Charlemagne Prize Fellowship 2025-2026

The Charlemagne Prize Fellowship is a prestigious one-year, non-resident program offered by the European Charlemagne Prize Academy. It aims to foster European integration by supporting junior researchers, next-generation policy experts, innovators, and thought leaders working toward a better European Union.

🗓️ Key Details

• Date Published: July 17, 2025
• Application Period: July 1, 2025 – August 17, 2025
• Application Deadline: August 17, 2025
• Category: Fellowship
• Eligible Locations: Europe

🏛️ About the Fellowship

The Charlemagne Prize Fellowship is designed to identify future challenges and problems of European society. It supports innovative research projects that propose solutions to these challenges. Fellows will engage in dialogue with representatives from science, politics, business, and the public to assess the feasibility and practicality of their ideas.

The program is open to European junior researchers and professionals who wish to contribute to the development of the European Union through their research and innovative ideas.

🎁 Benefits of the Fellowship

• Networking Opportunities:

  • Connect with other fellows, Academy alumni, and members of the Charlemagne Prize Network.
  • Attend networking events, the Charlemagne Prize Summit, and the Charlemagne Prize award ceremony.
  • Engage with specialists on academic and professional levels.

• Financial Support:

  • Receive up to €25,000 to implement your creative and individual research project.

• Mentorship and Support:

  • Work with a mentor who is an expert in your research field.
  • Receive administrative and scientific support to achieve your milestones.

• Time for Research:

  • Focus on an individual project before entering the professional world or academia.
  • Gain an opportunity for further scholarly engagement and training.

• Global Exposure:

  • Present your work and engage with international decision-makers.
  • Build confidence and skills to promote your ideas.

• Career Advancement:

  • Enhance your CV with an exceptional achievement aligned with your ambitions.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Charlemagne Prize Fellowship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a postgraduate degree (preferably a Master's degree or equivalent).
• Be younger than 35 years of age.
• Possess professional English language skills (minimum C1 level).
• Be a citizen of an EU member state or a resident in Europe during the project implementation.
• Submit an innovative research proposal aligned with the annual focus.
• Demonstrate the current and prospective relevance of the proposed research question.
• Propose a host institution for the duration of the fellowship.

👤 Ideal Candidate Profile

The fellowship is open to:

• University graduates, young professionals, and employees of scientific, political, economic, or cultural institutions/organizations.
• Individuals or groups interested in conducting research on a specified topic over a 12-month period.
• Reliable personalities with previous research experience.

📄 Application Process

The application process encourages graduates from all academic fields, young professionals, and employees of scientific, political, or public institutions to submit their research ideas for the fellowship year.

Required Documents (in English):

1. CV (PDF) – Mandatory
2. Research Proposal (PDF) – Mandatory
3. Supporting Documents, References, and Certificates (PDF) – Optional

📅 Important Dates

• Application Period: July 1, 2025 – August 17, 2025
• Application Deadline: August 17, 2025

For more details and to apply, visit the Charlemagne Prize Fellowship Application Portal.

This fellowship is a unique opportunity to contribute to European integration and make a meaningful impact through innovative research. Don't miss your chance to be part of this prestigious program!

• Expanding your network: Together with a group of other Fellows and within a growing group of Academy alumni, the Fellowship within the Charlemagne Prize Network comprises exciting partner organisations and many impressive personalities that you will meet during networking events, the Charlemagne Prize Summit, and the Charlemagne Prize award ceremony in spring. You will get the opportunity to engage with specialists on an academic as well as on a professional level, depending on your career prospects.
• Financial support of up to €25,000 for your creative and individual research project. The grant will help you to implement your ideas and formats independently.
• Administrative and scientific support: You will be assigned a mentor, who is an expert in your research field and who will support you with the implementation of your ideas and research. By attending networking events and receiving support in achieving your milestones, you will have the chance to focus on your individual research progress.
• Time for your thoughts: The Fellowship programme allows you to implement an individual project before entering the professional world or academia independently. This could be a step that was not possible during previous studies, and an opportunity for training and further engagement with scholarly work.
• Acclimatisation to the global stage: Presenting your own work and engaging with international decision-makers will train your confidence and skills to promote your ideas and to work on constructive approaches.
• Standing out from the crowd: The Charlemagne Prize Fellowship presents the opportunity to mark an exceptional path on your CV, suitable to individual plans and ambitions.