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EurAsia, Alpha+ | Young Scholars Award for Research in East and Southeast Asia

Deadline
Tu 15.9.2026

Thanks to the Alpha+ Foundation of the FWF, the Cluster of Excellence EurAsian Transformations is able to make available funding for extended study and research stays in Asia. The thematic focus should be on the application of digital tools and methods to the study of cultural heritage, including topics of economic and social relevance. 

The aim is to enable younger scholars to gain significant personal experience in East and Southeast Asian countries in dialogue with local colleagues and institutions. Eligible countries are: Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, East Timor, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar.

Eligibility

  • Doctoral students, researchers at the postdoctoral level at any academic institution in Austria (max. 8 years after completion of the doctorate, not counting parental or other forms of leave).

  • Funding can be used for travel, accommodation, per diem expenses of the applicant, as well as for other research-related expenses on location.

  • The stay in the country should be no less than two weeks. There has to be a demonstrable element of communication and scholarly exchange with local scholars and institutions. Funding may be used to enable individuals to attend Summer Academies organized by the COE in conjunction with its partners in East Asia.

  • Funding amount: max. 10,000 euros.

Application

General documents must include

  • CV and list of publications.

  • Proof of employment at or affiliation with an academic institution in Austria (or, in case of doctoral students, an enrolment certificate for a university in Austria).

  • Outline of the proposed cooperation with local scholars and institutions, preferably including letters of intent by such scholars and institutions outlining the expected benefits of cooperation.

 Project documents must include

  • Project abstract (200 words).

  • Project exposé (5–10 pages) covering the following aspects:

  1. General aims (state of research, research questions and methodology) 
  2. Reasons for the research stay and the intended cooperation as well as the expected personal benefit and the potential long-term effect
  3. Rationale for the duration of stay (including work steps and timetable)
  4. A preliminary budget
  5. Bibliography

The application deadline is 15 September 2026 for projects to be concluded by 31 December 2027.

Further information is available on the website of the EurAsian Transformations Cluster.