Call for Academy of International Affairs NRW Fellowship 2027-2028 is open now!!!
The Academy of International Affairs North Rhine-Westphalia (AIA NRW) invites outstanding scholars (post-doc level and upwards) and practitioners from politics, diplomacy, media, business, and civil society to apply for fellowships with a duration between three and ten months at AIA NRW in Bonn.
They welcome innovative project proposals (in English) for individual or tandem projects in one of two main areas:
- Track A (Open Focus): Pressing issues in the general field of International Politics.
- Track B (Annual Focus Topic): Comprehensive Security for a Changing World. Building Strategic and Technological Resilience.
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Located in Bonn, UN-City and one of Germany’s key centers for international cooperation and global governance, AIA NRW provides a professional platform and a unique environment that fosters dynamic, vibrant exchange in an international and interdisciplinary setting. Europe is entering a period of profound geopolitical transformation. The return of interstate war on the European continent, growing geopolitical and geoeconomic competition, pressures on global supply chains and energy systems, and the erosion of long-standing political partnerships are reshaping the foundations of international order. In this context, questions of security, resilience, and strategic capacity have moved to the centre of political debate across Europe. At the same time, the understanding of security itself is expanding. Security today encompasses defence, but also the resilience of democratic institutions and societies, the protection of critical infrastructures, the governance of emerging technologies, and the capacity of states to respond to complex and interconnected risks. These developments have renewed attention to the concept of comprehensive security, an approach that seeks to integrate political, economic, technological, and societal dimensions of security policy. The multidimensional nature of contemporary threats requires new forms of strategic thinking and institutional cooperation. Strengthening resilience and collective capabilities increasingly involves coordinated efforts across policy domains and governance levels. These debates resonate with broader calls for strategic renewal in European security policy, including the Zeitenwende announced by the German government, which aims to strengthen Europe’s ability to act and to reinforce a more resilient European and international security architecture.
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Project Proposals
We are interested in innovative projects that focus on issues within the broader field of international politics or that address matters of “Comprehensive Security for a Changing World. Building Strategic and Technological Resilience“.
Europe is facing a major geopolitical shift marked by open conflicts, rising global competition, and weakening alliances, which has brought security and resilience to the forefront of political debate. Today, security is understood broadly, encompassing not only defence but also democratic stability, critical infrastructure, technological governance, and economic resilience. Addressing these complex, interconnected challenges requires new strategic thinking and closer cooperation, as exemplified by initiatives like Germany’s Zeitenwende.
In this context, the fellowship programme brings together scholars and practitioners from diverse fields to explore how comprehensive security approaches can inform more integrated strategies. It welcomes projects on topics such as defence and security cooperation, governance frameworks, emerging technologies, supply-chain security, and the resilience of democratic societies, as well as analytical methods like strategic foresight and risk analysis, drawing on expertise from a wide range of disciplines in international security and resilience.
Fellows are expected to reside in Bonn during their fellowship, i.e. with no longer absences during the time of their fellowship. A regular attendance of research formats and colloquia, participation in events and willingness to contribute to the publication series are further requirements. Interest in societal transfer activities and social media engagement is also welcome.
This call pertains to fellowships in the period between April 2027 and March 2028.
Benefits
- The Academy is situated in a historical building in the picturesque Bad Godesberg, only a few minutes’ walk from the riverbanks of the Rhine.
- The Academy offers meeting rooms, social spaces and community kitchens where fellows can meet during the day and for social events.
- Each fellow can expect a fully equipped workplace in a single or shared office. Financial compensation can take the form of stipends, buyouts and teaching replacements and generally reflects the financial situation at the home institution and/or the costs incurred by living in Germany.
- The Academy also covers the costs of travel to and from Bonn and provides accommodation while in residence.
- The Academy’s working language is English.
Eligibilities
- The fellowship programme of the Academy is aimed at outstanding and dedicated scholars and practitioners of all nationalities.
- For the academic track, applications from all disciplines that contribute to debates in the broader context of international politics are welcomed.
- Scholars from postdoc levels onwards (i.e. PhD finalised upon application) are eligible to apply to the academic track.
- The practitioner‘s track invites applications from experts with professional experience in the fields of politics, diplomacy, business, NGOs or the media.
- The fellowship programme offers a unique exchange between research and practice and builds on a mutual openness to engage.
Application Process
Apply directly using the “Apply Now” link and follow the following steps
i. Applicants need to submit (a) form for applicants (see below) and (b) the following documents compiled in one PDF:
(1) a letter of motivation;
(2) a proposal of their envisaged academic project at AIA NRW (max. 5 pages including an abstract; including guiding (research) questions, a brief summary of the state of research in the respective field, a specific work plan/timetable and targeted outputs as well as the expected added value of the stay in Bonn in the particular environment of AIA NRW);
(3) a short CV (max. 2 pages).
ii. Additionally for the academic track:
(4) certified documentation of their PhD certificate;
(5) a complete list of publications, and
(6) electronic copies of 2-3 recent (journal) publications (in English).
Application Deadline: May 17, 2026 (13 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
