The Canon Foundation Co-sponsored Research Fellowship 2027 offers a postdoctoral research opportunity at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy.
The fellowship is jointly supported by the Canon Foundation in Europe and the EUI. One fellowship is awarded each year to a Japanese national or permanent resident of Japan, with the successful candidate joining the EUI’s Max Weber Programme for Postdoctoral Studies.
For the 2027–28 academic year, the EUI lists 16 October 2026 at 14:00 CEST as the application deadline. The programme is scheduled to begin on 1 September 2027.
Canon Foundation Co-sponsored Research Fellowship 2027: Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship | Canon Foundation Co-sponsored Research Fellowship |
| Host institution | European University Institute (EUI) |
| Location | Florence, Italy |
| Programme | Max Weber Programme |
| Study level | Postdoctoral research |
| Eligible nationality | Japanese nationals or permanent residents of Japan |
| Start date | 1 September 2027 |
| Application deadline | 16 October 2026, 14:00 CEST |
| Basic stipend | €2,500 per month |
| Research allowance | €1,500 per year for eligible research expenses |
| Travel support | Up to €1,200 for incoming and outgoing travel combined |
| Visa fee reimbursement | Up to €250 |
| Location requirement | Residential in the Florence area |
The Canon Foundation confirms that it awards one fellowship each year with the European University Institute. The selected researcher joins the Max Weber Programme.
About the Canon Foundation Co-sponsored Research Fellowship
The fellowship supports early-career academics who want to undertake postdoctoral research at the European University Institute.
The EUI’s Max Weber Programme is a postdoctoral programme covering fields within the Institute’s academic units, including Economics, History, Law, Political and Social Sciences, the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, and the Florence School of Transnational Governance.
The programme is residential, meaning Fellows are expected to live in the Florence area and participate actively in the academic activities of the EUI.
The Canon Foundation’s co-sponsored fellowship is specifically reserved for Japanese nationals or permanent residents of Japan. This is different from the general Max Weber Fellowship, which accepts applicants of any nationality.
Benefits of the Fellowship
€2,500 Monthly Stipend
The current basic grant is €2,500 per month.
Applicants who receive another salary or grant must disclose that income. Depending on the amount of additional income, the fellowship payment may be reduced, with the current minimum stated by the EUI being €1,750 per month.
Research Expenses
Max Weber Fellows receive €1,500 per year for eligible research expenses, including expenses such as conference attendance.
Fellows who are on the academic job market may also apply for up to €1,000 for eligible job-interview expenses when those costs are not covered elsewhere.
Family Allowance
Eligible Fellows may receive a household allowance of up to €310 per month if their partner lives with them in the Florence area and the partner’s income is below €2,000 per month.
A dependent allowance of €210 per month for each dependent child may also be available when the child lives with the Fellow in Florence.
Relevant supporting documents are required.
Parental Leave
Fellows who have a child during the fellowship can receive up to four months of paid parental leave, with the fellowship extended accordingly.
A Fellow who is expecting a child between receiving the award and the September start date may request to defer the fellowship for one year.
Health Insurance
Max Weber Fellows are covered by the EUI’s basic medical plan provided by Cigna at the EUI’s expense.
A Fellow may instead continue with an existing active insurance policy, provided that adequate coverage for the fellowship period can be demonstrated.
Travel and Visa Support
The EUI provides reimbursement for the Fellow’s journey to Florence at the beginning of the fellowship and the return journey at the end.
The combined maximum reimbursement for these trips is currently €1,200.
Visa fees can also be reimbursed up to €250. The EUI states that receipts are required for reimbursement.
The EUI also assists non-EU Fellows with visa and residence requirements and can provide assistance for eligible non-EU family members.
Who Can Apply?
For the Canon Foundation co-sponsored fellowship, applicants must meet the nationality requirement and the Max Weber Programme’s academic requirements.
You must:
- Be a Japanese national or permanent resident of Japan.
- Have completed a PhD within the required five-year period.
- Meet the EUI’s requirements for the 2027–28 Max Weber Programme.
- Have an appropriate research project within the EUI’s research areas.
- Be able to participate in the residential programme in Florence.
- Meet the required English-language standard.
The EUI states that candidates applying for the 2027–28 Max Weber Programme should have received or submitted their PhD between 1 September 2022 and 1 September 2027. Where a thesis has been submitted but not yet defended, the defence must take place no later than 31 December 2027.
