The European University Institute‘s (EUI) Policy Leader Fellowship (PLF) is now accepting applications from international applicants. The PLF is a residential program at the Florence School of Transnational Governance (STG) designed for mid-career professionals from diverse policy fields, including politics, civil service, media, and NGOs. This prestigious program, hosted by one of Europe’s top academic institutions, offers fellows an insider perspective on EU policymaking processes. It welcomes applicants with hands-on policy experience worldwide without requiring an academic background.

Fellows spend 5 or 10 months at STG, crafting policy recommendations for global challenges based on their expertise. They participate in professional skills training, engage in EUI’s academic activities, and contribute to teaching, training, and networking, enriching the STG community with their firsthand experiences.

Graduates join a global alumni network of policy professionals and have access to lifelong training opportunities at EUI. Applications are open to all nationalities and have no age limit, but applicants must have at least 10 years of relevant professional experience.

Brief Details 

• Application Deadline: 21 January 2025 
• Deadline for References: 31 January 2025
• Fellowship start date: 01 September 2025
• Five Months Duration: September 2025 – January 2026 or February 2026 – June 2026
• Ten Months Duration: September 2025 – June 2026
• Host Institutes: European University Institute (EUI)
• Location: Palazzo Buontalenti
• Methodology: Residential
• Gender: Male/Female
• Funding Type: Fully-funded 
• Number of Positions: N/A
• Degree Level: None 
• Degree Required: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent 
• Eligible Countries: All 
• Language Required: English 
• Fields: Public Policy 

Benefits 

Applicants will benefit from the following:

• Monthly stipend of €2500;
• Where applicable, a family allowance of € 300 per month and € 200 per month for each dependent child; 
• The EUI charges no tax;
• First-class rail or economy class airfare for the principal applicant (not their families) from home country to Florence; the maximum amount for travel is € 1,200, including incoming and outbound travel;
• Removal/ Re-installment expenses;
• At the EUI, communicating with policymakers, fellows, and the academic community;
• Can take part in a variety of sessions, conferences, and workshops.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must be:

• With any nationality;
• Reside in the Florence area during the Fellowship. The fellows cannot carry out the Fellowship remotely or online;
• Professional in their early or mid-career (e.g., in politics, the media, the civil service, and non-governmental organizations) who can demonstrate (a minimum of ten years) both professional experience and the potential for future improvement in the policy;
• Self-motivated with the ability to separately finish the activities presented under the fellowship work plan; 
• Open-minded and curious in peer discussions on topics that may go beyond the area of their expertise; 
• Proficient in written and spoken English with minimum C1 CEFR level equivalence with one of the following certificates:

1. TOEFL
2. IELTS
3. Cambridge English Examinations (CAE)
4. Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)
5. Business English Certificate (BEC)

• There are no age or nationality restrictions; EU Citizenship is not needed;
• The EUI fellowship is free of charge. 
• Fellows must abide by any other tax laws that may apply to them.

Program Expectations 

Fellows are expected to:

• Reside in the Florence region for the duration of their Fellowship to participate in the EUI and STG activities and the fellowship program;
• Fellows cannot complete the program remotely or online;
• Fellows who come to Florence for five months should give a presentation to the STG group and then to a broader policy audience on their work in progress;
• May participate in EUI seminars and workshops with another stakeholders’ training program;
• During the fellowship program, fellows should have proper and valid health insurance;

Required Documents

Applicant must prepare and submit the following documents:

• CV (maximum three pages)
•  Short biography (Max. 350 words)
• Motivation Letter (Max. 1000 words) explaining reasons that applicants apply for the Fellowship, the program objectives, highlighting interest in specific transnational policy issues and future career aspirations;
• Two reference letters from non-academic referees submitted online directly by referees up to a week after the deadline; 
• Work plan (max. 2500 words) including project title, a summary or abstract, milestones, main objectives, and the relevant activities to achieve the envisaged outputs;
• Optional work sample(s) (maximum 2 samples);
• English proficiency certificate; 
• The most recent educational certificate and transcript.

Note: Although an English certificate is not necessary as part of the application, successful applicants may receive an invitation to an English interview. They may need to present supporting documents or a certificate during registration. Visit the relevant page for more details about the required documents.

Evaluation Criteria

The selection committee will evaluate the applicants against the following criteria:

• Achievements and potential 
• Area of work/focus
• Fellowship work plan 
• Motivation
• Diversity

How to Apply?

Applicants must submit their application and required documents via the online application portal. Please register as soon as possible so the referees can submit their recommendation letters and apply by the deadline.

In case you are facing any problems with the online application portal, please follow these recommendations:

• Use a PC, NOT a mobile device;
• Use a web browser that is not Chrome because Chrome auto-fill can overwrite data;
• Please try using an incognito mode web browser to prevent previously saved passwords and logins from accessing the application portal.

Apply Now

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For more information about the Policy Leader Fellowship, please visit the European University Institute Website or read the FAQs section.