"Call for Fellowships KITLV"

Job description

The KITLV invites scholars working in the fields of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies to apply for a Visiting Fellowship.

Duration: 3 months

Period 1: 1 September 2026 up to 1 December 2026

Period 2: 1 December 2026 up to 1 March 2027

Eligibility: Candidates are invited to send in a proposal of the work they wish to carry out while at KITLV. Fellows may work on a publication or research project of their own choice in the fields of Southeast Asian or Caribbean Studies. Applicants are not required to have an affiliation at a university or a research institute. They are, however, expected to have a steady income in the period of the Visiting Fellowship. The KITLV Visiting Fellowship is not a salaried position.

Our offer: The selected candidates will be offered:

• A return air or train fare (economy) to and from the Netherlands;
• Reimbursement of the costs of their accommodation in Leiden (including rent, energy costs, and if applicable service costs) up to a maximum of € 2,000 per month, based on proof of payment;
• A monthly compensation for higher living costs in Leiden, as compared to the main place of residence (calculated on a case-by-case basis).

If needed, the KITLV can provide a formal letter of invitation and offer support in applying for a residence permit. The institute will not, however, assist in finding suitable accommodation. The latter is the fellow's own responsibility.How to apply: Candidates are invited to submit their application in English. Applications must include:

• A completed application form (download here)
• A brief, two-page CV.

You can submit your application at the latest on 21 March 2026, midnight (CET). Please submit your application via the Apply Now button. You may address the application to the Program Chair, Prof. Dr. Ward Berenschot (do not email him your application).Requirements:

• Have a PhD in the Social Sciences and/or Humanities;
• Carry out research in the field(s) of Southeast Asian and/or Caribbean Studies;
• Are interested to carry out their desired research in the Netherlands;
• Are prepared to be based at KITLV during the entire period of the fellowship;
• Are not a (tax) resident of The Netherlands.

Conditions of employment: Fixed-term contract: 3 months.

Academic fields: Language and culture

Job types: Postdoc

Education level: Doctorate

Weekly hours: 38 hours per week

Location: Witte Singel 27a, 2311BX, Leiden

Employer: KITLV

About the KITLV: The Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV-KNAW) is an Academy research institute. The KITLV conducts interdisciplinary and comparative historical research. Its research focus is Southeast Asia and the Caribbean, with an emphasis on Indonesia and the 'Dutch' Caribbean. It is particularly interested in such issues as state formation, violence and citizenship, processes of mobility and the formation of ethnic and national identity. KITLV is active in the humanities, social sciences and comparative area studies and works closely with Leiden University.

Department: Fellowships

The aim of the KITLV Fellowship Program is to provide space for mutual inspiration, collaboration, creation and co-creation within and beyond the institute's main research themes and regions of interest. The program is a central feature of the institute's international outlook and ambition as a global knowledge hub in Southeast Asian and Caribbean studies.