Visegrad Fellowship Program 2026 | Eligibility and How to Apply

The Visegrad Fellowship Program is a competitive short-term funding opportunity for scholars, lecturers, and researchers from five Central and Eastern European countries who want to conduct research, deliver lectures, or access archival materials at academic institutions within the Visegrad region. Funded by the Visegrad Fund, the programme provides a lump-sum fellowship of 500 euros per week for stays lasting between 2 and 10 weeks. It is a well-regarded academic mobility initiative that has supported hundreds of researchers in strengthening regional academic cooperation across Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine.

This fellowship is specifically designed for full-time doctoral students and holders of doctoral degrees who are citizens and residents of one of the five eligible countries and wish to conduct their fellowship in a different V4 country. It is not open to all applicants globally, but within its defined eligibility framework, it offers a genuinely valuable opportunity to advance research, publish findings, and build professional connections across the region.

This post covers everything you need to know before you apply, including who qualifies, what the fellowship provides, which documents to prepare, how to navigate the application system, and practical tips to improve your chances of selection before the 31 May 2026 deadline.

Fellowship Overview

Eligibility

Before you apply, review every condition below carefully. The eligibility rules for this programme are specific and non-negotiable. Failing to meet any one of them will result in your application being disqualified.

Citizenship and residency: You must be a citizen and resident of one of the five eligible countries at the time of applying. These countries are Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Your country of citizenship and current residence must be different from the country where the host institution is located.

For example, a Polish citizen currently living in Poland can apply to conduct a fellowship in Hungary, Czechia, or Slovakia, but not at a Polish institution. A Ukrainian citizen living in Ukraine can apply to any of the four V4 countries. A Ukrainian citizen who has relocated and now resides in, say, Germany is not eligible, as Germany is outside the eligible countries. 

Academic qualification: You must be either a full-time doctoral student or a holder of a doctoral degree. The fellowship does not require you to be affiliated with a specific institution at the time of applying, but you must fall into one of these two academic categories. Part-time PhD students and those at undergraduate or master’s level are not eligible.

Fellowship format: The fellowship must be conducted in person at the host institution. Remote fellowships are only permitted in exceptional cases where mobility is genuinely limited, and only when this is clearly justified in both the application form and in the invitation document provided by the host.

Duration: The proposed fellowship must last between 2 and 10 weeks. The length you propose must be clearly justified with specific details about the work to be undertaken during that period.

Reapplication: Previous fellows may reapply, but preference is always given first to applicants who have never received Visegrad Fellowship support before. Among returning applicants, preference is given to those whose new proposals build on previous findings or involve a different host institution or country. Reapplying within the same application term (January through May, or September through November) is strongly discouraged, regardless of whether a previous application in that term was approved or rejected.

Eligible Countries

This fellowship is not open to all countries globally. Eligibility is strictly defined by citizenship and residency. Only citizens and residents of the following five countries may apply:

Europe:

• Czechia
• Hungary
• Poland
• Slovakia
• Ukraine

The host institution must be located in one of the four Visegrad countries (Czechia, Hungary, Poland, or Slovakia) and must be different from the country of the fellow’s citizenship and residence.

Ukrainian applicants may host their fellowship in any of the four V4 countries. Applicants from the other four nationalities may host in any V4 country other than their own.

Eligible Fields of Study

This fellowship is open to all academic disciplines and research fields. There is no subject restriction.

Fellows may conduct their stay to:

• Carry out or participate in a concrete research project
• Hold lectures or seminars at a higher education level
• Study or review specific sets of written or other materials available in a public archive or library

The only content-related requirement is that your research or academic activity has regional relevance. Your topic should connect meaningfully to the Visegrad region in some way, and your choice of host institution must be clearly justified in the application.

Benefits

The Visegrad Fellowship Program provides the following to selected fellows:

1. Fellowship stipend: A lump-sum scholarship of 500 euros per week is awarded for the agreed duration of the fellowship. This is the primary financial benefit of the programme.
2. Payment schedule: The scholarship is paid in two instalments. The first instalment covers 80% of the total fellowship value and is paid at the start of the fellowship period. The remaining 20% is paid upon successful completion.
3. Duration coverage: The fellowship covers between 2 and 10 weeks, and the total amount you receive is directly linked to the number of weeks approved for your stay.

What is not covered: The fellowship is a lump-sum award and is not broken down by expense category. It is intended to cover costs related to travel, accommodation, and subsistence during the fellowship stay. There is no separate housing allowance, health insurance provision, or flight reimbursement listed as distinct components. Fellows are expected to manage their own costs within the stipend received.

Required Documents

Applications must be submitted electronically through the My Visegrad online system and must include the following documents, all written in English:

1. Scanned valid identification document (national ID card or passport)
2. Scan of your doctoral diploma, or proof of current enrolment in a full-time doctoral studies programme
3. Letter of invitation from the host institution, signed and stamped by an authorised representative. This letter must detail the precise length of the fellowship, provide a timetable, clearly describe the nature of the fellowship activities, and state the intended outcomes
4. Letter of recommendation issued by your affiliated home institution, or by a relevant expert if you are not currently affiliated with an institution

Note: All documents must be submitted in English. Documents in other languages should be accompanied by an English translation. 

