Deadline: December 2, 2025
The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) invites applications for the Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe (SISECSE) 2025-26 competition. In partnership with the Centre for Advanced Study Sofia (CAS), ACLS will convene leading scholars from Eastern Europe and North America for a two-week residency in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria from June 3 to June 19, 2026.
SISECSE will provide participating scholars with time and space to dedicate to their own research and writing in a collaborative and interdisciplinary setting. The program covers travel, accommodation, and per diem expenses. Scholars are expected to be in residence and to participate in all planned events for the duration of the institute.
Learn More About Eligibility and Application Requirements
In addition to conducting their own research, scholars will have the opportunity to participate in a series of immersive discussions on a broad topic of shared academic interest. In 2026, the institute’s discussions will explore “Autonomy, Institutions, and Transnational Networks.” There is no requirement that applicants’ projects connect to the theme.
Eligibility
The competition is open to scholars in any field or discipline in the humanities and social sciences pursuing postdoctoral or advanced research in East Central and Southeastern Europe, including Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. We seek to foster conversations across generations and fields.
Scholars must be based at institutions in North America (Canada, Mexico, US) or East Central and Southeastern Europe (see the list above).
Applications must be submitted in English, but the written work produced by the grantee can be in any language. Work proposed must be in the humanities and social sciences and must employ humanistic approaches and methods.
Deadline: December 2, 2025, 9:00 PM EST
Questions? Contact us at SISECSE@acls.org.
This program is made possible thanks to a generous donation by Carl and Betty Pforzheimer.