Submit Proposals for CLUSTER Research Support Program (Turkey)

The Culture and Civilization Foundation Research Support Program offers funding of up to 1 million TL for innovative research projects in the humanities and social sciences. Supported by the Küme Foundation in Türkiye, the program funds projects lasting 6 to 12 months and is open to eligible doctoral researchers and PhD holders connected to Türkiye.

What is the Culture and Civilization Foundation Research Support Program?

The Culture and Civilization Foundation Research Support Program is a competitive research funding initiative that supports original, high-quality research in the humanities and social sciences. The program aims to promote academic excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and long-term intellectual contributions by funding projects that address important social, cultural, historical, and ethical issues.

Researchers are encouraged to undertake studies that generate valuable academic outputs such as books, research reports, and peer-reviewed journal articles.

Program Overview

• Program Name: Culture and Civilization Foundation Research Support Program
• Supporting Organization: Küme Foundation
• Country: Türkiye
• Maximum Funding: Up to 1 million TL per project
• Project Duration: 6 to 12 months
• Eligible Fields: Humanities and Social Sciences
• Expected Research Outputs: Academic books, research reports, journal articles, and scholarly publication series

Funding Amount

The program provides up to 1 million Turkish Lira (TL) for each approved research project.

The funding is intended to support original research that demonstrates academic quality, innovation, and long-term scholarly value.

Project Duration

Funded research projects must be completed within the following timeframe:

• Minimum duration: 6 months
• Maximum duration: 12 months

Applicants should prepare a realistic work plan that aligns with the proposed research activities.

Research Areas and Thematic Priorities

The Culture and Civilization Foundation supports research across a wide range of humanities and social sciences disciplines.

Priority research themes include:

• Justice
• Peace studies
• Migration
• Poverty
• Cultural transformation
• Technology and society
• Moral responsibility
• Historical heritage
• Human values
• Shared visions of the future
• Interdisciplinary humanities research
• Interdisciplinary social sciences
• Theoretical research
• Conceptual research
• Field research
• Archive-based research
• Document-based studies

Projects that combine multiple disciplines or introduce new theoretical perspectives are encouraged.

Types of Research Projects Supported

The program funds various forms of academic research that contribute to knowledge creation and public understanding.

Academic Research

Original studies designed to expand knowledge within the humanities and social sciences.

Field Research

Research involving surveys, interviews, observations, ethnographic studies, or community-based investigations.

Archive and Document-Based Research

Projects based on archival materials, historical documents, manuscripts, institutional records, or similar documentary sources.

Theoretical and Conceptual Research

Research that develops new theories, conceptual frameworks, or analytical models.

Interdisciplinary Research

Projects integrating methodologies and perspectives from multiple academic disciplines.

Publication-Oriented Research

The program supports studies expected to produce:

• Academic books
• Research reports
• Peer-reviewed journal articles
• Series of scholarly publications

Who is Eligible?

Applicants must satisfy both academic and institutional eligibility requirements.

Academic Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Have completed doctoral coursework in humanities or social sciences and reached the doctoral qualification stage, or
• Hold a doctoral (PhD) degree in humanities or social sciences.

Citizenship or Institutional Eligibility

Applicants must either:

• Be citizens of the Republic of Türkiye, or
• Have an institutional affiliation with a university, higher education institution, or research center located in Türkiye.

Applicants should carefully verify all eligibility requirements before preparing their application.

What Makes a Strong Research Proposal?

A successful proposal should demonstrate originality, academic significance, and practical feasibility.

Every application should include:

• A clearly defined research question
• Clearly stated research objectives
• A comprehensive literature review
• Identification of existing research gaps
• A strong methodological framework
• Appropriate theoretical foundation
• Ethical research planning
• A realistic implementation timeline
• A well-justified project budget
• Clearly defined expected outcomes

Projects should explain how the proposed research will contribute to existing academic knowledge.

Required Application Documents

Applications consist of two main components:

1. Research File
2. Project File

The Research File contains the core academic proposal and should include the following sections.

