The Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027 is now accepting applications from doctoral researchers and recent PhD graduates interested in studying how digitalisation and technology are changing society, politics, economics and human life.
The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna, Austria, offers the fellowship and is open to applicants from different academic disciplines. Selected fellows will spend three consecutive months at the IWM in Vienna between February and June 2027, where they will work on their research projects and participate in the Institute’s academic community.
The fellowship provides a monthly stipend of €2,750 for doctoral candidates and €3,300 for eligible postdoctoral candidates. The application deadline is September 21, 2026, at 23:59 CEST.
Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027: Quick Overview
| Fellowship | Details |
| Host | Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) |
| Location | Vienna, Austria |
| Fellowship | Digital Humanism Junior Visiting Fellowship |
| Academic Year | 2026–2027 |
| Duration | 3 consecutive months |
| Fellowship Period | February–June 2027 |
| Doctoral Stipend | €2,750 per month |
| Postdoctoral Stipend | €3,300 per month |
| Eligible Applicants | PhD candidates and recent PhD graduates |
| Academic Disciplines | All academic disciplines |
| Application Language | English |
| Deadline | September 21, 2026, 23:59 CEST |
| Selection Notification | By November 30, 2026 |
| Application Method | Online |
| Official Application | Apply for the Digital Humanism Fellowship |
What Is the Digital Humanism Fellowship?
The Digital Humanism Fellowship is part of the Digital Humanism Program at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM).
The program examines the relationship between technology and human society. Rather than focusing simply on how digital tools can be used in humanities research, the fellowship is interested in research that examines the broader consequences of digitalization.
This can include questions surrounding technology, democracy, governance, inequality, social justice, digital transformation and the impact of technology on human rights.
The IWM states that the program encourages collaboration across disciplines, including computer science, humanities and social sciences, because the challenges created by digitalization cannot be addressed from one academic field alone.
Importantly, applicants should understand the difference between Digital Humanism and Digital Humanities.
This fellowship is not intended simply for researchers who use digital tools to conduct humanities research. The proposed research should instead investigate how digitalization intersects with societal, economic, geopolitical or other important human and social questions.
Who Can Apply for the Digital Humanism Fellowship?
The fellowship is designed specifically for researchers at the doctoral and early postdoctoral stages.
To be eligible, applicants must meet one of the following conditions:
- Be currently enrolled in a doctoral program; or
- Have obtained a PhD no more than four years before the application deadline.
For the 2026–2027 call, applicants must not have obtained their PhD before September 21, 2022.
The call is open across academic disciplines. However, the proposed research must fit the intellectual focus of the Digital Humanism program.
Applicants should therefore demonstrate a clear connection between their research and the social, political, economic or human implications of digitalization.
What Does the Fellowship Cover?
One of the major benefits of the Digital Humanism Fellowship is its monthly financial support.
Doctoral candidates
Researchers who are still pursuing their doctoral degrees receive:
€2,750 per month
Postdoctoral candidates
Applicants who have defended their PhD by the application deadline receive:
€3,300 per month
The stipend is intended to support the fellow during the research stay in Vienna.
However, applicants should understand that the stipend is not an all-expenses-paid package.
The fellow is responsible for using the stipend to cover expenses such as:
- Travel to and from Vienna
- Accommodation
- Health insurance
- Utilities
- Local transportation
- Telecommunications
- Research-related expenses
- Literature
- Conference fees
- Other living costs
Therefore, applicants should carefully plan their finances before accepting the fellowship.
Where Will Fellows Conduct Their Research?
Successful applicants will spend three consecutive months at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna, Austria, sometime between February and June 2027.
The fellowship period will also overlap with the presence of the Senior Digital Humanism Visiting Fellow.
During their stay, fellows become part of the IWM’s academic community.
The Institute provides fellows with:
- Office space
- Internet access
- In-house research facilities
- Administrative services
- Access to the Institute’s academic community
- Opportunities to participate in IWM activities
These facilities are provided free of charge.
What Kind of Research Does the Fellowship Support?
The Digital Humanism program is particularly interested in research examining the effects and possibilities of digital transformation.
The IWM identifies three major areas for its Digital Humanism calls from 2026:
- Democracy and governance
- Inequality and social justice
- Opportunities and potential of digital transformation
This means applicants should think beyond technology itself.
A strong proposal could examine questions such as how artificial intelligence affects democratic institutions, how algorithms influence inequality, how digital surveillance affects human rights, or how technological change is transforming political and social systems.
The central issue is the relationship between technological development and human society.
Digital Humanism vs Digital Humanities
This distinction is particularly important for applicants.
The Digital Humanism Fellowship is not simply a fellowship for researchers who use technology in humanities research.
For example, merely using artificial intelligence, digital archives, data analysis software or another digital tool to conduct a traditional humanities project may not fit the fellowship.
Instead, the research should investigate the relationship between digitalization and society.
Applicants should therefore explain why their research is a Digital Humanism project, rather than simply describing the digital tools they intend to use.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit their applications through the official online application system.
Applications sent by email will not be considered.
The application requires several documents.
-
Motivation Letter
Applicants must provide a brief letter explaining:
- Why they want to undertake the fellowship
- How time at the IWM would benefit their project
- How their research connects with the IWM’s mission and research
- What specific research or writing goals they intend to achieve during the fellowship
-
Project Description
Applicants must provide a short project description of no more than 550 characters, including spaces.
This means applicants need to explain their research idea clearly and concisely.
