Call for Applications: InteRussia Fellowship 2026 – For International Relations Specialists (Moscow, Russia)

Application Deadline: September 1, 2026 (11:59 PM Moscow time, UTC+3)

About the Fellowship

For the InteRussia scientific and research fellowship for foreign specialists in international relations, political science, and regional studies, a call for applications is being launched by the InteRussia team. For aspiring experts in history, theory and practice of international relations, political science, and regional studies, InteRussia is an opportunity to get fully immersed into Russian academia, visit policy-making institutions, get to know the Russian agenda first-hand, participate in expert sessions hosted by universities, think tanks and non-governmental organisations, as well as exchange experience with peers from different countries. Under the guidance of leading Russian IR scholars from MGIMO University, an opportunity to work in close cooperation is the unique feature of the program. To foster academic dialogue on emerging IR perspectives in an increasingly multipolar world, a horizontal network of young scholars from around the globe is the mission of the program to build. By the Mezhdunarodniki Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation in cooperation with the Gorchakov Fund and MGIMO Institute for International Studies with the grant support from the Presidential Grants Foundation, the InteRussia fellowship program in International Relations is implemented.

Fellowship Details

• Program Dates: October 26 – December 6, 2026
• Location: Moscow, Russia
• Working Language: English
• Fellowship Topic: “The World Divided? The Current Trends in Military-Political Alignment and Economic Integration”

Expected Result: Of the fellowship, the result will be a written original individual research project of 15,000–25,000 characters (with spaces) based on the submitted research proposal (in English).

Eligibility Requirements

To take part in the selection, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Non-Russian citizenship, residence outside of Russia
• Age between 25 and 39
• Proficiency in English (C1 level and above)
• Submission of a research proposal
• Absence of any employment/previous enrollment in academic programs/other relations with MGIMO University
• A Ph.D. degree or at least 3 years of working experience at academic institutions/think tanks, or Ph.D. studies in progress

Selection Criteria

On a competitive basis, participants will be selected. The competition criteria include:

• The academic level, relevance, detail and feasibility of the applicant’s research proposal
• Academic publications
• Letters of recommendation (2–3)
• Other research and expert activities of the applicant (conferences, grants, academic fellowships, expert publications, opinion pieces/comments in the media, etc.)
• Results of the online interview

What the Organizers Cover

By the organizers, the following will be covered:

• Travel from a place of residence to Moscow and back
• Single accommodation in the MGIMO dormitory
• One-time scholarship of RUB 45,000 for the whole duration of the fellowship

Participants must pay for:

• Visa application fee
• Medical insurance
• Meals during the fellowship

How to Apply

Step 1: On the English version of the Gorchakov Fund’s website, sign up. If you did not receive a registration verification email, check your spam folder.

Step 2: To the “My Projects” section, go, click on the “Create application,” select the “InteRussia IR MGIMO 2026 (Autumn)” competition and confirm your choice.

Step 3: All mandatory fields should be filled in.

Step 4: By clicking the “Submit Application” button in the “Apply” section, submit the application, and wait until the status changes from “Preparing” to “Submitted.”

Application Deadline: September 1, 2026 (11:59 PM Moscow time, UTC+3). Via email, the results of the competitive selection will be sent to all candidates.

Related Programs

The official opening ceremony of the InteRussia Fellowship in Archaeology was hosted by the Institute of Oriental Studies, welcoming young specialists from Egypt, Georgia, India, Iraq, Sudan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. On 2 June, the third InteRussia Fellowship programme for young international professionals in the fields of “Artificial Intelligence in Medicine” and “Smart City” was officially opened by Novosibirsk State University (NSU).

Why This Fellowship Matters

Often dominated by Western perspectives, international relations scholarship is, with limited opportunities for scholars from other regions to engage with Russian academic institutions and understand Russian foreign policy perspectives firsthand. By offering a fully funded six-week residency in Moscow, providing access to leading Russian IR scholars from MGIMO University, enabling visits to policy-making institutions and think tanks, fostering a horizontal network of young scholars from around the globe, supporting original research on contemporary IR topics, and building academic dialogue in an increasingly multipolar world, the InteRussia Fellowship addresses this gap. For non-Russian specialists in international relations, political science, and regional studies aged 25–39, a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Russian academia, exchange experiences with peers from different countries, and produce original research under expert guidance is offered by this fellowship.

For More Information: Visit the Official InteRussia Fellowship Page