Practical Matters

Fellowship Commitment

A Fellowship at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study is a residency in the true sense of the word: fellows commit themselves to withdrawing from their quotidian obligations for a period of time to fully focus on their research project in the international, multi-disciplinary NIAS environment. Besides being offered undisturbed time and space to work on one’s research project, the intellectual and informal exchanges with other fellows form the core of a NIAS residency. Participating in the daily communal lunches and weekly seminars, where fellows present their work-in-progress, therefore lie at the heart of a NIAS Fellowship.

In order to ensure the highest quality of your residency, NIAS asks fellows to be present at the Institute for at least four days a week, including participation in the weekly fellows’ seminar on Thursday afternoons. We urgently advise fellows to make arrangements with their university before the start of their fellowship, in order to allow themselves to immerse in their residency as much as possible.

Stipends and Dutch University Grants

NIAS Fellows can apply for financial support under specific circumstances.

I. Stipend

Personal stipends are offered to fellows without an affiliation and fellows from outside the Netherlands. Fellows are granted a monthly stipend of €2.500,- per month (exceptions apply for some of the supported fellowships) . This amount should cover essential expenses during the fellowship. The stipend is paid directly to the fellow.

II. Dutch University Grant

Fellows affiliated to Dutch universities who continue to receive their salary, can apply for a Dutch University Grant. This grant is meant for Dutch universities only and are provided to compensate for some of the costs that the university might make to free the fellow from his/her obligations during the period of the fellowship. This grant of €2.500,- per month is paid to the university directly.

In order to receive the grant, the dean or department chair agrees with the terms of the Fellowship Agreement. This way, the university commits itself to continuing to pay the fellow’s salary and to support the fellow to dedicate him-/herself fully to the research project during the period of a NIAS Fellowship (see below for more details on conditions for attendance).

Please make sure the head of your department and/or dean is well-informed about your plans to apply for a Fellowship, before submitting your application.

III. Additional funding

Additional financial support for fellows from low income countries can be requested. Resources are limited; as far as they are available, NIAS is committed to making its fellowships accessible to all.

Legal status and insurance

A NIAS fellowship does not constitute an employment relationship. During the fellowship, the fellow is and remains an employee of his or her own university or institute, or self-employed. Subsequently, NIAS is not obligated to make social-insurance contributions or to contribute to a pension or unemployment insurance.

Accommodation

NIAS offers accommodation on top locations in Amsterdam against a highly subsidized rate:

• Furnished studio accommodation in the NIAS Fellows House (1 or 2 persons)
• Furnished family apartment (two bedrooms, max 4 persons)

Fellows contribute €750,- per month for their NIAS accommodation. NIAS contributes the other €1.750 per month for the costs of accommodation.

The demand for both the studios and family apartments often exceeds the availability. NIAS does its utmost best to provide fellowships to as many fellows as possible, and does not want to reject prospective fellows on the basis of the availability of accommodation alone. This means that NIAS may ask (randomly selected) prospective fellows to seek out and rent temporary accommodation elsewhere in the city. NIAS can assist in finding alternative accommodation, as well as provide a subsidy of max €1.750 per month to cover (part of) the costs.

Who can apply for NIAS accommodation?

• Fellows living outside of the Netherlands.
• If the Fellow lives in the Netherlands, but lives more than ninety (90) minutes away from the NIAS-KNAW building (one-way, calculated from the train station in their home town to Amsterdam Central station), NIAS-KNAW may – if available – offer the Fellow subsidised accommodation in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for the duration of their Fellowship.

Please note: domestic animals are not allowed in the offices, studios or family apartments.

Travel Expenses

NIAS covers travel expenses based on the following conditions:

• An international return ticket for fellows from outside the Netherlands:
• For Fellows living in Europe within 500 km from Amsterdam, an allowance equivalent to one return train ticket (max €0,25 per kilometre).
• For Fellows living in Europe 500 km or more from Amsterdam, an allowance equivalent to one return flight ticket (max.  €500)
• For Fellows living outside Europe, an allowance equivalent to one return flight ticket (max €1.500)
• If a Fellow is from the Netherlands and lives less than ninety (90) minutes away from the NIAS-KNAW building (one-way, calculated from the train station in his/her home town to Amsterdam Central station), he/she shall receive reimbursement of travel expenses. Train costs are reimbursed on the basis of a second-class ticket.

NIAS is committed to reducing the environmental impact of international travel and therefore does not reimburse air travel costs for fellows living less than 500 km from Amsterdam, and only covers costs for public transport. The cost of excess baggage and travel insurance will not be reimbursed.

Fellows living in the Netherlands who have been granted accommodation (see above) are also entitled to one 2nd class return ticket by public transport from their home town to NIAS Amsterdam.

Parking costs incurred during the fellowship are not reimbursed. Family members’ travel costs are not reimbursed.

Health insurance

All researchers from outside the Netherlands are responsible for arranging their own healthcare and liability insurance with adequate cover for the whole period of stay in the Netherlands. Non-residents who are not employed in the Netherlands will not be able to make any claims regarding the Dutch social security system.

Rules and Regulation

More elaborate information about the conditions of a fellowship can be found in the Regulations Selection Procedure NIAS Individual Fellowships.