Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe
The ACLS Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe offers a two-week residency in Bulgaria for scholars to advance research and interdisciplinary exchange on the region.
Funder: American Council of Learned Societies
Due Dates: October 28, 2026: Application Deadline
Funding Amounts: Travel stipend (amount varies by location), accommodation, and per diem for two-week residency in Bulgaria; no direct research grant.
Summary: Two-week residential institute in Bulgaria supporting research and interdisciplinary dialogue for scholars of East Central and Southeastern Europe.
Key Information: Applicants must have PhD conferred by deadline and be affiliated with an eligible institution; no reference letters required.
Description
The Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe (SISECSE), organized by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) in partnership with the Centre for Advanced Study Sofia, is a two-week residential workshop designed to foster research and interdisciplinary collaboration among scholars focused on East Central and Southeastern Europe. The institute convenes in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, and provides participants with dedicated time and space to advance their research and writing, as well as opportunities for local fieldwork, including archival research, interviews, and site surveys. The 2027 institute will include discussions on “Rethinking Spaces and Scales: Beyond the East-West Dichotomy,” but applicants’ research projects do not need to be tied to this theme. The program is intended for postdoctoral or advanced researchers in the humanities or interpretive social sciences.
