Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul - Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul

What the SRII fellowships give you

You will be awarded a research fellowship in Istanbul for one month or three months. The Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul (SRII) will provide you with a workspace and accommodation: a desk, a library, a room in the guest house, as well as access to seminars and lectures. The exact amount of the grant is not specified in the call for applications. The institute is located on the premises of the Swedish Consulate-General and has been supporting Nordic research on Turkey and the surrounding region since 1962. In addition, there is a separate travel grant from the Friends of the Institute (FSIV). If you carry out this work in Istanbul, the SRII can offer you up to two weeks’ accommodation in the guest house, subject to availability.

Who can apply

• Level: You are a researcher or a PhD student. The FSIV travel grant also covers activities outside the academic sphere.
• Research topic: Your work focuses on Istanbul, Turkey, the eastern Mediterranean region, or regions linked to these through language, culture, history or religion.
• Subject areas: You work in a specialist field such as archaeology, art and architectural history, Byzantine and classical studies, Ottoman and modern Turkish history, the languages and literatures of West and Central Asia, religious studies, politics and international relations, or sociology and social anthropology.
• Nordic link: You are from a Nordic country (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland or Iceland) or work at a Nordic university.

How to apply

The SRII issues calls for applications twice a year. Each call is published as a PDF file on the scholarships page. Please apply for your preferred duration of stay – either one month or three months. There is a separate call for applications for the FSIV travel grant.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is narrowly defined. You must have a Nordic background or a connection to a Nordic university, as well as a research topic focusing on Turkey and the region. As a result, the pool of eligible applicants is small compared to open scholarships. If you clearly meet the focus criteria and can demonstrate relevant research work, your prospects are good. As only a handful of scholarship recipients are selected each year, a concise, targeted application carries more weight than a broad one.