Extensions to the five-year rule can apply where an academic career was interrupted by maternity or paternity leave, illness, or mandatory military service. Applicants should explain the circumstances in the application and successful candidates may be asked for supporting documents.
English Language Requirement
The Max Weber Programme’s expected English proficiency is C1 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
An English certificate is not required when submitting the initial application. Successful candidates must provide evidence during registration unless they qualify for another accepted form of proof.
The EUI currently lists these equivalent scores:
- IELTS: 7.5 or higher
- TOEFL iBT: 110 or higher
- Cambridge Proficiency: A, B or C
- Cambridge English Advanced (CAE): A or B
The EUI may also accept evidence that the applicant completed a doctorate, published a sufficiently long academic work, or completed postgraduate studies in English. Native English speakers are exempt from providing proof.
How Long Is the Fellowship?
The Canon Foundation page describes its co-sponsored EUI fellowship as a one-year fellowship from September to August.
The broader Max Weber Programme now has different fellowship lengths depending on the academic unit. However, applicants for the Canon Foundation’s co-sponsored fellowship should follow the specific terms provided by the Canon Foundation and EUI for their award. The 2027 programme begins on 1 September 2027.
What Documents Are Required?
Applicants to the Max Weber Programme are currently required to prepare several documents.
These include:
- CV with publication list
- Academic career statement of up to one page
- Research proposal of up to two pages
- Copy of passport
- Details of at least two academic referees
- At least two reference letters submitted directly by the referees by the deadline
The research proposal should have clear, realistic objectives that can be achieved during the fellowship. The EUI also asks applicants to reflect on how gender and diversity relate to their proposed research.
The EUI advises applicants to register their referees early because the referees must submit their letters by the application deadline.
How to Apply for the Canon Foundation Research Fellowship
Applicants should follow the application process for the EUI Max Weber Programme.
The process is important because the Canon Foundation’s co-sponsored fellowship is connected to the Max Weber Programme. The Canon Foundation specifically instructs interested candidates to apply directly through the EUI’s Max Weber application process.
1: Check Your Eligibility: Confirm that you are a Japanese national or permanent resident of Japan and that you meet the Max Weber Programme’s PhD requirements.
2: Prepare Your Documents: Prepare your CV, academic career statement, research proposal, passport copy and referee information.
3: Register Your Referees: Enter the details of your academic referees in the online application system as early as possible.
4: Submit the Application: Submit the completed application through the EUI online application system. For the 2027–28 intake, the deadline is: 16 October 2026 at 14:00 CEST. Reference letters must also be submitted by the deadline.
5: Prepare for the Fellowship: Successful candidates will receive information about the award and registration. The fellowship is scheduled to start on 1 September 2027.
Official application: EUI Max Weber Fellowship application page
Official Canon Foundation information: Canon Foundation Co-sponsored Research Fellowships
Selection Criteria
The EUI assesses Max Weber applicants based on factors including:
- Academic achievements and potential
- Research proposal
- Commitment to an academic career
- Academic references
- Suitability of the proposed research for the EUI
- Availability and suitability of academic mentoring
The EUI states that preference is given to applicants who have recently completed their doctorate, have not previously held a postdoctoral position, and/or are on the academic job market, all other things being equal.
Is the Fellowship Taxed?
The EUI states that the fellowship is not taxed by the Institute. However, Fellows remain responsible for complying with any other tax rules that may apply to them.
FAQs
Who is eligible for the Canon Foundation Co-sponsored Research Fellowship?
The co-sponsored EUI fellowship is specifically open to Japanese nationals and permanent residents of Japan who meet the Max Weber Programme’s postdoctoral requirements.
What is the Canon Foundation Fellowship stipend?
The current basic grant is €2,500 per month. The amount may be reduced when a Fellow receives other salary or grant income, subject to the EUI’s rules.
What is the deadline for the 2027 Canon Foundation Fellowship?
The deadline for the 2027–28 Max Weber Programme is 16 October 2026 at 14:00 CEST.
When does the 2027 fellowship start?
The programme starts on 1 September 2027.
Can international students from other countries apply?
The general Max Weber Fellowship accepts applicants of any nationality, but the Canon Foundation co-sponsored fellowship specifically requires Japanese nationality or permanent residence in Japan. Applicants from other countries may therefore consider the regular Max Weber Fellowship or other EUI funding opportunities.
Is this a PhD scholarship?
No. This is a postdoctoral research fellowship. Applicants are expected to have completed their PhD or meet the EUI’s requirements concerning submission and defence of their doctorate.
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