Brief Information
SAR Academic Freedom Fellowships 2026 are now open for early-career researchers interested in academic freedom and higher education values. The program is offered by Scholars at Risk Network and includes remote workshops, research support, and a stipend of approximately USD 8,000.
Key Dates & Details
- Deadline: May 29, 2026, midnight New York time
- Program Duration: September 2026 – June 2027
- Location/Type: Remote / Online
- Funding: Approx. USD 8,000 stipend
- Organizer: Scholars at Risk Network
- Target Group: Early-career researchers, recent PhD holders, final-stage doctoral candidates
- Fellowship Tracks: Global Mellon Academic Freedom Fellowship and US Academic Freedom Fellowship
- Decisions Expected: Early July 2026
Table of Contents
Overview
The SAR Academic Freedom Fellowships 2026 support researchers who want to study, protect, and strengthen academic freedom worldwide. Fellows will complete a research project while joining monthly online workshops with SAR staff, peer researchers, network members, and invited experts.
The fellowship is designed for scholars who can produce a meaningful final output, such as a journal article, new course, webinar, workshop, podcast, conference presentation, or other academic resource. Participants will also explore the possibility of a collaborative cohort output, such as an edited collection or special journal issue.
There are two tracks. The Global Mellon Academic Freedom Fellowship focuses on global, comparative, international, or single-country academic freedom issues outside the United States. The US Academic Freedom Fellowship focuses specifically on academic freedom in the United States.
This opportunity is especially valuable for early-career researchers who want structured support, academic networking, and visibility within a global community committed to higher education values.
The SAR Academic Freedom Fellowships 2026 also provide an important platform for interdisciplinary collaboration and long-term academic engagement. Fellows will interact with researchers from different countries and institutional backgrounds, allowing participants to exchange ideas, compare academic freedom challenges across regions, and strengthen international research cooperation. Through workshops, peer feedback sessions, and networking opportunities, participants can expand their professional visibility while contributing to global discussions on higher education rights, institutional autonomy, freedom of expression, and protection of scholars in challenging environments.
Eligibility
Applicants for the SAR Academic Freedom Fellowships 2026 should generally meet the following criteria:
- Hold a PhD received within the last 8 years
- Final-stage doctoral candidates may be considered in limited cases
- Have a current research or teaching affiliation with a higher education institution, association, or research organization
- Demonstrate interest in academic freedom or related higher education values
- Be able to participate in monthly remote workshops from September 2026 to June 2027
- Be able to lawfully receive stipend funds in their current country of residence
Current or formerly at-risk researchers are strongly encouraged to apply. Candidates from the Global South and marginalized communities are also encouraged to submit applications.
Application Details
Applicants must submit one combined PDF file named in this format:
LAST NAME, First Name – Project Title
The PDF should include:
- Abstract of 250–500 words
- Research plan and timeline, maximum 2 pages
- CV, maximum 2 pages
- Contact details of two professional references
The abstract should explain the research question, relevance to academic freedom, methodology, and expected contribution. Applicants must also answer online short-answer questions about the final product, target audience, dissemination plan, security risks, and project assessment.
FAQ
1. Is the fellowship fully remote?
Yes. The program is remote and includes monthly online workshops.
2. How much funding is available?
Selected fellows receive approximately USD 8,000 to support research, publication, or related project costs.
3. Can final-stage PhD candidates apply?
Yes, in limited cases. Applicants should clearly mention their expected completion status.
4. What is the deadline?
The deadline is May 29, 2026, midnight New York time.
Official Link
Apply and read the official announcement here:
https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/2026/04/call-for-applications-2026-27-scholars-at-risk-sar-academic-freedom-fellowships/
Helpful external resource:
https://mellon.org/
Visit More Opportunities – oppotify.com:
https://oppotify.com
