The renowned Oszkár Sárkány Fellowship Grant 2025/2026 is currently accepting applications. This scholarship, which honors Oszkár Sárkány (1912–1943), a Hungarian Bohemian and cultural historian renowned for his commitment to inclusive cultural history and defiance of authoritarianism, provides support to outstanding scholars in the social sciences and humanities.
The program, a collaborative effort between the French Research Center in Humanities and Social Sciences (CEFRES), the Paris Institute for Advanced Study (Paris IEA), and the Central European University Institute for Advanced Study (CEU IAS), promotes academic exchange between Budapest and Paris and encourages cooperative research and discussion on important issues in Central-Eastern Europe.
The fellowship, which was established in 2025 to honor Sárkány’s scholarly contributions and untimely death during World War II, encourages international research and public involvement. It provides fully financed mobility fellowships for researchers linked with CNRS to work in Budapest and for CEU IAS fellows to undertake research in Paris.
We highly encourage academics whose work focuses on academic freedom, authoritarianism, or Central-Eastern Europe to apply. The fellowship offers a special opportunity to conduct cross-border research, expand scholarly connections, and make a significant contribution to current discussions in the social sciences and humanities.
Host Country: Austria, France, Hungary
University: Austrian Universities, French Universities, Hungarian Universities
Opportunity Type: Fellowship
Subjects: Humanities, Social Sciences
Eligibility Country: International Students
Financial Coverage: Fully Funded
Eligibility Criteria:
For Candidates Who Want to Visit Paris:
- must be enrolled in the 2024–2025 or 2025–2026 academic year as a fellow at the Central European University Institute for Advanced Study (CEU IAS).
For Candidates Who Would Like to Visit Budapest:
- must be employed permanently in a Humanities and Social Sciences (CNRS) SHS research unit in France.
Broad Eligibility Requirements:
- must be actively engaged in social science or humanities research.
- should be working on a research project about academic freedom, authoritarianism, Central or Eastern Europe, or similar topics.
- Either French or English must be used while submitting applications.
Benefits:
- Research Mobility: You can pursue your work in a dynamic, global environment by participating in a research residence hosted by esteemed academic institutions in Paris or Budapest.
- Distinguished Acknowledgment: Participate in a fellowship program honoring critical thinking, intellectual bravery, and the heritage of Oszkár Sárkány’s resistance against authoritarianism.
- Collaborative Opportunities: Promote cross-border scholarly exchange throughout Europe by collaborating with academics from CEU IAS, CNRS, and CEFRES to establish solid academic links.
- Complete Financial Support: During the fellowship, you will get complete funding for your stay, which includes lodging, round-trip transportation, and a daily stipend to help with living expenses.
- Emphasis on Current Issues: Research pressing and significant topics, including academic freedom, authoritarian governments, and illiberalism, in an environment that promotes discussion and multidisciplinary interaction.
Deadline: 15 October 2025
