CATS Fellowships 2025/2026 in Berlin, Germany

Applications are now open for the prestigious CATS Fellowships 2025/2026 in Berlin, Germany. This fully funded fellowship program is hosted by the Centre for Applied Turkey Studies (CATS) at the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), Germany’s leading think tank for international politics and security.

The fellowship offers a unique opportunity for researchers, policy professionals, and scholars whose work centers around Turkey-related topics. The program spans 6 to 12 months and includes comprehensive financial support for international participants.

Table of Contents

Fellowship Overview

Host Country: Germany
Location: Berlin
Duration: 6 to 12 Months
Program Type: Fully Funded
Start Date: September 2025
Application Deadline: 15th May 2025

Financial Coverage

Selected fellows will receive:

A monthly stipend of €2,800 – €3,000
Travel allowance to and from Germany
Research budget for project-related expenses
Support for planned research trips
Child/family allowance (if applicable)

Focus Areas and Objectives

The CATS Fellowship supports research in the following areas:

Turkish foreign and domestic policy
EU–Turkey relations
Migration and diaspora issues
Turkey’s role in regional politics (Middle East, Central Asia, Africa)
Civil society, democracy, and governance in Turkey

Germany and the EU consider Turkey a critical player due to its:

Strategic geopolitical position
NATO membership
Economic interdependence with the EU
Role in global migration flows
Large Turkish diaspora in Europe

This fellowship aims to strengthen European understanding of Turkish affairs, especially in times of political uncertainty.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants from all nationalities are welcome. The fellowship is open to:

Established researchers with a focus on Turkey
Think tank members and policy professionals
Early-career scholars, including advanced PhD candidates with a Turkey-related research background