Themis programme

The Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme offers mobility grants for stays in France of 2 to 3 months for researchers of all nationalities who face obstacles to academic freedom in their countries.

This mobility grant is intended for research work in France: fieldwork, library and archive work.

Applications from researchers who have already received support from the FMSH and/or from the PAUSE programme are not given priority.

Financial details

A monthly allowance of €2,000 is awarded to fellows to cover travel and living expenses. In addition, the FMSH provides assistance in obtaining a visa to France.

Eligibility Criteria

Context:

Work:

1. in a country where academic freedom is hindered
2. and/or on a research topic that is impeded.

Status and degree: applicants must be attached to a private or public higher education research institution / research institute and hold a research doctorate. Independent researchers with a PhD may apply, with their specific circumstances detailed in their explanatory letter and CV. Candidates must be under 65 years of age at the time of their stay.

Discipline: candidates must be engaged in research in the humanities and social sciences.

French host institution: Before submitting their application, applicants will have to find a French research institution to host them for the time of their stay. 

To help you in your research, you can access the ScanR tool (list of the French research centers).

Obligations of the researcher

At the end of their stay, researchers must submit a report to the FMSH outlining the activities carried out during their stay and their contribution to their research project.

Selection Criteria and Process

Projects will be evaluated based on the following elements

• The scientific quality of the project and the method developed;
• The need to come to France in view of the project and the obstacles mentioned;
• The feasibility of the project during the stay in France.

No stay whose sole purpose is to write an article or book will be funded.

Applications will be selected by a committee made up of specialists from outside the Foundation.

The results will be communicated to the applicants in January 2027.

Application form

Applicants must submit a form and a scientific file (research project + annexes) on an online platform. The online platform will be accessible from 14 September 2026. Complete applications must be uploaded on the online platform by 23 November 2026, 17:00 (Paris time).

The application form and the scientific file can be submitted in French or in English.

Content of the scientific file

The research project must consist of a paper of between 15,000 and 20,000 characters (including spaces and footnotes), and must include:

• the research question and objectives of the research project;
• a state-of-the-art review.

A bibliography and a detailed outline of the proposed research stay (places and institutions to be visited, as well as any relevant contacts) are also required (maximum 10,000 characters).

Appendices:

• A CV of maximum 2 pages
• A list of the 5 main publications
• A copy of the thesis diploma
• A letter explaining the situation in which the researcher finds himself/herself and the reasons for which the realization of his/her research is prevented. This information will be strictly confidential and anonymized in the framework of expertise.
• A letter of invitation from the director of the host institution in France, explaining the reasons for the invitation and the working conditions provided.

How to apply?

1. Go to the platform http://calls.msh-paris.fr and enter the " Researcher Workspace ".

2. Log in if you have already created an account, if not, create an account

3. Fill in your profile and click on "create a new application".

4. Select "Themis 2027 Program – 1st call"

5. Fill in all the tabs of the form

6. In the "Documents" tab, upload a single electronic document in pdf format containing the following documents

• A research project
• A CV of maximum 2 pages
• A list of the 5 main publications
• A copy of the thesis diploma
• A letter explaining the situation in which the researcher finds himself and the reasons why the realization of his research is prevented.
• A letter of invitation from the director of the host institution in France, explaining the reasons for the invitation and the working conditions provided.

7. You can save your application without submitting it and come back to it later, or submit it permanently. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automatic confirmation email. Please note that if your application is not submitted it will not be considered. Incomplete applications or applications that do not correspond to the description above will not be considered.

For any information on the platform, or in case of difficulty in using it, contact fadili@msh-paris.fr.