Universitas Indonesia Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship 2026

Are you a Southeast Asia (excluding Indonesia) or Africa scholar committed to challenging colonial legacies and reimagining foundational concepts in the humanities from a Global South perspective?

The Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship, hosted by the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (UI), supported by Gerda Henkel Stiftung, is a critical initiative responding to the persistent dominance of colonial and Eurocentric frameworks in global humanities scholarship. Structural inequities continue to limit opportunities for scholars in the Global South to lead transformative, conceptual interventions, especially by restricting access to vital scholarly exchange, collaboration, and structured research.

This fellowship is explicitly designed to counter these structural limitations by championing South-to-South epistemological experimentation and mainstreaming.

Recognizing UI’s strength as a flagship institution in Southeast Asia and its strategic location at the crossroads of Asia and the Pacific, the program offers an ideal environment to foster deep scholarly engagement. Our core objective is to establish a sustained, collaborative network of humanities scholars dedicated to advancing decolonial thinking. By prioritizing engagement and alternative trajectories beyond North-bound academic pathways, the fellowship provides both material and intellectual support. This effort aims to cultivate a shared academic ecosystem that nurtures experimental, critical humanities and drives the mainstreaming of knowledge grounded in Southern perspectives. This initiative is proudly aligned with and extends the ongoing commitments of the Gerda Henkel Foundation.

The Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship invites mid-career scholars to participate in a transformative program at Universitas Indonesia, a leading institution in Southeast Asia. This initiative offers a unique opportunity to dedicate 6-12 months to research, collaboration, and knowledge dissemination, with an explicit focus on fostering South-to-South scholarly exchange and epistemological mainstreaming.

• Table of Content
• About Universitas Indonesia (UI)
• Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship Fellowship
• Aim and Benefits of Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship Fellowship
• Requirements for Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship Fellowship Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship Fellowship
• Documents Required for Application
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship Fellowship

Aim and Benefits of Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship Fellowship

• Monthly stipend for fellows to cover living costs in Indonesia.
• Visa fees and research stay permit processing.
• Travel costs for international flights (reimbursed up to limit).
• Reimbursement for research-related materials and supplies.
• Grant support for the fellow’s first child under age 18.
• Grant support for each additional child under age 18.

Requirements for Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship Fellowship Qualification

Universitas Indonesia (UI) seek scholars eager to:

• Experiment: Develop conceptual and methodological frameworks grounded in decolonial thought, leading to new forms of knowledge production.
• Collaborate: Engage with UI faculty and peers to build long-term academic partnerships, particularly between institutions in Southeast Asia and Africa.
• Innovate: Consolidate research into significant academic publications and curricular innovations that shift the center of gravity in humanities discourse.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship Fellowship

• Applications will be reviewed by the fellowship selection committee based on academic merit, relevance to the program’s agenda, and the potential for meaningful collaboration with scholars at Universitas Indonesia and partner institutions across Southeast Asia and Africa.
• Shortlisted candidates may be invited for further discussion or clarification regarding their proposed research.
• Successful applicants will be notified directly via email.

Documents Required for Application

Applicants should include the following documents in a single email submission:

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A current academic CV detailing institutional affiliation, research experience, publications, and relevant academic activities.

2. Research Proposal (5 pages maximum)

A concise proposal describing the research project the applicant intends to pursue during the fellowship period, including:

• Research objectives and key questions
• Conceptual or methodological approach
• Expected scholarly outputs (e.g., working papers, publications, teaching modules).

3. Writing Sample (optional but encouraged)

One recent publication or manuscript related to the applicant’s research area.

Check also:
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC 2027
Chevening Scholarship 2027

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Scholars interested in participating in the Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship are invited to submit an expression of interest outlining their academic background and proposed research focus. Applications should demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing decolonial approaches in the humanities and to fostering scholarly collaboration across the Global South.

• Applicants are required to submit their application materials via email to [email protected] with the subject line: Application – Decolonizing Humanities Fellowship – Full Name

For more information, kindly visit Universitas Indonesia Fellowship webpage.