About this opportunity
Some research is better done in company. The Maria Sibylla Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa, known as MIASA, is offering up to five individual residential fellowships for the 2027/2028 academic year, each lasting between three and six months at the University of Ghana's Legon campus in Accra.
MIASA is dedicated to research in the humanities and social sciences under the broad theme of sustainable governance, understood as the interplay of informal and formal rules for steering public affairs. Its main research axes are sustainable peace, sustainable democracy and sustainability transformation, and it also welcomes work on adjacent themes such as landownership and acquisition, migration and mobility, the restitution of colonially acquired cultural objects, African cities and human rights.
These fellowships suit a scholar who already has the project and needs uninterrupted time and a serious intellectual community to write it up. Projects can be at conceptual stage, mid term, or in the final phase of analysing data and writing up findings. The call is open to junior and senior scholars from any country, provided the doctoral degree was awarded at least three months before the fellowship begins.
Benefits and support
A funded residential stay of three to six months on the Legon campus in Accra, with office space provided by the institute.
Salary or teaching substitution costs met by MIASA for every full fellowship month and paid directly to the home institution, up to 6925 EUR per month, or an individual grant of the same maximum where that is not possible.
An individual monthly grant for fellows without employment, with a possible post adjustment to a minimum fellowship amount on a case by case justification.
An accommodation allowance of up to 1500 EUR per month for fellows coming from outside Accra, reimbursement of travel costs at the beginning and end of the fellowship, and a family allowance for fellows who travel with family members.
Networking and collaboration with leading researchers from Germany, Ghana, other parts of Africa and Europe, inside the lively research environment of the University of Ghana.
Eligibility
Scholars at both junior and senior levels who have been awarded their doctoral degree at least three months before the start of the fellowship.
Applicants working in the humanities and social sciences on topics connected to MIASA's thematic research areas.
Applications are accepted in English and French.
Eligibility
The fellowship is residential and requires full time presence at MIASA for the entire period. Periods of leave need advance approval from the MIASA directors and must not exceed one sixth of the fellowship duration.
Starting dates are handled flexibly. The earliest possible start is 1 September 2027 and the latest possible end is 31 August 2028.
Fellowships are offered with the proviso that the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space grants continued funding for MIASA from September 2027 until February 2030.
Documents to prepare
A front page of maximum one page carrying the applicant's title and name, email address, link to webpage, date of doctorate, current position and affiliation with institution and business address, research field, project title, a 150 word abstract, preferred dates for the fellowship, and the two most important reasons for applying for a residential fellowship at MIASA.
A project proposal of maximum five pages with a project title of up to 50 characters, the 150 word abstract, aims, theoretical framework and methodology, a work and time plan, the innovative potential, originality and relevance of the project, and the added value of conducting the research at MIASA and the University of Ghana.
Bibliographical references of maximum one page, in addition to the five pages of the proposal.
A curriculum vitae in tabular form of maximum two pages.
A publication list of maximum two pages highlighting the most important publications.
All documents must be submitted as PDF and uploaded separately. The formatting requirements are Arial, 11 pt, line spacing 1.5 and all margins at 2.5 cm, and page limits may not be exceeded. No cover letter is required, but a front page is.
Application steps
Prepare the front page, project proposal, bibliographical references, curriculum vitae and publication list as separate PDF files in the required format.
Open the MIASA application platform at https://mobility.frias.uni-freiburg.de/mobility/BewerbungServlet?identifier=FRIAS&kz_bew_pers=L&kz_bew_art=IN&aust_prog=MIASAone&sprache=en and upload the documents there.
Submit before the closing moment of 15 October 2026 at 23:59 UTC. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
After submission, applicants receive an acknowledgement of receipt with contact details and a copy of the submitted documents.
For further information, write to miasa@act.uni-freiburg.de.
Selection process
The fellow selection is made by MIASA's international Academic Advisory Board through a strictly merit based process that awards the fellowships to researchers of top academic quality working on an innovative and high quality topic. The all important selection criteria are the academic excellence of the applicant and the fellowship proposal.
