Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies Core Fellowship Program

The Core Fellowship Program is the basis of all HCAS activities and the majority of our fellows are appointed through it. You may find the key information on the core fellowship below. In 2023, the application period begins on 22 August and closes on 14 September. 

Read more about the application process here.

Ba­sic char­ac­ter­is­tics of the program

• Annual open call usually from August to September
• Open to researchers from the humanities, social sciences, behavioral sciences, theology and law, as well as to researchers in other fields who focus on topics related to the human sciences
• Employment, not a grant programme
• Fixed term appointments for 0,5–3 years
• For all career levels beyond the doctorate (post-docs, mid-career researchers, and full professors)
• Usual number of appointments 8–14 per year
• Number of applications has been 250–450 per year, with well over 50 % from outside Finland
• No fixed career stage or discipline quotas

What we offer

• Time and freedom for concentrated research free from administrative duties and from a large teaching obligation
• Thriving and stimulating collegial work environment in the center of Helsinki, surrounded by libraries
• Salaried positions with associated benefits (paid family and sick leave, pension benefits and occupational health care) in accordance with the General Collective Agreement for Universities
• Office space
• Language check services
• Travel and research allowance
• Taxable relocation allowance for those newly recruited fellows who must relocate to the Helsinki area from elsewhere in Finland and in the world
• Relocation assistance for international fellows
• Social programming and limited in-house wellness services

"For a number of reasons, the Collegium is a place that incites discussion and chat. Maybe it’s the comfy sofas of the common room, maybe it’s the particular nature of its inhabitants – a confederacy of rogues who have chosen to leave the comforts of their departments and warmer climes for a while."

Josephine Hoegaerts, HCAS Core fellow 2015-2017

Expectation from recruited fellows

• Fellows should concentrate on their research to the best of their abilities, present their research at Collegium seminars and interact with their colleagues
• Fellows must be physically present at the Collegium 80% of the fellowship period
• The annual workload system of 1624 hours used at the University of Helsinki applies
• Teaching requirement of 5% from the second fellowship-year onwards
• Participation in the weekly fellows' seminars, 1 presentation per academic year