€1,300 Monthly Fellowship in Germany Opens for Literature Researchers
Foreign researchers working on children’s literature, young adult fiction, illustration, translation or international reading cultures can apply for the International Youth Library Fellowship Programme 2027 in Munich, Germany.
The fellowship provides a monthly stipend of €1,300 for a research stay lasting between six weeks and three months. However, it is not a degree scholarship or a completely funded visit. Applicants must pay for their international travel and arrange their own health insurance.
The programme is most suitable for researchers who already have a defined project and need access to the International Youth Library’s multilingual collection of approximately 650,000 children’s and youth books in around 260 languages.
What Is the International Youth Library Fellowship Programme 2027?
The International Youth Library Fellowship Programme 2027 supports international researchers who need to conduct collection-based research in children’s and young adult literature.
Selected fellows work at the International Youth Library in Blutenburg Castle, Munich. They receive access to the scientific reading room, specialist literature, international book collections and support from librarians and children’s-book experts.
The fellowship does not lead to a university qualification. Applicants do not enrol in a master’s or doctoral programme and do not receive tuition funding. It is a temporary research fellowship intended to advance an existing academic, literary or publication project.
What Does the International Youth Library Fellowship 2027 Cover?
The International Youth Library Fellowship 2027 provides a stipend of €1,300 per month during the approved research period and the selected fellows also receive:
- access to the International Youth Library’s collections;
- a workspace in the scientific reading room;
- research support from librarians and subject specialists;
- assistance in finding suitable accommodation; and
- an opportunity to present their research through a poster session.
Applicants should not interpret accommodation assistance as free housing. The library helps fellows search for accommodation, but the stipend is normally used to pay rent and other daily expenses.
The fellowship does not cover:
- international or domestic travel expenses;
- health insurance;
- visa-related costs;
- accommodation deposits; or
- additional personal expenses exceeding the stipend.
Foreign applicants should calculate these costs before accepting the fellowship.
Who Can Apply for the International Youth Library Fellowship 2027?
The International Youth Library Fellowship 2027 is open to applicants who do not hold German citizenship.
Eligible applicants may include:
- graduates;
- doctoral candidates and PhD students;
- PhD holders;
- early-career academics;
- researchers; and
- authors preparing a publication involving international children’s or youth literature.
Applicants must have sufficient knowledge of English and/or German to conduct research and communicate with library specialists.
A PhD is not compulsory, and the programme does not publish a universal GPA requirement or formal IELTS score. However, applicants must demonstrate that they are capable of completing independent research.
Which Research Projects Fit the International Youth Library Fellowship 2027?
The International Youth Library Fellowship 2027 is intended for projects directly related to children’s and young adult literature or illustration.
Relevant topics may include:
- comparative children’s literature;
- young adult fiction;
- picture books and illustration;
- literary translation;
- international publishing history;
- historical children’s books;
- reading cultures;
- representations of childhood;
- intercultural storytelling; and
- children’s literature across languages or regions.
The research proposal must explain why the International Youth Library’s collection is necessary for the project.
Applicants should identify books, editions, authors, illustrators or specialist materials available in the library’s catalogue. A proposal that simply states that the library has a large collection is unlikely to be persuasive.
Who Should Not Apply for the International Youth Library Fellowship 2027?
Applicants should not apply for the International Youth Library Fellowship 2027 if they are seeking funding for a degree, general creative-writing residency, internship or unrelated humanities research.
The fellowship may also be unsuitable for applicants who:
- have only a broad research idea;
- have not completed preliminary work;
- cannot identify relevant materials in the library;
- need the fellowship to cover flights and insurance; or
- require more than three months to complete the proposed work.
The programme supports a focused research visit, not the early exploration of an undeveloped topic.
Documents Required for the International Youth Library Fellowship 2027
Applicants for the International Youth Library Fellowship 2027 must complete the online application form and prepare several supporting documents.
The application package normally includes:
- a cover letter introducing the applicant and proposed research;
- a selected list of relevant publications, projects or activities;
- a list of relevant conferences, seminars or academic events;
- a research proposal of no more than three pages; and
- examples of titles from the International Youth Library’s collection that will be consulted.
The cover letter should explain why the applicant must conduct the research in Munich rather than relying only on materials available locally or online.
The research proposal should connect the research question, required library materials, planned activities and expected output. Possible outputs may include a journal article, book chapter, publication, exhibition project, database or doctoral research section.
How to Strengthen an International Youth Library Fellowship 2027 Application
Applicants should begin by searching the International Youth Library’s online catalogue before writing the proposal.
A competitive application should clearly answer four questions:
- What specific research question will be examined?
- Which materials at the International Youth Library are required?
- What work will be completed during the stay?
- What academic or publication output will result?
Applicants should request a realistic fellowship duration. A six-week stay may be suitable for a narrowly defined article or chapter, while a larger comparative project may justify two or three months.
The proposal should not contain a general discussion of children’s literature followed by a short reference to the library. The collection must be central to the research design.
International Youth Library Fellowship 2027 Application Deadline
The last date to apply for the International Youth Library Fellowship Programme 2027 is September 30, 2026.
This deadline applies to research visits planned for 2027. Applicants should prepare their research proposal, publication record and list of relevant library titles well before the closing date.
The International Youth Library Fellowship 2027 is worth applying for when an applicant has a developed research project, can demonstrate a strong need for the Munich collection and can independently cover travel, insurance and initial relocation costs