MIASA is also committed to gender balance. Applications should indicate how the research project contributes to activities at MIASA and, more broadly, to academic life on the Legon campus.
Successful candidates will be informed in March 2027.
Application timeline
15 October 2026 at 23:59 UTC.
What you receive
- A funded residential research stay of three to six months at MIASA on the University of Ghana, Legon campus in Accra
- Salary or teaching substitution costs covered for every full fellowship month, up to 6925 EUR per month, paid to the home institution
- An individual monthly grant for fellows without employment, and a possible post adjustment to a minimum fellowship amount on a case by case justification
- Accommodation allowance of up to 1500 EUR per month for fellows coming from outside Accra
- Travel costs reimbursed at the beginning and the end of the fellowship, with a family allowance available for fellows who travel with family members
- Office space on the Legon campus and a place in an international research community spanning Germany, Ghana, other parts of Africa and Europe
Who can apply
- Open to scholars at both junior and senior levels
- A doctoral degree awarded at least three months before the start of the fellowship
- A research project connected to MIASA's thematic areas, with sustainable governance as the overarching theme
- Applications are accepted in English and French
- Fellowships run between the earliest start date of 1 September 2027 and the latest end date of 31 August 2028
Who should not apply
- Data collection cannot be the main purpose of a MIASA fellowship
- Incomplete or late applications are not considered
- A cover letter is not accepted in place of the required front page
Documents to prepare
- Front page with general information on the applicant, maximum 1 page, covering title and name, email address, link to webpage, date of doctorate, current position and affiliation with institution and address, research field, project title, a 150 word abstract, preferred dates, and the two most important reasons for applying
- Project proposal of maximum 5 pages covering project title of up to 50 characters, a 150 word abstract, aims, theoretical framework and methodology, a work and time plan, innovative potential and originality, and the added value of conducting the research at MIASA and the University of Ghana
- Bibliographical references of maximum 1 page, in addition to the 5 pages of the proposal
- Curriculum vitae in tabular form of maximum 2 pages
- Publication list of maximum 2 pages highlighting the most important publications
How to apply
- Prepare the front page, project proposal, bibliographical references, curriculum vitae and publication list as separate PDF files
- Follow the formal requirements: Arial font, 11 pt, line spacing 1.5, all margins 2.5 cm, and stay within the page limits
- Open the MIASA application platform at https://mobility.frias.uni-freiburg.de/mobility/BewerbungServlet?identifier=FRIAS&kz_bew_pers=L&kz_bew_art=IN&aust_prog=MIASAone&sprache=en
- Upload all four documents separately on the platform and submit before 15 October 2026, 23:59 UTC
- Keep the acknowledgement of receipt that is sent after submission, since it carries the contact details and a copy of the submitted documents
Selection process
- The fellow selection is made by MIASA's international Academic Advisory Board
- The process is strictly merit based, and the all important criteria are the academic excellence of the applicant and the quality and originality of the fellowship proposal
- Applications should indicate how the project contributes to activities at MIASA and to academic life on the Legon campus
- MIASA is committed to gender balance and to reducing asymmetries in knowledge production
- Successful candidates are informed in March 2027
Sources and verification
- Official source , Discovered by the opportunity automation module.
Questions applicants ask
How long is the fellowship and when can it start?
Individual fellowships run for a minimum of three and a maximum of six months. Starting dates are handled flexibly, with the earliest possible start on 1 September 2027 and the latest possible end on 31 August 2028.
Do fellows have to be present in Accra?
Yes. MIASA fellowships are residential and require full time presence at the institute on the University of Ghana, Legon campus. Periods of leave must be approved in advance by the MIASA directors and may not exceed one sixth of the fellowship duration.
Is there a contact for further information?
Yes, MIASA invites questions at miasa@act.uni-freiburg.de.
Important disclaimer
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