NIAS Fellowships

The Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study (NIAS) offers a wealth of fellowships:

• NIAS Fellowship: individual fellowships to scholars who wish to carry out independent research in the humanities and the social sciences.
• The new KB Fellowship allows researchers to explore topics related to the future role of public libraries and how they can remain sustainable as democratic institutions.
• Distinguished NIAS Lorentz Fellowship: for scholars bridging the humanities, social sciences and natural or technological sciences.
• Safe Haven Fellowship: for scholars, artists and journalists unable to work in their home countries due to conflict or war.
• Willem F. Duisenberg Fellowship: for researchers in the field of applied monetary economics, macro-economics or public finance.

Deadline: 16 March 2026 12:00 hrs.

NWO Rubicon 2026-1

Rubicon aims to encourage talented researchers who recently received their PhD to spend some time at research institutes outside of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to further their scientific career.

Deadline full proposal: 24 March 2026 14:00 hrs. (provisionally)

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/rubicon-2026-1

Lowlands Science Call 2026 open

Lowlands Science is the science programme of Lowlands, one of the largest and best-known festivals in the Netherlands. Lowlands, the Dutch National Research Agenda (NWA), BKB | Het Campagnebureau, New Scientist and the University of the Netherlands invite researchers from all knowledge institutions, colleges, universities, hospitals and other social partners to conduct research on 21, 22 and 23 August 2026.

Deadline: 27 March 2026

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/lowlands-science-call-2026-open

NWO SSH Open Competition XS 2026

This programme enables researchers who received their PhD in the social sciences and humanities at least five years ago to carry out innovative projects. This programme is explicitly about curiosity-driven, cutting-edge research and the ability to quickly analyse a promising idea. With a grant of up to €50,000, researchers will have the opportunity to lay the foundations for a new line of research. They can also carry out research to develop methods or set up a collaboration or network. Applications are made anonymously, so the evaluation is based solely on the research idea.

Deadline round 2: 7 April 2026 14:00 hrs

Deadline round 3: 15 September 2026 14:00 hrs

Information:

• https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/first-round-of-ssh-open-competition-2026-open-for-applications
• About the changes compared to the previous CfP: https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/expanded-target-group-for-ssh-open-competition-xs-2026

Gerda Henkel Foundation Research Grants

The Gerda Henkel Stiftung (Gerda Henkel Foundation) provides financial support for the historical humanities, including the history of law, through prizes, grants and fellowships. Depending on the type of project, costs are covered for personnel, travel, materials and/or other costs. Project staff on research projects may be covered via PhD or research scholarships. The maximum funding period is 24 months.

Deadline: There are biannual application windows. The first application deadline of 2026 is 28 May 2026.

Information: gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/en/general-research-grants-projects?page_id=32

NWO Hop-On Call for Proposals for Researchers Based in Ukraine 2025

The aim of the call is to stimulate online participation of qualified researchers in Ukraine in ongoing NWO projects and to extend their professional network in the Dutch research community. The project team from the ongoing NWO project can provide consulting, information, mentorship and/or other assistance to the individual Ukraine-based researcher.

Deadline: 23 June 2026 14:00 hrs.

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/nwo-hop-on-call-for-proposals-for-researchers-based-in-ukraine-2025

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions  – Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships will be provided to excellent researchers undertaking international mobility either to or between EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, as well as to non-associated Third Countries. Applications will be made jointly by the researcher and a beneficiary in the academic or non-academic sector. 

Deadline: 9 September 2026

Information: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/postdoctoral-fellowships

AUF Europe Institute Fund

The Europe Institute Fund provides financial support to (early-career) researchers working in European Union law or closely related fields, who have an affiliation with the University of Amsterdam.

Deadline: open continuously

Information:

• 2025 Fonds Europa Instituut - Aanvraagtekst
• https://www.auf.nl/en/about-the-fund/funds/europe-institute-fund/europe-institute-fund.html

IHS Humane Studies Fellowship

The Humane Studies Fellowship provides up to $10,000 to support PhD students completing major research projects, presenting their work at top conferences, and publishing their work in major journals.

Deadline: open continuously

Information: https://www.theihs.org/funding-opportunities/humane-studies-fellowship

Leonhard-Woltjer Foundation Small Grants

The Leonhard-Woltjer Foundation (Leonhard-Woltjer Stichting) initiates and supports scientific and cultural activities aimed at developing and disseminating knowledge about the Arab cultural area, Palestinian history and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Deadline: Applications can be submitted continuously

Information: https://leonhardwoltjer-stichting.nl

IHS Humane Studies Fellowship

Funding to support PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in humanities and social sciences disciplines to complete, present and publish their research projects, with a focus on career development.

