Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF)

IIE-SRF accepts applications from professors, researchers, and public intellectuals who face threats and cannot continue their work in their home countries. Scholars from any country and in any academic field or discipline may qualify. Applicants are assessed based on academic qualifications and experience, the quality and/or potential of their work, and the urgency of the threats that they face. Preference is given to scholars who: hold a Ph.D. or highest degree in their field and have significant teaching and/or research experience at a university, college, or other institution of higher learning; have an established record of published research; demonstrate superior academic accomplishment or promise; are facing or have recently fled from immediate, targeted threats to their lives and/or careers in their home countries or countries of residence; will benefit their home and/or host academic communities. We encourage applications from women and members of ethnic, racial, cultural, or religious minority groups, or those otherwise underrepresented in their fields. Unfortunately, IIE-SRF typically cannot consider applications from individuals who: are seeking to continue their studies, including Ph.D. study, or to complete an academic training program; have been displaced or have resided outside their home countries for more than two years; hold citizenship or permanent residency in a safe second country; will have completed two years on a comparable fellowship or other program for threatened scholars. Because of high demand for assistance, IIE-SRF is not able to grant fellowship support to all applicants who meet the eligibility requirements. Note to potential Ukrainian applicants: IIE-SRF continues to follow closely the events in Ukraine and the devastating impacts of the war on the academic community and country more broadly. Within this context, we are faced with the difficult decision of how to best allocate our limited resources. After careful consideration, IIE-SRF is focused on supporting fellowships undertaken in Eastern or Central Europe. We are unfortunately unable to consider applications from Ukrainian scholars seeking placements elsewhere in Europe, including Western Europe. IIE-SRF will continue to evaluate its approach as events on the ground unfold. Thank you for your understanding.

Scholars can apply by sending the required application materials to us directly at srf@iie.org. In cases where a scholar is unable to submit the application, a third party may send the materials on their behalf. IIE-SRF accepts applications on a rolling basis, and fellowships are awarded quarterly. For a possible decision in March 2025, application materials must be submitted by January 20, 2025. The required application materials include: Application Form Current CV or resume. Please be sure your CV includes the following information: Academic degrees (degree-granting institution, field, and date of degree award); Current position (location, dates of employment, professional title, and responsibilities); Previous academic positions (in chronological order, including location, dates of employment, professional title, and responsibilities); A detailed list of your academic publications (journal articles, books, chapters, exhibitions, etc.) including full citations with the name of publication, authors, title of work, date of publication, and page numbers, if possible; Other relevant academic work (including supervision of master’s and Ph.D. theses, conference presentations, grants/honors/awards, professional affiliations, etc.). Academic statement. Please provide a thorough statement detailing your academic and professional background and experience, including a thorough description of your academic research interests. Please be sure to include a description of the activities that you have undertaken in your academic positions as well as an explanation of the activities (research, teaching, publishing, etc.) you would undertake during a fellowship. Your academic statement should be a minimum of one page. Personal statement. Please provide a thorough statement explaining why you are applying to IIE-SRF for support. Include a clear and detailed account of the threats or risks that you have been facing and the reasons that you cannot continue your work in your home country at this time. Your personal statement should be a minimum of one page. Reference letters. IIE-SRF requires a minimum of three (3) reference letters that contain the elements listed below. In some cases, additional letters may be requested. Letters from colleagues both inside and outside of your home country are preferred. Please note that IIE-SRF requires original reference letters. Letters should not use identical or AI-generated text, and each referee should speak to their specific knowledge of your academic background and/or circumstances. When possible, please have your referees compose their letters on official letterhead and send them to IIE-SRF directly at srf@iie.org. Two (2) academic/professional letters of reference from academic or professional colleagues who can speak in detail to your research, publications, teaching, or other academic experience. When appropriate, letters should describe your unique expertise and contributions to specific intellectual issues or questions. Two (2) personal letters of reference from colleagues or other persons who are aware of your circumstances and can describe the threats that you have been facing. A copy of your Ph.D. or highest degree. Samples of your most current research publications. If you have already secured a commitment from a university or other institution to host your fellowship, please provide a letter from the host indicating their intent to host, if you are awarded. Please note that this is not a requirement. To begin assessing an application, IIE-SRF must receive the application form, a current CV, academic statement, and personal statement. The remaining materials may be sent at a later time. Please note that all application materials submitted to IIE-SRF must be original and unique to an applicant’s particular academic background and circumstances. IIE-SRF will not accept academic or personal statements that share identical language with the statements of other applicants to IIE-SRF. Any language or background information borrowed from the internet or other outside source should be cited to credit the original source. IIE-SRF strongly discourages the use of AI tools such as ChatGPT during the application process, including for creating application materials or in responses to IIE-SRF questions. Suspected use of AI-generated language will be a negative factor during IIE-SRF’s assessment process. Spouses who may both be eligible for IIE-SRF and intend to apply should submit applications at the same time. Please note that if one spouse submits an application after their partner has already been awarded the IIE-SRF fellowship, we may not be able to consider the second application. While we recognize that spouses may be experiencing similar circumstances in their home country, IIE-SRF requires each spouse to submit complete, unique application materials. Please submit all application materials via email to srf@iie.org. If you do not have access to email, you may send your materials via fax or post. Address: Scholar Rescue Fund Institute of International Education One World Trade Center, 36th Floor New York, New York 10007 USA Fax: +1-212-205-6425 Deadlines IIE-SRF accepts applications on a rolling basis and fellowships are awarded quarterly. Application Review IIE-SRF conducts a thorough review of each applicant’s application materials to assess their experience, the quality of scholarly work, and the nature and urgency of the threat in the applicant’s home country. In doing so, IIE-SRF may contact the applicant’s references and/or other sources, such as independent experts on the applicant’s academic field, country of origin, or the particulars of the reported threat. (IIE-SRF will never share identifying information about an applicant without their permission.) In many cases, IIE-SRF will follow up with an applicant directly for additional information about their academic work and/or their situation in their home country, in order to gain a full understanding of their scholarly background, individual circumstances, and need for the IIE-SRF fellowship. Because of high demand for IIE-SRF assistance, the program is not able to grant fellowship support to all applicants who meet the eligibility requirements.

Accepts transfer credit.