How to Apply

Follow each step carefully. The application window runs from 1 January 2026 and closes at 12:00 PM on 31 May 2026, but places are limited and filled on a rolling basis. Applying early is strongly advised.

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility. Verify that your country of citizenship and current residence is one of the five eligible countries and that it differs from the country of the host institution you are planning to approach. Confirm that you are either a full-time doctoral student or hold a doctoral degree.

Step 2: Identify your host institution. Choose an academic institution in a V4 country other than your own. The institution must be a higher education or research body where your planned academic activity can realistically take place. Your choice of host must be clearly justified in the application.

Step 3: Contact the host institution and request an invitation letter. Reach out to the relevant department, faculty, or researcher at your intended host institution. Explain your research plans and request a formal letter of invitation. This letter must be signed or stamped by the institution, include a timetable, describe the nature of your planned activities, and state the intended outcomes.

Step 4: Prepare your research or activity plan. Draft a detailed and coherent plan for what you will do during the fellowship. Whether you are conducting research, delivering lectures, or reviewing archival materials, your plan must be specific, time-bound, and clearly justify the proposed length of stay.

Step 5: Obtain your letter of recommendation. If you are affiliated with a home institution, request a recommendation letter from that institution. If you are not currently affiliated, approach a relevant academic expert who can speak to your credentials and the quality of your proposed work.

Step 6: Gather all required documents. Collect your scanned ID or passport, doctoral diploma or proof of enrolment, invitation letter from the host institution, and your recommendation letter. Ensure all documents are in English or accompanied by English translations.

Step 7: Create or log into your account on the My Visegrad online system. Visit the My Visegrad platform and register if you do not already have an account. Use an active personal email address that you check regularly to avoid missing any communications.

Step 8: Complete the online application form. Fill in all required sections of the application form accurately. Describe your research plan, justify the length and format of the fellowship, and clearly articulate the regional relevance of your topic.

Step 9: Upload all required documents. Ensure each document is clearly scanned, legible, in the correct format, and meets any file size requirements specified on the portal. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Step 10: Submit your application before 31 May 2026 at 12:00 PM. Once submitted, keep a record of your application confirmation. Monitor your email regularly for any updates or requests for additional information from the Visegrad Fund team.

Key Dates and Timeline

Application Deadline

The final application deadline for the January to May 2026 term is 31 May 2026 at 12:00 PM (noon).

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis while capacity lasts, which means the programme may close to new submissions before the stated deadline if all places are filled. Do not wait until the final days of May to submit.

Applications submitted after the deadline will NOT be accepted.

Selection Criteria

The Visegrad Fund evaluates applications against several defined criteria. Meeting the eligibility requirements gets your application into the review process, but the following factors determine whether you are selected:

1. Academic credentials and work experience: The selection committee reviews your academic background, publication record, and any relevant professional experience. A strong recommendation letter that speaks specifically to your qualifications and the quality of your proposed work will support your case.
2. Coherence and justification of the research plan: Your proposed activity must be detailed, logical, and clearly justified. If you are conducting research, the committee wants to see a realistic and well-structured plan. If you are delivering lectures, the topics, audience, and outcomes should be clearly described. Mention of intended publications or presentations adds further credibility.
3. Regional relevance: Your research or academic activity must have a clear and meaningful connection to the Visegrad region. Generic research topics with no regional dimension are less likely to be supported. The stronger and more specific the regional connection, the better your application will be received.
4. Justification of the host institution: Your choice of host institution must make sense in the context of your research. Explain why this particular institution, in this particular country, is the right place for your fellowship. Access to specific expertise, archives, laboratories, or academic networks are all valid reasons.
5. Priority for new applicants: If you have never received Visegrad Fellowship support before, you will be given preference over returning fellows. If you are reapplying, your proposal must build upon previous findings or involve a different host country or institution to be considered competitive.

Important Tips

1. Apply early in the January to May window. The programme fills on a rolling basis and may close before the 31 May deadline. Submitting in January or February puts you in a stronger position than waiting until May.
2. Invest significant time in your research plan. The coherence and justification of your proposed activity is one of the primary evaluation criteria. A vague or poorly structured plan will not be competitive regardless of your academic credentials.
3. Make the regional relevance of your topic explicit. Do not assume the committee will connect the dots. In your application, directly explain why your research topic is relevant to the Visegrad region and why a cross-border fellowship advances that relevance.
4. Contact your host institution well in advance. Invitation letters take time to arrange, especially when they need to be signed, stamped, and include a timetable and description of outcomes. Approach potential host institutions at least four to six weeks before you plan to submit.
5. Choose your host institution carefully and justify that choice. A host that is a natural fit for your research, with specific expertise or resources relevant to your work, will strengthen the overall coherence of your application.
6. If you are reapplying, make clear how this proposal differs from or builds on your previous fellowship. Simply resubmitting a similar proposal with a new date is unlikely to succeed. Show progression, new questions, or a different host institution to make a compelling case.
7. Do not reapply within the same term. The Visegrad Fund explicitly discourages reapplication within the same January to May or September to November window, whether or not your previous application in that term was successful. Wait for the next term before trying again.
8. Ensure all documents are in English before submitting. The application system requires documents in English. If your doctoral diploma, invitation letter, or recommendation letter is in another language, arrange for a translation before you begin the upload process.

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