Deadline: Applications can be submitted continuously

Information: https://www.theihs.org/funding-opportunities/humane-studies-fellowship

NIAS Theme Group Fellowships

A NIAS Theme Group is an (international) team of two to four researchers who collaborate on a specific research topic for five consecutive months. While each researcher pursues their own individual project, they also contribute to the team’s collective research efforts. Theme Groups are established either through an application process or may be initiated by the NIAS director.

Deadline: The Fellowship call (for the 2027–2028 academic year) is open from 15 January 2026 until 16 March 2026 12:00 hrs.

Information: https://nias.knaw.nl/fellowships/theme-group-fellowships

NWA Call 'Science for policy'

This NWA programme aims to contribute to improving the interaction between knowledge and policy. Improved interaction increases the likelihood of realising policy objectives, while enhancing both the legitimacy of implemented policies and trust in the government.

Deadline: 24 March 2026 14:00 hrs.

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/science-for-policy

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Choose Europe for Science

This programme aims to tackle academic brain drain and precarity of researchers' careers to make Europe more attractive to the most promising young talents. Academic and non-academic organisations will provide postdoctoral researchers with excellent working conditions and offer longer-term professional perspectives.

Deadline: 6 April 2027

Information: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/choose-europe-for-science

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – COFUND 

Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes (COFUND) supports new or existing doctoral programmes and postdoctoral fellowship schemes. The aim of the action is to spread the best practices of the MSCA including international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary research training, as well as international and cross-sectoral mobility of researchers at all stages of their career. 

Deadline: 8 April 2026

Information: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/cofund

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Staff Exchanges

The Staff Exchanges action funds short-term international and inter-sectoral exchanges of staff members involved in research and innovation activities of participating organisations. The aim is to develop sustainable collaborative projects between different organisations from the academic and non-academic sectors (in particular SMEs), based in Europe and beyond.

Deadline: 16 April 2026

Information: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/staff-exchanges

Horizon Europe: Research infrastructures

Funding under Horizon Europe for research and innovation to establish and reinforce the research infrastructure to ensure that research communities have the optimum environment to conduct research and deliver innovation. Research Infrastructures include research laboratories, scientific instrumentation and technologies, data resources, computational tools, and communication networks.

Deadline: 16 June 2026

Information: https://rea.ec.europa.eu/funding-and-grants/horizon-europe-research-infrastructures_en

Horizon Europe Research Infrastructures info day

Information event targeted at potential applicants to the 2026 calls of the Horizon Europe Research Infrastructures Work Programme 2026–2027.

When: 18 March 2026 10:00 hrs.

Information: https://research-innovation-community.ec.europa.eu/events/6SQR3HvhMJylzpu5xoL8XV/overvie

KIC Demand-driven Research by Consortia – S 2026

The aim of this programme is to stimulate demand-driven public-private partnerships that contribute to impact for the economy, people and planet. The focus is on the social challenges described in the mission-driven innovation policy of the Dutch government.

Deadline full proposal: 22 September 2026 14:00 hrs.

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/kic-demand-driven-research-by-consortia-s-2026

Dutch Research Agenda - Research along Routes by Consortia 2026 (NWA-ORC 2026)

In the annual ORC funding round, consortia can submit thematic proposals that provide a joint expression of the breadth and innovative character of the NWA. The funding round is aimed at facilitating research that leads to scientific and/or societal breakthroughs.

Deadline full proposal: 6 October 2026 14:00 hrs.

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/research-along-routes-by-consortia-2026

Webinar about the NWA call Research along Routes by Consortia 2026

On Friday 9 January 2026, NWO will be hosting an informative webinar from 11:00 to 12:15 hrs. on the annual grant instrument of the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA) Research along Routes by Consortia (ORC), focusing on the 2026 round.

When: 9 January 2026, 11:00-12:15 hrs.

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/meetings/webinar-about-the-nwa-call-research-along-routes-by-consortia-2026

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions  – Doctoral Networks 2026

MSCA Doctoral Networks will implement doctoral programmes, by partnerships of universities, research institutions and research infrastructures, businesses including SMEs, and other socio-economic actors from different countries across Europe and beyond.

Deadline: 24 November 2026

Information: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/doctoral-networks

IXA Learning Path Valorisation and Impact Spring 2026

IXA offers a learning path on valorisation and impact to inspire you and make you aware of the power of creating value and impact through your research, and how you can actually achieve that impact.

