Call for Applications: Fully Funded Policy Leader Fellowship at the Florence School of Transnational Governance in Italy (open to all nationalities)

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Closing Date: 24 January 2025

Call for Applications: Fully Funded Policy Leader Fellowship at the Florence School of Transnational Governance in Italy (open to all nationalities)

Programme Description

The Policy Leader Fellowship (PLF) is a residential programme at the Florence School of Transnational Governance (STG) aimed for mid-career policy professionals from a range of policy fields: politics, civil service, media, non-governmental organisations and others. This unique programme is nested within one of the most renowned academic institutions in Europe and provides the fellows with an insider view into the EU policy making processes.

The Policy Leader Fellowship programme is particular in its aim to attract individuals with diverse hands-on experiences in policy-making across the world and does not require academic training background. Besides having direct access to the STG and the EUI faculty and researcher community, the fellows learn from each other and form lasting professional and personal connections.

The fellows spend five or ten months at the STG developing policy recommendations and practical solutions for pressing issues of transnational relevance inspired and informed by their work experience. In addition, the fellows attend professional skills trainings and can freely participate in the academic life and activities of the EUI to enhance their fellowship project. At the same time, the fellows enrich the STG community by bringing their first-hand experiences to teaching, training and networking at the School.

STG welcome applications from anywhere in the world, regardless of nationality. EU citizenship is not required. While there is no age limit, the applicants are expected to demonstrate at least 10 years of relevant professional experience.

The general profile of the candidates:

Mid-career policy professionals able to demonstrate solid professional experience (minimum 10 years) and potential for future excellence in a given policy area; candidates with strictly academic profile typically will not be considered;

Self-motivated and driven, able to autonomously accomplish the activities presented under the fellowship work plan;
Open-minded and curious individuals willing to engage in peer discussions on topics which may go beyond their area of expertise;

Duration

The fellowships are offered for a duration of five or ten months. Candidates should indicate their preference from the following options:

Five months: September 2025 – January 2026 or February 2026 – June 2026
Ten months: September 2025 – June 2026

Residence

Fellows must reside in the area of Florence for the duration of their fellowship so that they can take an active part in the activities of the EUI/STG and the fellowship programme (with the possibility of short visits outside Florence and Italy). The fellowship cannot be carried out remotely/online.

Grant

The basic grant is € 2,500 per month. Successful applicants who receive other grants or salaries must disclose this to the EUI. The amount of the Fellowship will be fixed at a lower rate (minimum €1,750 per month) depending on the amount of the additional income (upon production of relevant supporting documents).

Family Allowances

A household allowance of up to € 300 per month is paid to a Fellow with a partner if the partner lives with him /her in Florence and on the condition that the partner’s income is less than € 2,000 per month. The sum of income and allowance cannot exceed € 2,000 per month (i.e. if the income is more than € 1,700, the allowance will be paid only to top up to € 2,000).

An allowance of € 200 per month is paid for each dependent child. Fellows are entitled to these allowances if they can declare that they are not receiving any similar allowance from another source, and upon submission of relevant supporting documents (i.e. marriage or partner certificate, or proof of cohabitation in Florence; birth certificates).

Travel Expenses

Fellows receive reimbursement for the incoming trip from their place of origin to Florence, and for the outgoing trip to their destination at the end of their fellowship.