Urban Studies Foundation International Fellowships

Applications are now open for the Urban Studies Foundation (USF) International Fellowships. This opportunity is designed for urban scholars from the Global South to advance their research and contribute to the field of urban studies.

📖 About the Fellowship

The USF International Fellowships provide funding for a visiting sabbatical period at a host university of the candidate’s choice. The purpose is to support scholars in writing up their existing research findings into publishable articles, book chapters, or books.

Key highlights:

• Duration: 3 to 9 months
• Focus: Urban studies themes relevant to understanding urban realities in the Global South
• Mentorship: Fellows will work under the guidance of a chosen mentor in their field of study

The fellowship aligns with USF's mission to:

• Advance global urban studies
• Support early-career researchers
• Foster collaboration and knowledge exchange
• Promote epistemic justice and diverse global perspectives

🎁 Benefits

The fellowship provides financial support to cover:

• Accommodation and subsistence during the stay at the host university
• Return travel costs
• Assistance with some research expenses

Additional benefits:

• A small budget for the mentor to engage with the Fellow’s home institution, networks, or research sites
• Short-listed candidates with extraordinary costs (e.g., caring responsibilities or disability) may apply for a supplemental grant

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the fellowship, applicants must:

• Be early-to-mid-career urban scholars with a PhD awarded within the last 10 years (by the submission deadline).
• Be nationals of countries listed on the OECD DAC list of ODA recipients and affiliated with a research organization in one of these countries.
• Have completed primary data collection and analysis and be ready to write up findings as academic publications.
• Propose research that contributes to the field of urban studies.
• Arrange mentorship with a senior urban scholar at their chosen host organization.
• Prepare a budget to support the fellowship and manage associated travel logistics.

Eligible host organizations can be located anywhere worldwide, with fellowships in Global South regions encouraged.

📅 Application Process

Required Documents:

1. Applicant Information:

   • Contact details
   • Recent education and academic roles
   • Short career statement
   • Proof of nationality
   • Names and contact details of two academic referees

2. Proposed Fellowship Information:

   • Dates, mentorship, and host organization arrangements

3. Budget:

   • All cost items with evidence for items above GBP 500

4. Research Proposal:

   • Outline of planned research and intended outputs
   • Reasons for choosing the host organization
   • Statement on how the mentor will support the research

5. Applicant CV:

   • Maximum 3 pages listing academic achievements and publications

6. Mentor’s CV:

   • Maximum 3 pages, including previous mentoring experience

7. Mentor’s Supporting Letter:

   • Willingness to mentor the Fellow
   • Suitability of the host organization for the proposed fellowship (maximum 2 pages)

Additional Notes:

• Applicants must complete an Equality & Diversity monitoring survey (anonymous and not part of the assessment process).
• Decisions will be communicated within 12 weeks of the application deadline.
• Feedback on applications will not be provided.

📌 Important Dates

• Date Published: June 4, 2025
• Application Deadline: July 16, 2025
• Fellowships should begin no earlier than 4 months and no later than 14 months after the application deadline.

📜 Research Themes

Proposed research outputs must contribute to urban studies and may include topics such as:

• Climate
• Development
• Ecology
• Finance
• Governance
• Housing
• Migration
• Mobility
• Planning
• Policy
• Political economy
• Public health
• Social equity
• Sustainability
• Transport
• Technology

Applicants should demonstrate familiarity with the urban studies discipline and ensure their work contributes to understanding the development trajectories of cities in the Global South.

📂 Additional Resources

• Application Template: Download here
• Further Particulars: Download here
• FAQs: View here

📧 Contact Information

For further questions, contact the Urban Studies Foundation via email: grants@urbanstudiesfoundation.org

🌟 How to Apply

Submit your application through the official portal: Apply Here

For more details, visit the official fellowship page: Urban Studies Foundation International Fellowships

• The financial support of the Fellowship is intended to meet accommodation and subsistence needs while staying at the host university, return travel, and assistance towards some research costs.
• There is also a small budget available for the Mentor to engage with the Fellow’s home institution(s), network(s), and/or research site(s).
• Short-listed candidates may also apply for a small supplemental grant if they have extra-ordinary costs arising due to caring responsibilities or disability, provided they have contacted the USF in advance of applying to discuss their requirements.