For established scholars, the rarest currency is uninterrupted time. The Jean Monnet Fellowship at the European University Institute in Florence offers exactly that: twelve months inside one of Europe's finest research communities, a €2,850 monthly grant, and the protected space to push a serious research project forward. Offered by the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, it is one of the most respected post-PhD fellowships in Europe — up to 20 scholars a year, selected on the strength of their research proposal and CV.
In short: The EUI Jean Monnet Fellowships 2027–28 are one-year, fully funded research fellowships in Florence, Italy, for scholars who earned their doctorate more than five years ago. Fellows receive €2,850 per month plus research, travel and family allowances. Applications close 23 October 2026 at 14:00 CEST.
Quick Overview
- Host Country: Italy
- Host Institution: European University Institute (Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies)
- Degree Level: Postdoctoral researchers and established academics (PhD required)
- Program Duration: 12 months (1 September 2027 – 31 August 2028)
- Funding Type: Fully funded fellowship
- Deadline: 23 October 2026, 14:00 CEST
Benefits of the EUI Jean Monnet Fellowships 2027
- €2,850 monthly grant — the basic fellowship grant, paid monthly. (If you receive another salary or grant, it may be adjusted down to a minimum of €2,100 per month — you must disclose any additional income.)
- €650 research allowance — for eligible research expenses, including attending conferences.
- Travel reimbursement — up to €1,200 for your journey to Florence and the return trip.
- Household allowance — up to €310 per month for an eligible partner living with you in Florence.
- Child allowance — €210 per month for each dependent child living with you in Florence.
- Visa cost reimbursement — up to €250 for eligible non-EU Fellows, plus visa and residence assistance for you and eligible family members.
- A world-class research home — you are based at the Robert Schuman Centre (Villa Schifanoia), associated with one of its research programmes or projects, with access to EUI's postdoctoral programme activities and collaboration with EUI researchers and academic staff.
- Real publication outcomes — the research you do during the fellowship is expected to lead to an EUI Working Paper, a journal article, or a book with a reputable publisher — exactly the kind of output that moves an academic career forward.
Eligibility Criteria for the EUI Jean Monnet Fellowships 2027
This fellowship is for experienced scholars, not fresh PhDs. Per the official EUI call, you must:
- Have obtained your doctorate more than five years before the fellowship begins — for the 2027–28 cohort, that means your PhD must have been awarded before 1 September 2022.
- Be a postdoctoral researcher, tenure-track academic, or academic wishing to spend a sabbatical at the Centre.
- Be of any nationality — the fellowships are open worldwide.
- Propose research that fits the Centre's themes — your project should align with one of the Robert Schuman Centre's main research themes, programmes or projects (European integration, governance, migration, democracy, political economy and related fields).
- Be willing to live in the Florence area for the entire fellowship — this is a residential fellowship; active participation in the Centre's academic life is expected.
- Have a good knowledge of English, and of any other language relevant to your research.
- Not use current EUI professors as referees — references from full-time or part-time EUI professors will not be accepted.
- Apply to the right programme — if you received your doctorate less than five years before 1 September 2027, EUI directs you to the Max Weber Programme instead.
How to Apply for the EUI Jean Monnet Fellowships 2027
1. Open the official application page — the call lives on the EUI website under the Jean Monnet Fellowships section, with the full programme description, conditions of award and application instructions. 2. Study the Centre's research themes — read the Robert Schuman Centre's research programmes and projects first, and shape your proposal to fit one of them. Selection hinges on your proposal and CV, so fit matters as much as quality. 3. Prepare your documents — a CV with your full publication list (PDF), a motivation letter of 1–2 pages, a research proposal of 2–4 pages, and a passport copy (JPG). Write in English to guarantee the widest possible reading. 4. Register your referees early — nominate two academic referees in the online form as soon as possible. They submit their letters directly through the system, and their deadline is the same 23 October 2026, 14:00 CEST. The request email goes out automatically once you register them, but it is your responsibility to make sure they received it. 5. Submit the complete online application by 23 October 2026, 14:00 CEST — after that time the online form is deactivated, no exceptions. 6. Wait for the outcome — there are no interviews. Selection is by the Centre's academic staff and approved by the EUI Executive Committee; all candidates are informed by email by the end of January 2027.
Required Documents
- CV with complete publication list (PDF format)
- Motivation letter (1–2 pages)
- Research proposal (2–4 pages)
- Passport copy (JPG format)
- Two academic reference letters (submitted directly by referees through the portal — not by you)
EUI Jean Monnet Fellowships 2027 Deadline
Applications close on 23 October 2026 at 14:00 CEST — and your referees' letters must also be in by that exact time. The EUI explicitly advises registering your referees as early as possible, because the selection process begins immediately after the deadline and references carry real weight. After 14:00 CEST on 23 October, the online form goes offline and late applications are not accepted. Results follow by email by the end of January 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Jean Monnet Fellowship really fully funded?
Yes. The basic grant is €2,850 per month, plus a €650 research allowance, up to €1,200 in travel reimbursement, family allowances for a partner and children living with you in Florence, and up to €250 in visa cost reimbursement for eligible non-EU Fellows. If you receive another salary or grant, the monthly amount may be reduced to a minimum of €2,100.
What is the five-year PhD rule?
You must have obtained your doctorate more than five years before the fellowship starts. For 2027–28, that means your PhD was awarded before 1 September 2022. This is a hard eligibility line from the official call.
I earned my PhD three years ago. Can I apply?
No — not to this fellowship. EUI directs scholars who received their doctorate less than five years before 1 September 2027 to the Max Weber Programme instead, which is designed for junior postdocs.
How many Jean Monnet Fellowships are awarded each year?
Up to 20. It is competitive, and selection is based primarily on the quality of your research proposal and your CV.
Do I have to live in Florence?
Yes. Fellows must live in the Florence area for the entire duration of the fellowship so they can take an active part in the academic life of the Robert Schuman Centre.
What documents do I need to apply?
A CV with a full publication list (PDF), a 1–2 page motivation letter, a 2–4 page research proposal, a passport copy, and two academic references submitted directly by your referees. Note that references from current full-time or part-time EUI professors are not accepted.
Do my reference letters need to arrive by the deadline too?
Yes — by 23 October 2026, 14:00 CEST, the same deadline as the application itself. Your application can technically be considered without references, but the official guidance is clear that they play an important part in the selection process. Register your referees early.
Are there interviews?
No. Selection is based on your application documents and references, decided by the Centre's academic staff and approved by the EUI Executive Committee. The decision is final and not subject to appeal, and no individual feedback is given on proposals of non-selected candidates.
Can I bring my family?
Yes. If your partner lives with you in Florence, you may receive up to €310 per month in household allowance (subject to the partner's income conditions), plus €210 per month for each dependent child living with you in Florence. Non-EU Fellows also get visa and residence assistance for eligible family members.
When will I know the result?
The EUI Academic Service informs all candidates by email by the end of January 2027 at the latest.
Final Words
A year in Florence with protected research time, a strong monthly grant, and one of Europe's sharpest academic communities around you — for scholars five or more years past their PhD, few fellowships match the Jean Monnet. The October deadline will arrive fast, and your referees need the same cutoff, so start the conversation with them now.
