2022 Korea Foundation Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research in the European Region
Program Outline
The KF Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research is designed to support the full-time research of rising scholars who have recently earned a Ph.D. in a Korea-related topic at a university or research organization located in the European region.
Applicant Eligibility
Rising scholars with a recent Ph.D. in the humanities, social sciences, arts, or culture on a Korea-related topic must fulfill each of the following criteria:
- Citizenship or permanent residency status in a country outside of Korea
- Not been awarded a university position equivalent to or exceeding that of a full-time lecturer, or been designated as a senior researcher of a research institution
- Obtained a Ph.D. degree within the past five years*
*Ph.D. candidates who are scheduled to receive their degree by August 31, 2022, are also eligible.
Number of Available Fellowships
Approximately 2
Grant Period
1 year (September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2023)
Supported Activities
All aspects of academic research, including the editing of the doctoral dissertation for publication
Grant Amount
Research stipend (to be determined based on actual costs)
Application Schedule
- Submission period: March 15 – April 14, 2022 (18:00 KST)
- Please be aware that the deadline for reference submissions is 18:00 KST on April 18, 2022. After that, letters of reference can no longer be submitted.
- Notification of acceptance: Late July 2022*
*Notification date is subject to change without prior notice.
Required Documents
1. Online application (https://apply.kf.or.kr/)
2. Supplemental materials (to be uploaded to online application portal):
a. Curriculum Vitae:
Including information about the educational experience (including the title of thesis), professional experience, scholarships and grants received in the past, and a list of research accomplishments and publications
b. Detailed research proposal (must not exceed five pages; all of the following elements must be included):
A detailed explanation of the planned research project, including its goals, area of research, and significance for the field of Korean studies; description of chosen research methodology and materials; description of progress made thus far and extent of progress planned for the fellowship period; and reasons why the research project must be conducted at the chosen affiliated institution(s).
c. Request(s)* made to affiliated institution(s) for research stay:
Before submitting the Postdoctoral Fellowship application, applicants must send to each institution (research institutes or universities) at which they would like to conduct research a request for a postdoctoral research stay. A copy of each request must be attached in PDF format to the online application package submitted to the KF.
* No more than three requests may be submitted. The institution(s) listed on your application may not be changed after your application has been submitted.
d. Letter of acceptance from affiliated institution:
The applicant should submit a copy of the letter of acceptance to the KF upon confirmation.
e. PhD dissertation:
Dissertation abstract, table of contents, chapter summaries, one sample chapter, publication plan.
f. One copy of Ph.D. diploma:
Applicants who receive their Ph.D. diplomas after the application submission period should submit a copy of their diplomas by August 31, 2022. If a selected fellow is unable to do so by this time, the KF will withdraw its support.
g. Academic transcript of graduate degree
h. Three (3) letters of reference:*
One letter must be from the applicant’s Ph.D. dissertation supervisor.
*The link where one can download the reference form and upload the completed form will be sent to referees when the applicant presses the ‘send’ button. If applicants do not click the ‘send’ button, the KF’s online application portal will automatically send an email to the referees’ email addresses provided by the applicants after they file their online application. This email will request that the referees write letters of reference and upload them via the KF’s online application portal. Applicants should inform their referees of this before beginning the application process, and all letters of reference should be completed by 18:00 KST on April 18.
How to Apply
Click on the “Apply” button at the bottom of this program announcement and complete the online application form.
The “Apply” button is only active during the application period, from March 15 to April 14, 2022 (18:00 KST).
The application form and all other required documentation must be submitted in Korean or English
Please note: As system errors may occur at the end of the application period due to heavy web traffic, please submit your application as soon as possible. If you cannot submit your application by the due date, even if caused by a system error, the KF cannot guarantee that it will be accepted.
Important Reminders for the Application Process
- Postdoctoral researchers are eligible for funding for up to two years.
- Fellowship recipients receiving research stipends under this program must conduct research at a major university in the European region that offers a Korean studies program and has a Korean studies faculty and library collection (excluding the university from which the fellow obtained their Ph.D. degree).
- Fellowship recipients may not conduct research at the university from which they obtained their Ph.D. degrees.
- Preference will be given to students who have citizenship or permanent residency in a European country and who apply to institutions in different countries from where they obtained their doctorates.
- Fellowship recipients may not hold concurrent fellowships from either the Korea Foundation or any other third-party institution.
- Please be aware that if you receive any other scholarship from a third-party institution, the KF will withdraw its support and request for the grant payment to be reimbursed to the KF.
- Fellowship recipients must be accepted to the affiliated institution(s) for the semester indicated on their application. The fellowship period may not be deferred to the following year.
- After receiving an acceptance notice, Korean nationals should submit evidence of their foreign citizenship or permanent residency by email to the KF program officer in charge of the program.
- All personal information contained in the application form will only be used for the program’s purposes. By submitting your application, you agree to the collection of your personal information by the KF.
Responsibilities of Fellowship Recipients
1. Full-time research:
Fellowship recipients must devote the fellowship period entirely to their research. They are, however, permitted to teach at the affiliated institution(s) to the extent that teaching activities do not interfere with the progress of their research (limit of one course per term).
2. Participation in academic activities at the affiliated institution(s):
Fellowship recipients are required to participate in academic activities at the host institution(s) during their research stay.
3. Submission of final report:
Fellowship recipients are required to submit a final report within 7 days of the end of their fellowship period, detailing the progress made during this period. The report must be drafted and submitted using the KF’s report form.
4. Further reporting requirements:*
Fellowship recipients must report any major activities and/or status of their scholarly debut in academia to the KF even after the fellowship period has concluded.
5. Publication requirement:*
Fellowship recipients must revise their doctoral dissertation during the fellowship period and publish it as a book or research paper within three years of the end of the fellowship period.
*The KF will monitor research progress annually for three years following the conclusion of the fellowship period. Fellows who do not fulfill their responsibilities will not be eligible for future support from the KF.
Further Inquiries
KF Fellowships department: scholarship@kf.or.kr
KF Berlin Office: kfeurope@kf.or.kr
For questions regarding the online application portal or any system errors, please select ‘Help Desk’ from the top menu on the KF Online Application Portal or contact tech-support@kf.or.kr.