Call for Proposals: Fellowships to Belarusian lecturers, scientists, researchers, and PhD students at EU higher education and research institutions 2026 under the project ”EU4Belarus - Support to Advanced Learning and Training (SALT)”

Objective

The global objective of this action is to reinforce the resilience and capacity among the Belarusian people affected by the political crisis to achieve democratic changes in Belarus.

The specific objective of this call for proposals is to support Belarusian lecturers, scientists, independent researchers, and PhD students affected by the current political crisis in Belarus to access EU-based universities and research institutes through individual fellowship grants to benefit from access to higher education and opportunities for lifelong-learning compliant with the EU standards and values:

Enabling Belarusian applicants who have been subjected to threats and repressions on political grounds to continue their academic and/or pedagogical activity, upgrade their knowledge, build professional contacts in the EU countries.

Supporting Belarusian applicants who have been forced to relocate from Belarus to the EU due to the political crisis in Belarus.

Promoting initial or continuous academic mobility of Belarusian lecturers, scientists, researchers, and PhD students.

Applicants

The target group for this call is:

former and current lecturers at higher education institutions

former and current scientists or researchers affiliated with research institutions, as well as independent researchers;

current PhD students

Eligibility of applicants:

In order to be eligible, the applicant must:

be a natural person;

be a citizen of the Republic of Belarus;

reside in an EU Member State, a member of the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, or one of the Eastern Partnership countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova or Ukraine. In case of residence outside Belarus, have left Belarus not earlier than August 2020;

be current or former lecturer, scientist, or researcher at a higher education or research institution, including think tanks and research NGOs, or independent researcher or a current PhD student;

demonstrate that they or an immediate family member has been under threats as a result of civic, political or professional activity, suffered from actual persecution/repression, or risks of threats, persecution, repressions, or dismissal on political grounds related to political situation of August 2020;

be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action, not acting as an intermediary;

be able to present an invitation letter for the duration of the fellowship from a host higher education institution or research centre in the EU.

Fellowship grant details

Size of grants: 

minimum amount: EUR 5,580 (min 3 months)

maximum amount: EUR 11,160 (max 6 months)

Any grant requested under this call for proposals must not exceed the maximum amount and may vary due to a number of requested months. 

Duration of fellowship activities: 

The planned duration of an action is minimum 3 months but may not exceed 6 months. 

Fellowships may indicatively start from January 1, 2027, and be completed no later than August 11, 2027. 

Location: 

Actions must take place in one of the accredited European Union higher education institutions and/or research institutions with an evidence-based track of academic history in the EU member states. 

Funded activities

Types of activity which may be financed under this call include: 

fellowship actions for academic exchange at higher education institutions to improve professional experience in the field of interest, as well as collaborate with academic colleagues, develop a course or curriculum, teach, and/or give guest lectures and presentations.

fellowship actions for research in a specific field at a higher education institution or research centre with an evidence-based track of academic history and/or implemented academic projects, including time in libraries and archives, field work (data collection); this may include international collaboration leading to peer reviewed articles.

fellowship actions for non-paid internships at a higher education institution or a research centre.

The contracting authority shall not engage in facilitation of the fellowship process or placement. 

The following types of action are ineligible, applicants may NOT receive grant assistance for: 

actions concerned only with participation in workshops, seminars, conferences, and congresses.

actions concerned only or mainly with individual scholarships for studies or training courses.

fellowships at the same higher education institution or research centre where an applicant has been an employee, a doctoral student, or a research fellow (regardless of its funding source) since August 2020.

multiple EU funded fellowship awards at the same time (or overlapping partial periods) regardless of linkage to same or different higher education institutions or research centres.

a second or subsequent fellowship from “Support to Advanced Learning and Training (EU4Belarus – SALT)” Action for the same recipient.

if an applicant is or has been a research team member in an Academic Research Project grant funded under the “Support to Advanced Learning and Training (EU4Belarus – SALT II)” or “Support to Advanced Learning and Training (SALT III)” programme or has previously received a fellowship under EU4Belarus SALT II, the proposed fellowship action must possess a clear distinct difference compared to the object of study of the Academic Research Project grant or the previous fellowship.
The applicant must demonstrate that the proposed fellowship does not duplicate, overlap substantially with, or fund in parallel the same research. In case of doubt, the Contracting Authority leaves the right to request additional information and documents during the evaluation process.

actions and measures that may result in violation of human rights or that may cause significant adverse effects on the environment or the climate. This includes, in particular, actions that undermine human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights, including the rights of minorities.

Fellowship activities must be compatible with EU values. Where relevant to the proposed activities, applicants should take into account human rights, gender equality, environmental considerations, etc.