Applications are now open for the 2027 Visiting Fellowship Scheme at the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness, offering researchers, practitioners and educators an opportunity to spend time at the Centre, undertake research related to statelessness and develop international academic and professional collaborations.

The funded fellowship provides up to AUD 6,000 to support international travel and accommodation costs in Melbourne. The fellowship is expected to last approximately one to two months and can be undertaken between August and October 2027.

The opportunity is particularly relevant to researchers and professionals working on statelessness, nationality, citizenship, displacement, migration, human rights, international law and related areas.

2027 Peter McMullin Centre Visiting Fellowship at a Glance

About the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness

The Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness is based at Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne, and focuses on research, education and collaboration relating to statelessness.

Its Visiting Fellowship Scheme provides an opportunity for people working on statelessness to engage directly with the Centre’s work while developing research collaborations and international professional networks.

The fellowship is designed not simply as a period of independent research, but as an opportunity for Visiting Fellows to become involved in the intellectual and professional activities of the Centre during their stay.

What Does the Funded Fellowship Offer?

The 2027 funded Visiting Fellowship provides financial assistance of up to AUD 6,000.

The funding can support:

• International travel to Melbourne
• Accommodation in Melbourne during the fellowship
• Other eligible costs associated with undertaking the visit, subject to the proposed budget

Applicants must provide a detailed breakdown of the amount requested.

If airfare is required, applicants should include the estimated airfare cost in their budget.

The maximum amount available is AUD 6,000.

Fellowship Duration and Timing

The suggested duration of the fellowship is one to two months.

The funded fellowship is available to be undertaken between:

August and October 2027.

Applicants should therefore propose their preferred dates within this period as part of their application.

What Will Visiting Fellows Do?

Visiting Fellows are expected to participate actively in the life and work of the Peter McMullin Centre during their stay.

This can include:

• Conducting research related to statelessness
• Developing research collaborations
• Participating in Centre events
• Attending workshops
• Engaging with researchers and other Centre members
• Sharing research ideas and expertise
• Contributing to discussions relevant to statelessness research

The fellowship is therefore suitable for individuals who want more than simply access to a workspace while conducting independent research.

Workspace and Research Facilities

Visiting Fellows will be provided with a workspace during their stay.

They will also have access to:

• Library facilities
• Computer facilities
• Centre activities
• Events and workshops

These resources can support researchers in conducting their proposed research while being based in Melbourne.

Research Presentation Requirement

As part of the fellowship, Visiting Fellows are expected to share their research with the Centre and wider audiences.

Depending on the nature of their work, fellows will present their research through:

• A Faculty seminar
• A public seminar
• A work-in-progress meeting

This provides fellows with an opportunity to receive feedback, discuss their research with other academics and professionals, and contribute to intellectual exchange at the Centre.

Contribution to the Critical Statelessness Studies Blog

Visiting Fellows are also expected, where appropriate, to contribute a blog post to the Critical Statelessness Studies blog.

This provides an additional opportunity to communicate research findings, ideas or insights to a broader audience interested in statelessness and related issues.

Who Can Apply for the Fellowship?

The Centre explicitly recognises that statelessness research and professional work are undertaken by people in different career stages and professional settings.

Applications are welcomed from:

• Postdoctoral researchers
• Early-career researchers
• Established academics
• Tenured academics
• Statelessness practitioners
• Non-academic professionals
• Educators
• Researchers with lived experience of statelessness

The Centre particularly states that researchers with lived experience of statelessness are strongly encouraged to apply.

Non-Academic Applicants Are Also Eligible

Importantly, the fellowship is not restricted to university academics.

Non-academic visiting professionals can also be considered if they propose an applied research project that is relevant to the work of the Centre.

This makes the opportunity potentially suitable for professionals working in areas such as:

• Human rights
• Refugee protection
• Migration
• Nationality and citizenship
• Legal practice
• Policy
• Advocacy
• International development
• Statelessness-related programmes

The proposed project must demonstrate relevance to the Centre’s work.

What Must Be Included in the Application?

Applications for the funded fellowship must be submitted as one PDF document containing the required materials.

Applicants need to provide the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae and Publications List

Applicants should include their CV along with a list of their publications.

This allows the selection team to understand the applicant’s academic, research or professional background and previous work.

2. Research Plan

A research plan of no more than 1,000 words is required.

The research plan should explain:

• The research the applicant intends to undertake
• The purpose and objectives of the research
• Proposed activities during the visit
• Potential collaborations
• How the applicant intends to contribute to the work of the Centre

Applicants should demonstrate a clear connection between their proposed research and the Centre’s focus on statelessness.

3. Proposed Fellowship Dates

Applicants must indicate their proposed dates for the visit.

