University of Melbourne Visiting Fellowship 2027

The Visiting Fellowship Scheme is offered by the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness at Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne. It provides researchers, practitioners and educators working on statelessness with an opportunity to engage directly with the Centre and develop international research collaboration.

For the 2027 cycle, the Centre is offering one funded Visiting Research Fellowship for research related to statelessness. The selected fellow may request up to AUD 6,000 towards international travel and accommodation in Melbourne.

The fellowship is designed for academics ranging from postdoctoral early-career researchers to tenured academics. Non-academic professionals can also be considered where they propose an applied research project relevant to the Centre's work. Researchers with lived experience of statelessness are particularly encouraged to apply.

During the fellowship, the successful applicant is expected to participate actively in the Centre's academic life, including relevant events and workshops. Fellows are also expected to present their work through a faculty or public seminar or a work-in-progress meeting and, where appropriate, contribute to the Centre's Critical Statelessness Studies Blog.

The Peter McMullin Centre is an interdisciplinary University-based centre focused on research, education and policy engagement relating to statelessness and the protection of stateless people.

• Applicants should propose research in an area related to statelessness.
• Applications are invited from postdoctoral early-career researchers through to tenured academics.
• Non-academic visiting professionals may also be considered.
• Non-academic applicants must propose an applied research project relevant to the work of the Centre.
• International applicants can apply; no specific nationality restriction is stated.
• Researchers with lived experience of statelessness are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Applicants should be able to undertake their proposed fellowship between August and October 2027.
• Applicants from outside Australia are responsible for arranging and funding any required visas and insurance.
• No specific age limit is stated.
• No IELTS or formal English-language test requirement is stated.

• Funding of up to AUD 6,000.
• Funding may be used towards international travel.
• Funding may be used towards accommodation in Melbourne during the fellowship.
• Workspace at the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness.
• Access to University library facilities.
• Computer access.
• Participation in Centre events and workshops.
• Opportunity to present research through a faculty seminar, public seminar or work-in-progress meeting.
• Opportunity, where appropriate, to contribute to the Critical Statelessness Studies Blog.
• Opportunity to strengthen international research collaboration in statelessness studies.

Applications for the funded fellowship must include the following in one PDF document:

• Curriculum vitae (CV).
• List of publications.
• Research plan of a maximum of 1,000 words.
• Description of the proposed research.
• Proposed activities and collaboration during the visit.
• Explanation of how the proposed work will contribute to the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness.
• Proposed dates for the fellowship visit.
• Fellowship amount requested, up to AUD 6,000.
• Budget breakdown showing how the requested funding would be used.
• Airfare costs should be included in the budget where relevant.
• One letter of reference.
• Non-academic applicants may instead provide a letter of support from their employer or another organisation with which they are professionally associated.

The University of Melbourne does not publish a formal scored selection rubric for the 2027 fellowship. Applicants are nevertheless required to demonstrate the following through the official application:

• A proposed research project related to statelessness.
• Relevance of the proposed work to the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness.
• A clear research plan describing the proposed research and activities.
• Meaningful opportunities for collaboration during the visit.
• A clear explanation of the applicant's proposed contribution to the Centre.
• Appropriate proposed fellowship dates.
• A clear and justified funding request and budget.
• Relevant academic or professional background demonstrated through the CV and publication record.
• Supporting endorsement through an academic reference or appropriate professional support letter.

• Conduct focused research at the University of Melbourne.
• Engage with a specialist interdisciplinary centre dedicated to statelessness.
• Develop international academic and professional collaborations.
• Participate in seminars, workshops and the Centre's research community.
• Present your work to academic or public audiences.
• Develop research with potential relevance to law, policy and human rights.
• Gain dedicated time and institutional resources to advance a statelessness-related project.
• Contribute to wider international discussion and scholarship on statelessness.