Submissions open for Visegrad Scholarship at OSA

Deadline: 25-Jul-2026

The Visegrad Scholarship at OSA, offered by the Blinken OSA Archivum, supports researchers, artists, journalists, and scholars studying how truth, knowledge, and historical memory are shaped under political pressure, censorship, and ideological control. The scholarship provides a €3,000 grant for research stays in Budapest, including travel support, accommodation, and subsistence assistance for up to eight weeks.

The programme welcomes applicants working in the humanities and social sciences, especially those researching archives, political systems, propaganda, human rights, documentary practices, and the representation of reality in contested environments.

Overview of the Visegrad Scholarship at OSA

The Visegrad Scholarship at OSA provides an opportunity for researchers to conduct archival-based work at the Blinken OSA Archivum in Budapest.

The scholarship focuses on research exploring:

• How truth and reality are represented.
• How information is controlled under political systems.
• How societies document conflict, censorship, and ideological change.
• How archives preserve alternative narratives.
• How knowledge is created and challenged.

The programme encourages interdisciplinary research combining history, politics, media studies, sociology, literature, art, and archival studies.

Application Schedule

The Visegrad Scholarship at OSA accepts applications twice each year.

Application periods:

• July deadline.
• November deadline.

Applicants should check the official scholarship announcement for exact yearly deadlines.

Scholarship Funding and Benefits

Selected fellows receive financial support to complete a research stay at the Archivum.

The scholarship provides:

• Grant amount: €3,000.
• Travel support to and from Budapest.
• Accommodation support.
• Modest living expenses.
• Research stay support for up to eight weeks.

Shorter research visits may receive funding on a pro-rated basis.

Research Focus Areas

The scholarship supports research related to truth, knowledge, documentation, and political environments where information is contested.

Key themes include:

Dissident Truth-Telling and Alternative Narratives

Research may explore:

• Dissident movements.
• Underground publications.
• Alternative political voices.
• Resistance to censorship.
• Personal accounts challenging official narratives.

Artistic and Literary Responses to Political Control

Eligible research areas may include:

• Literature under censorship.
• Artistic expression in restrictive environments.
• Creative responses to ideological systems.
• Restricted language and symbolic communication.

Marxist and Left-Wing Ideological Disillusionment

Projects may examine:

• Intellectual changes within Marxist traditions.
• Critiques of socialist systems.
• Political transformations.
• Experiences of ideological disappointment.

Documentary Practices and Historical Evidence

Research may focus on:

• Documentary filmmaking.
• Photography.
• Samizdat publications.
• Archival documentation.
• Visual records of political and social change.

Propaganda and the Construction of Truth

Possible topics include:

• State propaganda.
• Information control.
• Competing narratives.
• Media manipulation.
• The relationship between ideology and public knowledge.

Political Psychiatry and Social Control

Research may examine:

• Political use of psychiatric systems.
• Human rights violations.
• Institutional control mechanisms.
• Experiences of political repression.

Archival Practices and Information Networks

Applicants may explore:

• Archival methods.
• Radio Free Europe collections.
• Cold War information networks.
• Preservation of historical records.
• Institutional approaches to documentation.

Documentation of Marginalized Communities

Research areas may include:

• Minority experiences.
• Human rights documentation.
• Underrepresented communities.
• Social movements.
• Forgotten histories.

Cold War Knowledge Systems and Information Networks

Projects may investigate:

• Transnational communication systems.
• Information exchange during the Cold War.
• Knowledge production under political restrictions.
• International human rights reporting.

Post-1989 Reassessment of Socialist Knowledge

Research may focus on:

• Changes in historical interpretation after socialism.
• Reassessment of socialist-era expertise.
• Memory politics.
• Transformation of knowledge systems.

Who Is Eligible?

The scholarship is open to individuals with academic or professional experience in relevant fields.

