Applied Fellowship
Programme
The Policy Labs Applied Scholarship Programme is an applied scholarship programme designed as a next stage of Policy Labs and aimed at the further development and practical advancement of ideas initiated within Policy Labs towards real-world implementation.
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The objective of the Policy Labs Applied Scholarship Programme is to support Policy Labs alumni in:
- further developing ideas formulated during Policy Labs
- transforming conceptual work into applied solutions
- preparing for subsequent stages, including institutional implementation, partnerships, pilot initiatives, or further funding.
The programme does not guarantee project implementation and does not promise subsequent funding. Its purpose is to strengthen the idea and the fellow’s capacity to further develop and implement it.
The scholarship is provided as compensation for the time dedicated to working on the idea. It is not a project grant and does not cover organisational or operational costs.
The programme includes a mentor-support model.
The scholarship amounts to EUR 1,000 per month for a period of three months. The scholarship includes mandatory mentoring support in the form of:
- three online mentoring meetings and written feedback, which may cover different stages of idea development (concept refinement, interim progress review, final reflection, etc.);
- work on the logic, feasibility, and applied potential of the idea;
- thematic expertise provided by an additional mentor, upon the fellow’s request, if the idea requires more specialised knowledge (e.g. public policy, journalism, cultural practices, etc.);
- peer learning.
Participation in the programme forms part of the fellow’s professional profile and increases the visibility of ideas in the policy environment. Collaboration with mentors enhances trust in the ideas and supports their practical implementation.
Preserving Cultural Heritage
in Ukraine
Culture, Design Resilience,
and Well-Being
Five candidates invited to participate in the programme will work on their ideas with mentoring support from September to November 2026.
The fellowship starts on 1 September 2026 and ends on 30 November 2026.
Only Policy Labs alumni may be invited to participate. Eligible applicants must:
- have participated in one of the five Policy Labs;
- propose an idea directly related to the thematic focus of one of the Policy Labs:
- Cultural Heritage in Ukraine;
- Culture, Social Resilience, and Well-Being;
- Unleashing Creative Entrepreneurship to Rebuild Ukraine;
- Sustainable Governance of Public Interest Institutions in Times of Polycrisis;
- Empowering Voices: Citizens’ Role in Shaping Ukraine’s Future;
- be willing to invest time in developing the idea over a three-month period.
Unleashing Creative Entrepreneurship
to Rebuild Ukraine
Sustainable Governance of Public Interest
Institutions in Times of Polycrisis
Invited applicants submit a short written application including:
- CV;
- description of the idea and its link to Policy Labs, as well as its current stage of development/implementation;
- motivation letter clearly stating the applicant’s request and explaining how participation in the programme will support the implementation of the idea;
- three-month work plan.
Applications must be submitted by email to the programme’s official email address.
All application materials must be submitted as a single PDF file. The file name must be written using Latin characters only and include the applicant’s surname(s).
Empowering Ukraine’s Citizens’ Role
in Shaping Ukraine’s Future