-
Project Proposal
The main project proposal can contain a maximum of 7,500 characters, including spaces.
It should cover:
- The objectives of the research project
- The current state of research
- Research methods
- A work plan
Applicants should pay close attention to the character limits because the application instructions specify characters, including spaces, rather than a conventional word count.
-
Curriculum Vitae
Applicants must submit a CV that includes their publication list.
For an academic fellowship, applicants should make their research experience, publications and academic background easy for the selection jury to identify.
-
Two Recommendation Letters
Applicants need two letters of recommendation from scholars familiar with their academic work.
The recommendation letters are submitted directly by the referees.
After the applicant submits the application, the recommenders receive an automatic email containing a link to an online form.
Applicants should therefore contact their recommenders early rather than waiting until the final day.
Important PDF Requirement
- There is an important technical requirement that applicants should not overlook.
- All attached application documents must be combined into one PDF file, because the online application form allows only one attachment.
- The IWM also states that file names must use Latin characters only.
- All application materials must be submitted in English.
Digital Humanism Fellowship Deadline 2026
The application deadline for the Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027 is:
September 21, 2026, at 23:59 CEST.
The IWM’s current Open Calls page confirms that the fellowship remains listed as an open call with this deadline.
Applicants should not wait until the final hours to submit their applications, particularly because recommendation letters must also reach the IWM before the deadline.
When Will Applicants Be Notified?
A jury of experts will assess applications that satisfy the formal and thematic requirements.
Finalists will be selected based on the evaluation process.
According to the current call, applicants will receive notification of the jury’s decision by email no later than November 30, 2026.
The jury is not required to publicly explain its decisions or provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
How to Apply for the Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027
Applicants should follow these steps:
Step 1: Check your eligibility
Confirm that you are either currently enrolled in a doctoral program or obtained your PhD no earlier than September 21, 2022.
Step 2: Develop a suitable research project
Your project should examine the relationship between digitalization and society rather than simply use digital technology as a research tool.
Step 3: Prepare your application documents
Prepare your motivation letter, 550-character project description, 7,500-character project proposal, CV and publication list.
Step 4: Contact your referees
Arrange for two scholars who know your academic work to provide recommendation letters.
Step 5: Combine your documents
Put the required attachments into one PDF, following the IWM’s instructions.
Step 6: Submit online
Complete the official online application before September 21, 2026, at 23:59 CEST.
The official application page is:
Digital Humanism Fellowship — Official Application
Can International Students Apply?
The call does not restrict the fellowship to Austrian applicants. The program is designed as an international academic fellowship at the IWM in Vienna.
Therefore, researchers outside Austria should review the eligibility requirements and apply if their academic status and research project meet the requirements.
The key issue is not simply nationality. Applicants must meet the doctoral or recent-PhD requirement and propose research that fits the Digital Humanism program.
Important Things Applicants Should Know
Before applying, keep these points in mind:
- The fellowship is not a fully funded scholarship in the traditional sense. The monthly stipend is substantial, but fellows must use it to cover travel, accommodation, insurance, living and research expenses.
- Your project matters. A proposal that only uses digital technology to conduct conventional humanities research may not fit the program.
- The research must have a strong human and societal dimension. Digitalization, democracy, governance, inequality, social justice and technological transformation are particularly relevant areas.
- Recommendation letters have a separate submission process. Your referees must submit their letters before the deadline.
- There is only one attachment field. Make sure all required documents are combined into a single PDF.
- Previous IWM fellows have a waiting period. Anyone who has previously received an IWM fellowship must wait three academic years before applying for another fellowship.
Applicants cannot submit multiple fellowship applications during the same academic year.
FAQs
What is the Digital Humanism Fellowship?
It is a research fellowship offered through the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna for doctoral researchers and recent PhD graduates working on research related to digitalization and its impact on society, politics, economics and human life.
How much does the Digital Humanism Fellowship pay?
Doctoral candidates receive €2,750 per month, while eligible postdoctoral candidates receive €3,300 per month.
When is the Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026 deadline?
The deadline is September 21, 2026, at 23:59 CEST.
Where is the Digital Humanism Fellowship held?
Selected fellows spend three consecutive months at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna, Austria, between February and June 2027.
Who is eligible for the fellowship?
Applicants must either be enrolled in a doctoral program or have obtained a PhD no more than four years before the application deadline. For this call, the PhD must not have been obtained before September 21, 2022.
Can PhD students apply?
Yes. Applicants currently pursuing doctoral degrees can apply and, if selected, receive the €2,750 monthly stipend.
Can recent PhD graduates apply?
Yes. Applicants who defended their PhD by the application deadline and meet the four-year eligibility requirement can apply for the postdoctoral fellowship category.
Is the Digital Humanism Fellowship fully funded?
It is more accurate to describe it as a stipend-supported visiting fellowship rather than a fully funded scholarship. The IWM provides a monthly stipend, office space, internet access, research facilities and administrative services, but fellows are responsible for travel, accommodation, insurance, living and research expenses from their stipend.
Where can I apply?
Applications must be submitted through the official IWM online application system.
Apply for the Digital Humanism Fellowship 2026–2027
CHECK THESE OUT:
United Nations Nippon Foundation Fellowship 2026 (Fully Funded)
Copyright Agency Fellowship for Non-Fiction Writing 2026: $80,000 Grant, Eligibility, Deadline…
AAUW American Doctoral Fellowship 2026–2027: Complete Guide for Women in Doctoral…
OHCHR Indigenous Fellowship Program 2027 (Fully Funded in Geneva)