Background
Over the past few years, NIAS has seen a steep rise in the number of applications to the Open Call. Unfortunately, our Selection Team can no longer process these volumes without expanding the team. However, increasing staff capacity would require reducing the number of fellowships awarded. Faced with this decision, we chose to prioritise fellows over staff. In other words: it was either more fellows or more staff – and we chose fellows.
A Break from the Trend
Despite our advice to apply early, the number of applications remained significantly below the numbers of recent years until the final week before the deadline. To our surprise, a large number of applications arrived in the last few days. This late surge made it difficult to process and track applications in real time.
Exemption for Global South Applicants
The NIAS Scientific Advisory Board determined that the application cap would not apply to applicants based in the Global South. Please refer to the below clause:
This numerus clausus does not apply to applications for the Theme Groups or from candidates who are affiliated to an institute outside, or who are independently based outside the following countries: the EU, Andorra, Faeroe[r], Iceland, Monaco, Norway, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Vatican City, Switzerland, the UK, the US,Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. At NIAS, fellows from the so-called Global South are underrepresented, whereas we believe that a research community that is diverse in many ways, is all the more inspiring for all participants.
Closure and Communication Challenges
Due to the exemption for Global South applicants and the unexpected last-minute influx of submissions, we were unable to close the Call before the formal deadline. It also proved unfeasible to live-track applications by region and eligibility status, which meant we could not notify prospective applicants in time when the cap had been reached.
Looking Ahead
We are currently reviewing the implementation of this pilot and are committed to improving clarity and transparency in future calls. The next NIAS Open Call for Fellowships will open on 15 January 2026. We will ensure that all related information is communicated more clearly to prospective applicants from the outset.
Also see: 2025 NIAS Personal Fellowship Application Guide that was published on our website in January 2025.
