Interested in how universities are run, funded and reformed? Central European University (CEU) in Vienna is offering the Yehuda Elkana Fellowship 2027, a fully funded PhD for early-career scholars researching higher education policy. The fellowship covers four years of tuition and pays a monthly stipend of €2,002. Applications close on 15 January 2027.
Fellowship at a Glance
- Host: Central European University (CEU), Vienna, Austria
- Supported by: Yehuda Elkana Center for Teaching, Learning and Higher Education Research
- Level: PhD
- Duration: 48 months (generally four years)
- Funding: Full tuition waiver and a stipend of €2,002 per month (gross)
- Research focus: Higher education policy, broadly understood
- Deadline: 15 January 2027, 23:59 Central European Time
About the Fellowship
The fellowship honours Yehuda Elkana, CEU’s third President and Rector, who led the university from 1999 to 2009. It supports promising young researchers who want to study higher education. Possible topics include how universities are governed, how teaching and learning can improve, how institutions develop and how education systems change. Fellows join CEU’s Yehuda Elkana Center, which runs academic events, guest lectures and research support.
Benefits
- Tuition waiver for the full fellowship period
- Monthly stipend of €2,002 (gross, before taxes and deductions)
- Four years of funding for your doctoral studies
- Academic community: Access to events, guest speakers, networking and research development support from the Yehuda Elkana Center
- Two chances: Applicants are also automatically considered for CEU’s regular Doctoral Fellowship, which has the same terms
Eligibility
- You are an early-career scholar applying to a CEU doctoral programme.
- Your proposed research is on a topic related to higher education policy.
- You meet the admission requirements of the CEU doctoral programme you apply to.
Eligible doctoral programmes include Political Science, Public Policy and International Relations; Legal Studies; Sociology; History; Gender Studies; Data and Network Science; and others where a higher education policy topic fits.
No nationality restriction is stated, so international applicants, including those from Africa, are welcome.
Required Documents
- A complete CEU doctoral application for your chosen programme
- A research proposal on a higher education policy topic
- A Statement of Purpose that begins with this exact sentence: “Please consider this application for the Yehuda Elkana Fellowship.”
- Any other documents your doctoral programme requires, such as transcripts, references and English test scores
Tips for a Strong Application
- Don’t forget the opening sentence. Without it, your application may not be considered for the Elkana Fellowship.
- Choose the right programme. Pick the doctoral school whose methods best fit your research, for example public policy, sociology or legal studies.
- Use your context. African higher education offers rich research topics, such as university funding, access and equity, quality assurance or graduate employability.
- Contact the Elkana Center early with questions about fit and research topics.
How to Apply
- Choose the CEU doctoral programme that matches your research.
- Complete the regular CEU online doctoral application.
- Upload a research proposal on higher education policy.
- Start your Statement of Purpose with the required fellowship sentence.
- Submit by 15 January 2027, 23:59 CET.
Read the official Yehuda Elkana Fellowship call
Questions about the application go to CEU Admissions or your chosen department. Questions about the research and fellowship go to the Yehuda Elkana Center.
