Académie Française - Jean-Walter Zellidja Fellowships

Jean-Walter Zellidja Fellowships

You will receive a grant of research stay abroad of about one year to carry out your own research project alongside your regular studies. There is no fixed amount. In your application, you set out a budget and specify the minimum amount you require to carry out the project. The partner institutions describe the grant as amounting to several thousand euros, to be determined on a case-by-case basis. The money covers part of your living and travel expenses whilst abroad. The Académie française has been awarding these grants since 1976.

Who can apply

• Age: When applying, you are subject to 30.
• Language: You speak French.
• Where you study: You are enrolled at a Grande École, a university, an institute or a conservatoire selected as a partner by the Académie française (for example, Sciences Po, ENS-PSL or EHESS).
• Study level: Many partner institutions require you to be a PhD student or postdoctoral researcher; please therefore check with your own university.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, provided they speak French and are studying at a partner university.
• Timing: Your stay abroad must not begin until the Académie has made its decision, which is usually announced at the end of May.

How to apply

Applications must be made through your own school, not directly to the Académie française. First, you must submit a brief expression of interest to your school (a CV, a one- to two-page research proposal and a letter of invitation from your host institution abroad). Selected candidates then complete a full application form for their school. Each school may nominate a maximum of two candidates to the Académie. Successful candidates will be notified in writing in May.

How realistic are your chances?

The competition takes place in two stages, with the first stage at your own university representing the biggest bottleneck: each partner university can only put forward two candidates. If you speak French, are younger than 30, meet your university’s requirements for a PhD or a postdoctoral fellowship, and can present a clearly defined project with a confirmed host institution abroad, you have a real chance of being one of the two candidates nominated by your university. A concrete, well-reasoned research plan and a compelling letter of invitation are crucial to setting yourself apart from other applicants.