Gulbenkian Institute Fellowship 2027 in Portugal (Funded Research Fellowship)

The Gulbenkian Institute for Advanced Study (GIAS) is accepting applications for its 2027 and 2028 Fellowship Programme in Lisbon, Portugal. Fellows spend roughly three to eight months in residence pursuing original research or creative projects. The program targets established academics, independent scholars, emeritus professors, and practicing artists who want uninterrupted time to focus on their own work. Appointments begin in late January 2027, and decisions are expected by April 2027. The application deadline is October 15, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Lisbon time. This is not a degree program. There are no courses to take and no teaching duties. Fellows get a monthly stipend, a housing allowance, office space, and access to the Institute's research facilities. The financial package varies by individual offer, and the Foundation has not published a fixed stipend amount. What the program offers instead is intellectual freedom: protected time to develop a project while surrounded by an international, multidisciplinary community of scholars. The Gulbenkian Institute is part of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, one of Europe's largest and oldest philanthropic institutions. The Foundation was established in 1956 under the will of Armenian oil magnate Calouste Gulbenkian and operates across education, science, the arts, and social welfare. GIAS sits within this ecosystem as a dedicated space for advanced study, bringing together researchers from the humanities, social sciences, and creative fields. Its Lisbon campus hosts seminars, lectures, and workshops, and fellows are expected to participate in the intellectual life of the Institute during their stay. Lisbon is a compact, hilly city on the Atlantic coast with a mild climate year-round. Winters are short and cool, summers are warm and dry. The cost of living is lower than in most Western European capitals, though rents in central neighborhoods have climbed in recent years. The Institute's location means fellows can walk or take short tram rides to most parts of the city. Portugal's visa system for researchers is straightforward for those with a formal fellowship offer, and the country has a large, well-established international community. English is widely spoken in academic and professional settings.