Internet and Society Fellowship 2026

The Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) is now accepting applications for its Internet and Society Fellowship 2026. This fellowship offers a unique opportunity for innovative researchers to exchange ideas, advance projects, and explore new initiatives at the intersection of society, technology, and democratic governance.

📖 About the Fellowship

The HIIG Fellowship program provides an exceptional platform for researchers to:

• Pursue their own research.
• Collaborate with HIIG researchers and fellow scholars.
• Present their work in internal talks or workshops.
• Contribute to open access publications or the Digital Society Blog.
• Join webinars, peer-learning sessions, and other knowledge exchange formats.
• Meet research directors and senior researchers during a "fellow coffee talk."
• Work with other experts and researchers during a one-week sprint focusing on democratic change and knowledge.

🎁 Benefits

Fellows will become part of an international research community and participate in ongoing HIIG activities. Key benefits include:

• Opportunities to collaborate with leading researchers.
• Access to knowledge exchange formats such as webinars and peer-learning sessions.
• A chance to contribute to open access publications and blogs.
• Networking opportunities with research directors and senior researchers.
• Participation in a one-week sprint on democratic change and knowledge.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the HIIG Internet and Society Fellowship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a Master’s degree with a PhD in progress/planned (Junior Fellow) or be an advanced PhD or postdoctoral researcher (Senior Fellow).
• Demonstrated research experience.
• A clear research focus on democratic change and knowledge.
• Fluency in English.
• An initial research idea to work on during the fellowship.

📝 Application Process

Applicants are required to submit the following documents:

1. Up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV).
2. Motivation Letter (1 page) detailing:
   • Your interest in the HIIG Fellowship.
   • Your research background.
   • What you expect from the fellowship.
3. Research Idea Outline (maximum 1 page) including:
   • A) Your research interest and its connection to the new research focus.
   • B) The specific idea you propose to start or conduct during the fellowship.
   • C) Intended outcomes or deliverables.
4. Optional: One writing or work sample (in English or German) related to the research area.

📅 Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for the HIIG Internet and Society Fellowship is 31 January 2026.

🌐 Application Portal

For more details and to apply, visit the official HIIG Fellowship 2026 page.

Take advantage of this opportunity to join a vibrant research community and contribute to groundbreaking work at the intersection of society, technology, and governance!

• Pursue their own research
• Collaborate with HIIG researchers and fellow scholars
• Present their work in internal talks or workshops
• Contribute to open access publications or the Digital Society Blog
• Join webinars, peer-learning sessions, and other knowledge exchange formats
• Meet research directors and senior researchers during a fellow coffee talk
• Work together with other experts and researchers during a one week sprint focusing on democratic change and knowledge