SAR Placement Fellowship Program

SAR provides at-risk scholars with short-term, temporary academic positions at SAR member institutions where scholars can resume their research and/or teaching in safety.

Award Details:

• Duration: 6 months to 2 years
• Type: Academic positions (provided and funded by member institutions)
• Support: Positions allow scholars to resume academic research and/or teaching and plan their next steps

Eligible Applicants:

• Must hold a Ph.D. or other terminal degree from an accredited higher education institution that is the established standard in their country, educational context, and/or discipline
• Must have current or recent (within 1 year) full-time academic employment at an accredited higher education institution
• Candidates who have not held recent academic employment due to their risk situation are also considered
• Must have recent academic publications in reputable journals demonstrating ability to conduct research
• Must be experiencing or have recently experienced direct risk such as: threat of violence/harm, harassment/intimidation, threat of arrest/imprisonment, or general physical risk from active conflict
• Must be in country of origin or recently displaced from risk situation
• Must not have been displaced from home country for more than 5 years
• Must not have citizenship or permanent residency in a safe third country (dual nationals with one safe nationality are ineligible)
• Must be able to conduct academic work in a language represented in SAR network (primarily English; French and German also available)
• Must have valid travel documents required for employment-based visas

Geographic Scope: Global SAR network of member institutions across multiple countries

Disciplines with Limited Opportunities:
As of November 2025, the network has very few opportunities in:

• Medicine
• Dentistry
• Veterinary Science
• English as a Foreign Language
• Military Studies
• Engineering
• Agriculture/Plant Sciences

Applications from scholars in these disciplines may be unable to be accepted even if eligibility criteria are met.

What SAR Does NOT Fund:

• Does not accept applications from ineligible applicants
• Cannot guarantee placement even if all eligibility criteria are met
• Not able to consider applications of individuals who do not meet SAR eligibility criteria
• Does not provide scholarship or financial support for students

Contact Information:

• Email: apply.scholarsatrisk@nyu.edu
• Phone: 1-212-998-2179
• Address: 411 Lafayette St., 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10003, USA

Application Process

Step 1: Eligibility Questionnaire

• Complete a short eligibility questionnaire before full application
• Questions relate to SAR's eligibility criteria
• Eligible applicants will be invited to proceed with full application
• Ineligible applicants will be directed to external resource page with alternative opportunities

Step 2: Full Application

• Applications are completed online
• Note: Applicants cannot save application and return later—must be completed in one session
• Application contains 5 sections:
  1. Eligibility Questionnaire
  2. Personal Information
  3. Academic Information
  4. Risk Information
  5. Attestation

Required Documents (prepare before starting application):

1. Passport or official national ID - copy
2. Updated CV with publications list - must include:
   • Highest academic degree (granting institution, field, date awarded)
   • Academic employment history at higher education institutions
   • Teaching and research experience with dates
   • Full publication list with note of work available in English
3. Academic Statement - should address:
   • Current focus of research and/or teaching
   • Type of academic work desired at host institution
   • Skills to gain/improve
   • Ability to conduct academic work in English (or other language)
4. Two recent academic publications - publication samples that best represent current academic interests; abstracts/summaries in English acceptable
5. Language test scores - IELTS, TOEFL or other scores from past 5 years; or alternative language confirmation (degree obtained in language, link to academic presentation)
6. Letters of recommendation - if available; written within last 12 months describing academic and/or professional accomplishments
7. Risk statement - describing:
   • Direct, targeted risk experienced personally (specific dates, locations, media verification)
   • Targeting due to group/institutional membership
   • Risk due to current conflict in home country
   • Risk due to academic work or academic status
8. Risk corroboration - documentation of reported risk to verify

Section 2: Personal Information

• Basic contact information
• Communication preferences
• Dependent information (names, ages)
• Legal status in other countries (visa, residence, asylum)
• Countries willing to travel to for placement
• Note any prior contact with SAR member institution

Section 3: Academic Information

• Upload CV with degree and employment information
• Submit Academic Statement
• Upload 2 recent academic publications/work samples
• Submit language test scores or language confirmation
• Provide letters of recommendation (if available)

Section 4: Risk Information

• Indicate type(s) of risk faced (multiple selections allowed)
• Submit risk statement with:
  • Specific information, dates, locations
  • Applicable media links for verification
  • Details on targeting
• Submit risk corroboration documentation

Section 5: Attestation

• Complete attestation section

AI Use Disclosure:

• SAR discourages use of generative AI (ChatGPT, etc.) in application, particularly in "Academic Statement" and "Risk Statement"
• If AI is used, applicants must include acknowledgment in Academic Statement specifying:
  • Type of AI tool used
  • Parts of application where AI was used
  • Willingness to provide non-AI materials if requested
• Suspected undisclosed AI use may result in unsuccessful application

Review Timeline:

• Assessment process can be lengthy
• Securing placement can take several months for accepted cases
• Decisions will be shared after review

Alternative Resources:

• SAR maintains a list of fellowships and other opportunities for scholars who do not meet eligibility criteria
• External resources available for students seeking scholarship support
• Resources available for human rights defenders seeking emergency assistance