Eligible applicants include:

• Researchers.
• Scholars.
• Artists.
• Journalists.
• Independent researchers.
• Socially engaged practitioners.

Applicants must:

• Hold an MA degree in the social sciences or humanities.
• Demonstrate research relevance to the scholarship themes.
• Be able to conduct research in English.

There are:

• No nationality restrictions.
• No requirement to be from a specific country.

Priority Applicant Groups

Applications are especially encouraged from:

• Socially engaged artists.
• Journalists.
• Scholars at risk from war zones.
• Refugees of conscience.
• Researchers working on sensitive historical or political topics.

The programme supports individuals whose work contributes to understanding contested histories and social realities.

Research Stay at the Archivum

Selected fellows conduct research at the Blinken OSA Archivum in Budapest.

During the research stay, fellows receive:

• Access to archival collections.
• Reference assistance.
• Archival guidance.
• Research orientation sessions.
• Academic feedback.
• Seminar participation opportunities.
• Interaction with the Central European University community.

The programme encourages intellectual exchange and collaboration among researchers from different disciplines.

How to Apply

Applicants must prepare and submit a complete application package.

Step 1: Develop a Research Proposal

Applicants should prepare a research plan of approximately:

• 800 words.

The research plan should explain:

• Research topic.
• Main questions.
• Connection to scholarship themes.
• Expected use of archival resources.
• Importance of the research.

Step 2: Prepare Required Documents

Applicants must submit:

• Application letter.
• Research plan (approximately 800 words).
• Curriculum vitae (CV).
• Proof of English proficiency, where applicable.
• Contact details of two referees.

Step 3: Combine Documents Into One File

All application materials must be:

• Combined into a single PDF file.
• Submitted according to the application instructions.
• Provided before the deadline.

Step 4: Submit the Application

Applications should be submitted during one of the two annual application periods:

• July.
• November.

Applicants should ensure all required documents are included before submission.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can improve their applications by:

• Clearly connecting their research to scholarship themes.
• Explaining how OSA archival materials support the project.
• Presenting focused research questions.
• Demonstrating academic or professional relevance.
• Showing the broader importance of the research.
• Providing a realistic research timeline.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Submitting research unrelated to the programme themes.
• Providing an unclear research plan.
• Missing required documents.
• Forgetting to include referee details.
• Submitting multiple files instead of one PDF.
• Failing to explain the importance of archival research.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Visegrad Scholarship at OSA?

The Visegrad Scholarship at OSA is a research fellowship programme that supports scholars, artists, and journalists conducting research at the Blinken OSA Archivum in Budapest.

How much funding does the scholarship provide?

The scholarship provides a €3,000 grant covering travel, accommodation, and living expenses for a research stay of up to eight weeks.

Who can apply for the scholarship?

Applicants with an MA degree in social sciences or humanities can apply. There are no nationality restrictions.

What topics does the scholarship support?

The programme supports research on truth, censorship, propaganda, archives, human rights, political systems, documentary practices, and historical memory.

Where does the scholarship take place?

The research stay takes place at the Blinken OSA Archivum in Budapest.

Can artists and journalists apply?

Yes. The programme especially encourages applications from socially engaged artists, journalists, scholars at risk, and refugees of conscience.

When are applications accepted?

Applications are accepted twice a year, usually in July and November.

What documents are required?

Applicants must submit an application letter, an approximately 800-word research plan, CV, proof of English proficiency if required, and contact details for two referees.

Conclusion

The Visegrad Scholarship at OSA provides valuable support for researchers exploring how societies document, interpret, and challenge ideas of truth and reality. Through access to archival resources, academic guidance, and financial assistance, the programme enables scholars and creative professionals to investigate important historical and social questions.

Researchers, artists, and journalists working on themes related to censorship, political memory, archives, human rights, and contested knowledge are encouraged to apply for this opportunity to conduct meaningful research at the Blinken OSA Archivum in Budapest.

For more information, visit Blinken OSA Archivum.