%20rotate(-89.84)'/%3e%3cpolygon%20class='cls-1'%20points='1227.2%20245.36%201023.42%20216.96%20821.21%20114.82%20826.59%20104.17%201027.03%20205.42%201228.85%20233.54%201227.2%20245.36'/%3e%3ccircle%20class='cls-4'%20cx='1026.35'%20cy='211.19'%20r='80.69'/%3e%3ccircle%20class='cls-2'%20cx='1025.22'%20cy='441.13'%20r='50.31'/%3e%3ccircle%20class='cls-2'%20cx='1228.03'%20cy='239.45'%20r='50.31'/%3e%3ccircle%20class='cls-2'%20cx='1026.35'%20cy='37'%20r='37'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3ccircle%20class='cls-2'%20cx='823.9'%20cy='109.49'%20r='37'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
We are now only accepting applications for the year 2026. We are no longer accepting applications for the year 2025.
The cooperation project “Forced Migration and Refugee Studies: Networking and Knowledge Transfer” (FFVT) aims to strengthen interdisciplinary forced migration and refugee research in Germany. FFVT connects academic research and knowledge transfer on forced migration and refugee issues with related fields such as migration, development, conflict and violence, climate change, health, governance, human rights, and others.
FFVT is a joint initiative by the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (bicc), the Centre for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg (CHREN), and the Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies at the University of Osnabrück (IMIS). It is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).
To promote international networking in this field, FFVT offers a fellowship programme for international researchers working on issues related to forced migration and refugee studies. The fellowships support guest stays at the FFVT partner institutions bicc and IMIS.
Fellowship Goals and Content
The fellowships support the implementation, further development, or conceptualisation of an individual research or knowledge transfer project, conducted in collaboration with the host institutions. BICC and IMIS provide on-site infrastructure and academic support throughout the fellowship stay.
Possible thematic areas include, but are not limited to:
(Im)mobility
Global standards of refugee protection
Postcolonial perspectives
Data production and representation
Refugee voices
Biases in forced migration research
Research ethics
Categorizations
Global governance and externalisation
Climate change and forced displacement
Impacts and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic
Target Group
The programme is aimed at international researchers working in academic or practice-oriented institutions in the field of forced migration and refugee studies. Applications are welcome from:
Senior researchers
Postdoctoral researchers
Doctoral candidates / junior researchers
What the Fellowship Offers
An interdisciplinary research environment at renowned academic institutions
Opportunities to develop, discuss, and implement individual research and/or knowledge transfer projects
Participation in FFVT activities such as workshops, panel discussions, and summer schools
Integration into the FFVT and FFVT alumni networks
Opportunities for collaboration on joint project proposals and publications
Please note: At present, fellowships are offered exclusively at bicc and IMIS. The fellowship covers accommodation, per diem, and travel expenses.
Application
Applicants are asked to outline how their research or knowledge transfer project aligns with the aims of the FFVT initiative or contributes to the research and transfer priorities of the participating institutions. Expected outputs, such as lectures, teaching contributions, or the joint development of proposals, can be specified in the application.
We particularly encourage applications that:
Are relevant to the field of forced migration and refugee studies beyond the applicant’s own project
Address fundamental questions in the field
Apply reflexive and innovative methodological or theoretical approaches
Application Procedure
Applications must be submitted in English as a single PDF file via email to fellowships@ffvt.net.
The application should include the following documents:
Motivation letter (2–4 pages):
Brief description of the current project, preferred period of stay (plus an alternative period), choice of FFVT institution with reasoning, and full contact details
Project outline (4–6 pages including references):
Description of the project to be developed or carried out during the fellowship stay, its relevance to the FFVT framework, and a proposed timeline
Academic CV including a list of key relevant publications
General questions on FFVT-fellowships can be addressed to: fellowships@ffvt.net
Host institute-specific questions can be addressed to
BICC: Maarit Thiem, maarit.thiem@bicc.de
IMIS: Franck Düvell, franck.duvell@uni-osnabrueck.de
Data Protection Disclaimer
The personal data submitted during the application process will be stored for the purpose of awarding the fellowship in accordance with the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (EU-GDPR) and deleted at the latest six months after the end of the selection process. Personal data collected, stored and processed include name, address, professional-biographical data (CV, certificates). Only the project staff responsible for selecting the fellows at the four project institutions (BICC, CHREN, IDOS, IMIS) have access to the confidential data. The data will not be passed on to third parties. In the event of selection and acceptance of the fellowship, the necessary data will be used for the administrative implementation of the fellowship and subsequently deleted. Applicants have all rights provided in Art. 13 EU-GDPR including the right to request from the controller access to and rectification or erasure of personal data or restriction of processing concerning the data subject or to object to processing as well as the right to data portability. Therefore, applicants may contact ffvt@uos.de. Responsibilities are shared according to Art. 26 GDPR (Joint Controller). The data protection officer responsible can be contacted at datenschutzbeauftragter@uni-osnabrueck.de.