Call for applicants: International Scholar Exchange Fellowship 2025-2026
The 2025-2026 International Scholar Exchange Fellowship (ISEF) program invites
scholars to conduct research in collaboration with leading Korean universities or research institutions for one year or six months. Last day to apply: Februari 21st, 2025.
Chey Institute for Advanced Studies is a non-partisan institute launched in 2018 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of former SK Chairman Chey Jong-hyon, the founder of Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies (KFAS), with the vision to keep his legacy alive.
The Chey Institute seeks to conduct integrated research on global strategies and scientific innovation through an academic cooperation network with more than 20 countries worldwide. The Chey Institute also commits to further development and deepen the international academic exchange programs of KFAS, such as supporting foreign scholars and hosting international forums.
The 2025-2026 International Scholar Exchange Fellowship (ISEF) program invites scholars to conduct research in collaboration with leading Korean universities or research institutions for one year or six months. The program provides comprehensive support, including round-trip airfare, settlement grants, a monthly research stipend, support for research
paper publication, and accident insurance. In 2024, 15 Asian scholars were invited to participate in the program and have been conducting their research in Korea since last September.
Building on 25 years of fostering academic collaboration and supporting 1,002 fellows from Asian countries, the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies is now committed to expanding ISEF’s scope to a truly global scale, welcoming scholars from around the world to join this initiative.
Purpose
To contribute to the academic development and common prosperity of global society by promoting international academic exchange and research cooperation
Fields of Research
▪ All fields (ISEF program addresses scholars around the globe regardless of their
field)
Eligible Applicants
- University faculty and institution researchers from eligible countries who have a doctoral degree
- European/American postdoctoral researchers in science field (newly added)
- Applicants, in principle, must be 50 years old or younger at the period of application deadline
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Applicants must be able to carry out research in English and should not have any health issues that might hinder their research activities
Those not eligible:
- Persons whose prime interest is to teach in Korea
- Korean citizens
Application schedule
▪ Application deadline: February 21, 2025
▪ Announcement of results: April 4, 2025
Research Period
- 1 Year: From September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026
- 6 Months From September 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026 or From March 1, 2026 to August 31, 2026
For post-doctoral researchers, a one-year extension is possible after evaluation.
Details of Financial Support
- Research stipend: 3,500,000 KRW/Month
- Settlement grants: 1,000,000 KRW
- Research paper grant: 500,000KRW to 2,000,000 KRW (upon reviewing the finalresearch paper at the end of the fellowship)
- Publication Incentives:
- $2,000~$5,000 (for an article published in journals indexed in either SSCI, AHCI, or SCI)
$1,000 (for an article published in journals registered at the National Research
Foundation of Korea) - Publication incentives are provided for articles published within two years after the date of the fellow’s return to his/her country that indicate the research was funded by the ISEF program at Chey Institute. The amount of incentives may vary upon careful evaluation of the journal’s influence and the writer’s level of contribution
- Round trip airfare: Economy class round-trip airfare between Incheon/Gimpo airport and the nearest airport from the fellow’s residence
- Medical insurance: National health insurance, accident insurance
Research Support Program
- Supporting Academic Seminars
- Korean language class
- Cultural tours, industrial site visits
Application Instructions
Apply at Chey Instiute's web page
Deadline: Februari 21st, 2025
Please contact Charlotte Almqvist if you need help with putting researchers in contact you, meaning researchers at the three universities in South Korea that are collaborating within SKERIC: alm3@kth.se
- Become a member of the Chey Institute homepage and log in (www.chey.org)
- Online Application: Complete the online application by filling out the necessary information and attaching the research proposal
- Submit supplementary documents
- 2 recommendation letters
- 2 research samples that best represent your work (i.e. books or research papers) with abstracts in English - A certificate of employment (issued within 2 months)
- A copy of Ph.D. degree certificate
- A letter of research affiliation (if available)
- You can attach a letter of research affiliation if you have already contacted your host institution in Korea at the time of application submission. Otherwise, you must contact your host scholar immediately to arrange your research affiliation upon being selected as an ISEF fellow
- Confirm submission of application at “Application History”