For the funded 2027 fellowship, the visit should fall within the available August–October 2027 period.

4. Funding Request and Budget

Applicants must state the amount of funding they are requesting, up to the maximum of:

AUD 6,000

A detailed budget breakdown must accompany the request.

Where international air travel is required, the budget should include the estimated cost of airfare.

5. Reference Letter

Applicants must provide one letter of reference.

For non-academic applicants, the Centre accepts a letter of support from an employer or another organisation or entity with which the applicant is professionally associated.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted by email to:

law-statelessness@unimelb.edu.au

The email subject line should be:

Visiting Fellowship Application

Applicants should submit the complete application as one PDF document.

Questions about the fellowship can also be directed to the same email address.

Application Deadline

The deadline for applications for the 2027 funded Visiting Fellowship is 30 November 2026.

Applicants should ensure that their complete application is submitted before the deadline.

Important Information for International Applicants

Applicants travelling to Australia from outside the country are responsible for obtaining and paying for any necessary:

• Australian visa
• Travel documentation
• Insurance

These costs are separate from the fellowship funding arrangements and applicants should take them into account when planning their visit.

Self-Funded Visiting Fellowship Option

The Centre also welcomes applicants who are able to fund their own visit.

Self-funded visitors can apply to visit the Centre throughout the year.

Subject to availability, self-funded visitors may receive:

• Workspace
• Library access
• Computer access
• Opportunities to participate in Centre events
• Opportunities to participate in workshops
• Engagement with the Centre’s academic and professional community

Unlike the funded fellowship, self-funded visits do not have the 30 November 2026 deadline. Applications for self-funded visits can be made year-round.

Requirements for Self-Funded Visitors

Self-funded applicants should provide:

1. Curriculum vitae and publications list
2. Research plan of up to 1,000 words
3. Proposed dates of the visit
4. One letter of reference

For non-academic visitors, the reference can be a letter of support from their employer or another professionally associated organisation.

Funded vs Self-Funded Visit

Examples of Previous Visiting Fellows

The Centre has hosted Visiting Fellows from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds and countries.

Previous fellows have researched topics including:

• Statelessness and citizenship
• Statelessness among Rohingya communities
• Statelessness in the Middle East and North Africa
• Statelessness in Australia and New Zealand
• Climate displacement and nationality
• Statelessness and gender
• Statelessness among Roma communities
• Childhood statelessness
• Legal clinics addressing statelessness
• Denial of identity documents
• Statelessness and migration
• Statelessness and nationality laws
• Statelessness among displaced populations

The list of previous fellows demonstrates the broad range of disciplines and geographic contexts that can be connected to statelessness research.

A Globally Oriented Fellowship

Previous Visiting Fellows have come from institutions and organisations in countries including:

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Germany
• India
• Italy
• Myanmar
• New Zealand
• Pakistan
• Poland
• Singapore
• Thailand
• The Netherlands
• United Kingdom
• United States

The Centre’s previous fellowship cohort also demonstrates that statelessness can be studied from multiple disciplinary perspectives, including law, political science, sociology, anthropology, history, philosophy and professional practice.

Why This Fellowship Is Valuable

The Peter McMullin Centre Visiting Fellowship can provide researchers and professionals with an opportunity to spend dedicated time developing a statelessness-related research project while engaging with an international research community.

The combination of funding, research facilities and collaboration can be particularly valuable for applicants who want to:

• Advance an existing research project
• Develop a new research collaboration
• Work with researchers specialising in statelessness
• Receive feedback on research
• Present their work to an academic or public audience
• Build international professional connections
• Explore applied research approaches
• Contribute to global discussions on statelessness

The opportunity also provides a platform for researchers to bring perspectives from their own countries, communities and professional environments into international statelessness research.

Click HERE to read more and Apply.

Conclusion

The 2027 Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness Visiting Fellowship is a funded research opportunity for academics, researchers, practitioners and educators working on statelessness or closely related issues.

The selected funded Visiting Fellow can receive up to AUD 6,000 toward international travel and accommodation in Melbourne and undertake a suggested one- to two-month research visit between August and October 2027.

During the fellowship, the Visiting Fellow will have access to workspace, library and computer facilities and will be expected to participate actively in the Centre’s activities, present their research and contribute to the Centre’s broader intellectual community.

The opportunity is open across career stages, from postdoctoral early-career researchers to established and tenured academics, while relevant non-academic professionals are also encouraged to apply. Researchers with lived experience of statelessness are particularly encouraged to submit applications.

For those interested in conducting research related to statelessness while developing international collaborations, the fellowship offers a valuable opportunity to engage with a specialist research centre in Melbourne.

Application deadline: 30 November 2026.

Click HERE for more fellowship opportunities.