Visiting Fellows

The United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS) offers professors, researchers and professionals with a relevant background the opportunity to spend a research period in Bruges. Visiting Fellows may conduct their own research on a topic related to the academic research programmes of the Institute, or contribute to the training and capacity-building initiatives linked to the broad area of global governance and/or regional integration.

Selection Criteria

Applications must include:

  • A project proposal;
  • A letter of intent;
  • A brief curriculum vitae.

The basic criteria for selection are:

  • Significance of the proposed research, including the importance and originality of the project;
  • Academic quality of the proposal in definition, organisation, clarity, and scope;
  • Relevance of the project to UNU-CRIS research activities and/or capacity-building programme and to the objectives of the United Nations.
  • The applicants must hold a PhD or have equivalent relevant professional experience. More junior applicants are encouraged to apply to our Internship Programme. 

UNU-CRIS particularly welcomes projects that hold relevance in terms of the aims and activities of the United Nations and policymaking or capacity-building in the area of regional integration, the provision of regional public goods, regionalism, and global institutions and governance.

Visiting Fellows' Responsibilities

Visiting Fellows are “fellows-in-residence” who participate in the activities of UNU-CRIS. They are expected to contribute to the research activities of the Institute and to take part in seminars, workshops, conferences and other events. Additionally, Visiting Fellows are expected to present their work at one of the research seminars bringing together researchers of the Institute and its partner institutions. Finally, they are expected to publish in the areas relevant to UNU-CRIS.

Modalities

Visiting Research Fellowships can be undertaken:

  • fully in-person at our premises in Bruges
  • fully virtual
  • in a hybrid format

Please outline your preferred modality in your letter of intent. 

Facilities and Services

Visiting Fellows are assigned office space, computer facilities and access to the libraries of UNU-CRIS, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Ghent University and the College of Europe. In addition, Bruges’ favourable location close to Brussels provides direct access to the seat of the European Union and other international organisations, as well as a number of universities and research centres based in the Belgian capital.

Although visiting researchers are required to arrange their own travel, housing and health insurance, UNU-CRIS will provide advice to help facilitate the search process. There is no stipend attached to the position of Visiting Fellow.

Visiting Fellows are welcome to stay at UNU-CRIS for a minimum period of three months up to one year.

Deadline for Application

Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Interested candidates are welcome to submit their application and research proposal at their earliest convenience to by email to Andrew Dunn (adunn@cris.unu.edu) with Pascale Vantorre (pvantorre@cris.unu.edu) in CC.

External Funding

Visiting Fellows are encouraged to search for external funding opportunities to conduct research at UNU-CRIS. You may find one of the funding schemes organized by the European Union through the ‘Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Research Fellowship Programme’ which supports researchers working on all disciplines, at all stages of their careers, regardless of age and nationality. To receive funding under this regime, a proposal has to be submitted to one of the open calls listed on the website.