhD degree received within the last 8 years. In limited cases, doctoral candidates in the final stages of dissertation completion may be considered; please clearly state your current status .

• Affiliation: Current research or teaching affiliation with a higher education institution, association, or research organization.

• Focus: A demonstrated interest in teaching, researching, or publishing about issues of academic freedom or related higher education values.

2. Track-specific priorities 

• For track 1 (Global): Preference will be given to projects involving comparative, international, or collaborative research. All relevant topics are welcome for application.

Benefits

• Stipend: Fellows will receive a stipend of USD ~$8,000 intended to cover research expenses, publication, or other costs, as the fellow may decide.

• Networking: Participants will have the opportunity to gain exposure to SAR’s programming and to network with SAR partner-experts on academic freedom issues

Participation & logistics 

• Commitment to participate in monthly remote workshops/webinars with co-recipients, SAR staff, network members, and guests (with proper security accommodations) from September 2026 to June 2027, with final scheduling to be fixed after selection of participants. 

• Financial: Ability to lawfully receive stipend funds and complete program requirements in the country of current location, assuming responsibility for any local tax or reporting requirements.

• While personal experience with risk is not a selection requirement, current or formerly at-risk researchers are highly encouraged to apply. 

• Candidates in/from the Global South and/or from marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply.