Deadline: 26-Jul-2026
The Institute of International Education’s Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) provides fellowships to threatened and displaced scholars who cannot safely continue their academic work in their home countries. The programme offers temporary academic placements at partner higher education institutions worldwide, allowing scholars to continue research, teaching, and other academic activities in a secure environment.
The fellowship provides up to USD $30,000 for one year and supports professors, researchers, and public intellectuals from any country and academic discipline who face serious threats to their academic careers or personal safety.
Overview of the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund
The IIE Scholar Rescue Fund is an international fellowship programme designed to protect and support scholars whose lives, freedom, or academic careers are threatened.
The programme helps scholars by providing:
- Temporary academic positions at host universities.
- Financial support to continue scholarly activities.
- Safe environments for research and teaching.
- Opportunities to maintain academic careers during periods of crisis.
The fellowship allows threatened scholars to continue contributing to global knowledge while preparing for future academic opportunities.
Purpose of the Scholar Rescue Fund
The main purpose of IIE-SRF is to protect academic freedom by assisting scholars who are unable to safely continue their work.
The programme aims to:
- Support scholars facing persecution, conflict, or targeted threats.
- Preserve important academic research and expertise.
- Enable continued teaching and research activities.
- Strengthen international academic collaboration.
- Help scholars return to their academic careers safely.
The programme recognizes that threats to scholars can limit freedom of research, education, and intellectual expression.
Fellowship Funding and Duration
Selected scholars receive:
- Fellowship funding: Up to USD $30,000.
- Initial fellowship duration: One year.
In most cases, fellows may apply for:
- A second and final year of fellowship support.
The fellowship is designed as temporary protection that provides scholars with time and resources to continue their academic work.
Who Is Eligible for the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund?
The fellowship is open to threatened scholars from:
- Any country.
- Any academic discipline.
- Any region facing academic threats or insecurity.
Eligible applicants generally include:
- University professors.
- Researchers.
- Public intellectuals.
- Established scholars with significant academic experience.
Applicants must demonstrate both academic ability and the urgency of the threats affecting their work.
Preferred Applicant Profile
Preference is given to applicants who meet several academic and professional criteria.
Strong candidates usually:
- Hold a Ph.D. or the highest academic degree available in their field.
- Have significant teaching or research experience at a university, college, or higher education institution.
- Have a record of published research.
- Demonstrate academic achievement or strong future potential.
- Face immediate and targeted threats to their lives, freedom, or careers.
- Have the potential to contribute to both host and home academic communities.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications are reviewed based on three major factors:
Academic Qualifications and Experience
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong educational background.
- Research expertise.
- Teaching experience.
- Academic achievements.
Quality and Potential of Scholarly Work
Reviewers consider:
- Importance of the applicant’s research.
- Contribution to their academic field.
- Future potential of their work.
Urgency of Threats
Applicants should show evidence of:
- Immediate or recent threats.
- Targeted risks affecting their ability to work.
- Inability to safely continue academic activities in their home country.
What Support Does the Fellowship Provide?
IIE-SRF fellowship support allows scholars to continue professional academic activities through:
- Research projects.
- University teaching.
- Scholarly writing.
- Academic collaboration.
- Intellectual engagement with host institutions.
The fellowship connects scholars with safe academic environments where they can continue contributing to their fields.
Who Is Not Eligible for the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund?
The programme generally does not support applicants who do not meet the criteria for threatened scholar assistance.
Applicants are usually not eligible if they:
- Are continuing their academic studies, including Ph.D. programmes.
- Are completing academic training requirements.
- Have already lived outside their home country for more than two years.
- Hold citizenship or permanent residency in a safe second country.
- Have already completed two years of support through a comparable threatened scholar fellowship programme.
Special Eligibility Information for Ukrainian Scholars
For Ukrainian applicants, the programme currently focuses on supporting fellowships hosted in:
- Eastern Europe.
- Central Europe.
Applications from Ukrainian scholars seeking placements in other parts of Europe, including Western Europe, are currently not being considered.
Applicants should carefully review current programme priorities before applying.
How to Apply for the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund Fellowship
Applicants should follow a structured application process.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should verify that they:
- Are threatened or displaced scholars.
- Have an established academic background.
- Are not applying for continued academic study.
- Meet residency and previous fellowship restrictions.
Step 2: Prepare Academic Materials
Applicants should prepare documents demonstrating:
- Academic qualifications.
- Research achievements.
- Teaching experience.
- Publications.
- Professional contributions.
Step 3: Explain the Threat Situation
Applicants should clearly describe:
- The nature of the threats they face.
- How those threats affect their academic work.
- Why a temporary academic placement is necessary.
Supporting evidence may strengthen the application.
Step 4: Identify Potential Host Institutions
Applicants may need to connect with suitable higher education institutions that can provide a safe academic environment.
Host institutions should be able to support:
- Research activities.
- Teaching opportunities.
- Academic integration.
Step 5: Submit the Fellowship Application
Applicants should provide complete and accurate information according to IIE-SRF application requirements.
A strong application should clearly demonstrate:
- Academic excellence.
- Urgency of need.
- Potential contribution to the host institution.
- Long-term academic impact.
Tips for a Strong IIE-SRF Application
Applicants can improve their applications by:
- Clearly explaining their academic achievements.
- Providing evidence of threats or displacement.
- Highlighting the importance of their research.
- Demonstrating how the fellowship will help continue their work.
- Showing potential benefits for both home and host academic communities.
- Preparing a clear and realistic academic plan.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Applying while still pursuing a degree programme.
- Providing insufficient evidence of threats.
- Failing to explain academic achievements.
- Applying without a clear research or teaching plan.
- Ignoring residency and previous fellowship restrictions.
- Choosing placements that do not align with programme priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions About the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund
What is the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund?
The IIE Scholar Rescue Fund is a fellowship programme that supports threatened and displaced scholars by providing temporary academic positions and financial assistance at partner institutions worldwide.
How much funding does IIE-SRF provide?
The fellowship provides up to USD $30,000 for one year of support.
Can fellows receive funding for more than one year?
Yes. In most cases, fellows may apply for a second and final year of fellowship support.
Who can apply for the fellowship?
Professors, researchers, and public intellectuals from any country and academic discipline may apply if they face serious threats preventing them from continuing their academic work safely.
Do Ph.D. students qualify for IIE-SRF?
Generally, no. The programme typically does not support individuals who are continuing their studies, including Ph.D. programmes or academic training.
Are applicants from all countries eligible?
Yes. Applicants from any country may apply, provided they meet the academic and threat-related eligibility requirements.
Are Ukrainian scholars eligible for placements anywhere in Europe?
Currently, the programme focuses on Ukrainian scholars seeking placements in Eastern or Central Europe. Applications for placements elsewhere in Europe, including Western Europe, are not being considered at this time.
Conclusion
The IIE Scholar Rescue Fund provides critical protection and academic support for scholars whose work and safety are threatened. Through financial assistance and temporary academic placements, the fellowship enables researchers, professors, and public intellectuals to continue their contributions to education and scholarship.
Eligible scholars facing urgent threats should consider applying for IIE-SRF support to continue their academic work in a secure international environment while maintaining their research, teaching, and professional development.
For more information, visit IIE.