When:

Cohort 4
Module 1 – Thursday 12 March 2026 @ UvA Campus
Module 2 – Thursday 26 March 2026 @ UvA Campus – first workshop
Module 2 – Thursday 16 April 2026 @ UvA – second workshop

Cohort 5
Module 1 – Tuesday 12 May 2026 @ VU Campus
Module 2 – Tuesday 26 May 2026 @ VU Campus – first workshop
Module 2 – Tuesday 16 June 2026 @ VU Campus – second workshop

All workshops are from 9:30-12:30

Information and registration: Learning Path Valorisation and Impact, spring 2026

IXA Impact Program 2026

How do you increase your societal impact? What kind of strategy do you need? How do you present the story behind your research more clearly, with more emphasis on output and relevance? Who might be interested in your project or idea? And how do you approach media outlets, government agencies or companies? The Impact Program offers answers to all these questions and more. IXA developed the program for mid-career researchers of VU, Amsterdam UMC and UvA.

When:

• Dutch edition: March 2026-September 2026
• English edition: October 2026-March 2027

Information: IXA Impact Program 2026

Faculty of Impact 2026

The aim of the Faculty of Impact is to offer talented researchers in all disciplines the opportunity to combine entrepreneurship with science. These researchers should have an innovative idea that can potentially create an impact on society. This can be a tool to stimulate behavioural change, a technological innovation, a new business model, et cetera.

Deadline: 26 May 2026 14:00 hrs.

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/faculty-of-impact-2026

DeepNL Top-up Call: Opportunities for Integration and Impact

Researchers who have previously received funding in the DeepNL programme can submit applications for small projects that build on previous DeepNL projects. They are encouraged to take concrete steps towards integration, upscaling, application and/or outreach, to increase the scientific and societal impact of the programme.

Deadline full proposal: 22 September 2026 14:00 hrs.

Information: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/deepnl-top-up-call-opportunities-for-integration-and-impact

Online NWO workshops on impact

These workshops will help you to define the focus of your proposal and increase the chance that your research will have societal impact. You can decide for yourself when, where, with whom and how often you use them.

When: open continuously

Information: https://impact.nwo.nl/en

NWO Open Access Books

The aim of this funding instrument is to stimulate the Open Access publication of academic books that result from NWO funding by providing funds for the payment of Book Processing Charges. Open access means your book can be read, shared and cited digitally without readers having to buy it. Open access thus increases the chances of your work being widely read and having an impact. Open access publishing does not prevent a possible simultaneous publication of the printed book.

When: open continuously

Information: nwo.nl/en/calls/open-access-books

Horizon Results Booster – steering research towards a strong societal impact

Supported by the European Commission, Horizon Results Booster services are delivered to FP7, H2020, and HE projects at no cost. The free-of-charge services are provided by experts and cover several paths in Dissemination and Exploitation activities, notably Portfolio Dissemination and Exploitation, Business Plan Development, and Go to Market service. Receive expert free of charge support services to boost the exploitation potential of your research results, disseminate effectively, and go to market.

When: open continuously

Information: horizonresultsbooster.eu

IXA Learning Path Valorisation and Impact Spring 2026

IXA offers a learning path on valorisation and impact to inspire you and make you aware of the power of creating value and impact through your research, and how you can actually achieve that impact.

When:

Cohort 4
Module 1 – Thursday 12 March 2026 @ UvA Campus
Module 2 – Thursday 26 March 2026 @ UvA Campus – first workshop
Module 2 – Thursday 16 April 2026 @ UvA – second workshop

Cohort 5
Module 1 – Tuesday 12 May 2026 @ VU Campus
Module 2 – Tuesday 26 May 2026 @ VU Campus – first workshop
Module 2 – Tuesday 16 June 2026 @ VU Campus – second workshop

All workshops are from 9:30-12:30

Information and registration: Learning Path Valorisation and Impact, spring 2026

ERC Starting and Consolidator Grants Workshop

IXA organises an ERC Starting and Consildator Grants workshop to equip researchers with hands-on tools to write a successful proposal.

When: 21 May 2026 13:00 -17:00 hrs.

Information: https://grant-support.uva.nl/content/events/2026/05/erc-stg-cog-workshop-21-05-2026.html

'How to form an effective and enduring consortium'

Article on the NWO website: nwo.nl/en/cases/how-to-form-an-effective-and-enduring-consortium.