Hans De Wit Fellowship

Partially funded with seed funding generously donated by , the Hans de Wit Fellowship was established in 2022 to support the academic mobility of early career researchers in the field of higher education studies.

Hans de Wit Fellows are affiliated with the Center for International Higher Education for one calendar year (September to August). During the year, Fellows are funded to travel to Boston for a three-month visit to CIHE. Throughout their affiliation, Fellows are entitled to access the online and physical library holdings of Boston College. During their time on campus, Fellows will also have the opportunity to engage with the broader Boston College community, including the network of other international visitors to our campus. In exchange, Fellows are expected to share their research expertise in some capacity during their affiliation (i.e. through our regular seminar series, with students in our MA program and/or via one of the Center’s publications).

Fellowship Details

CIHE will award one fellowship per academic year. Fellowship benefits include:

  • Reimbursement for round-trip economy class airfare to and from Boston and any fees associated with processing any necessary visa paperwork  
  • A monthly stipend of $3500 for the three months in Boston, intended to cover the cost of housing and medical insurance 

While on campus, Fellows are provided with a designated desk and printing privileges, as well as use of a desktop computer if necessary. Fellows are expected to find their own housing and to organize their own visa paperwork, although institutional support documentation is provided by the Office of International Students and Scholars at Boston College. 

CIHE can welcome one Fellow per academic year. Fellowships run from September to August each year. Travel to campus should occur during the academic year (i.e. between September and June).

Eligibility

Any early career researcher in higher education studies (i.e. within five years of the completion of a doctoral degree) is eligible to apply. Preference will be given to applicants from marginalized backgrounds, including those with refugee status, those based in the Global South and those from traditionally under-represented backgrounds. 

Application Process

Interested applicants must submit the following materials to internationalhighered@bc.edu.

  1. A letter of interest, which includes the following:
    • A clear rationale for why the Fellowship will be beneficial to the applicant;
    • A detailed explanation of the independent research that the applicant intends to complete during their Fellowship; and,
    • A description of the ways in which the applicant believes he/she can contribute to the intellectual life of the CIHE/òòò½Ö±²¥ community
    • Further details about the applicant’s background, which may be beneficial for determining eligibility for the Fellowship, may also be included.
  2. A current CV
  3. Completed Visiting Scholar Application Form

Applications are due by March 15 each year. Finalist candidates will be invited to interview with the CIHE leadership in April as part of the application process.