Title and Abstract

Approximately 300 words describing:

• Research topic
• Scope
• Objectives
• Expected academic contribution

Introduction

Approximately 750 words covering:

• Research question
• Research hypotheses
• Purpose of the study
• Research objectives
• Proposed methodology

Literature Review and Academic Positioning

Approximately 2,000 words explaining:

• Existing academic literature
• Current knowledge gaps
• Originality of the proposed research
• Expected scholarly contribution

Research Design

Approximately 2,000 words describing:

• Research methodology
• Data collection methods
• Theoretical framework
• Ethical considerations
• Fieldwork planning
• Data analysis strategy
• Research timeline

A well-structured research design significantly improves the competitiveness of the application.

How to Apply

Follow these steps to prepare a strong application.

Step 1: Verify Your Eligibility

Confirm that you meet both the academic and institutional eligibility requirements.

Step 2: Select a Research Topic

Choose a topic that aligns with one or more of the program’s thematic priorities.

Step 3: Develop a Clear Research Question

Create a focused and original research question that addresses an important academic issue.

Step 4: Conduct a Literature Review

Review existing scholarship, identify research gaps, and explain how your project adds new knowledge.

Step 5: Prepare Your Research Methodology

Develop a rigorous methodology supported by an appropriate theoretical framework.

Step 6: Prepare a Project Timeline

Design a realistic work schedule covering all research activities during the 6–12 month funding period.

Step 7: Develop a Justified Budget

Prepare a detailed budget that clearly explains how the requested funding will be used.

Step 8: Complete the Research File

Ensure every required section is completed according to the application guidelines.

Step 9: Submit the Complete Application

Submit both the Research File and Project File before the official application deadline.

Why This Research Grant Matters

The Culture and Civilization Foundation Research Support Program provides significant funding for scholars working on important social, historical, cultural, and ethical issues.

Key benefits include:

• Funding of up to 1 million TL
• Support for innovative humanities and social sciences research
• Opportunities to produce high-quality academic publications
• Encouragement of interdisciplinary collaboration
• Promotion of long-term intellectual contribution
• Strengthening research capacity in Türkiye

The program enables researchers to undertake ambitious projects with meaningful academic and societal impact.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid these common mistakes:

• Choosing an unclear or overly broad research question.
• Failing to identify a meaningful research gap.
• Submitting an incomplete literature review.
• Using a weak or inconsistent research methodology.
• Preparing an unrealistic research timeline.
• Providing an unsupported project budget.
• Ignoring ethical research considerations.
• Missing required sections of the application.
• Failing to explain the project’s academic contribution.

Carefully reviewing the proposal before submission can improve the likelihood of success.

Tips for Preparing a Competitive Application

To strengthen your proposal:

• Clearly explain the originality of your research.
• Define measurable research objectives.
• Use a robust and appropriate methodology.
• Demonstrate how your study fills an existing knowledge gap.
• Prepare a realistic implementation schedule.
• Justify every budget item.
• Review the proposal for clarity, consistency, and accuracy before submission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for the Culture and Civilization Foundation Research Support Program?

Researchers who have completed doctoral coursework and reached the qualification stage, or who already hold a PhD in humanities or social sciences, and who are either citizens of Türkiye or affiliated with a higher education institution or research center in Türkiye.

How much funding is available?

Each approved research project may receive funding of up to 1 million TL.

How long can funded projects last?

Projects must have a duration of at least 6 months and no longer than 12 months.

What types of research are supported?

The program supports academic research, field research, archive-based studies, document-based research, theoretical and conceptual research, interdisciplinary projects, and publication-oriented research.

What documents are required for the application?

Applicants must submit a Research File and a Project File. The Research File includes a title and abstract, introduction, literature review, and detailed research design.

What are the expected research outputs?

Funded projects are expected to produce academic books, research reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, or a series of scholarly publications.

What makes a successful application?

A competitive application presents a clear research question, a strong literature review, a rigorous methodology, realistic timeline, justified budget, and demonstrates a meaningful contribution to humanities and social sciences research.

Conclusion

The Culture and Civilization Foundation Research Support Program offers an outstanding opportunity for doctoral researchers and PhD holders to secure up to 1 million TL for original humanities and social sciences research. By supporting interdisciplinary scholarship, rigorous research design, and publication-focused projects, the program aims to generate long-term academic and societal impact. Researchers who meet the eligibility requirements should prepare a comprehensive, well-structured proposal that clearly demonstrates originality, methodological strength, and scholarly contribution to maximize their chances of receiving funding.