ICCROM Fellowships 2027: 3–6 Month Cultural Heritage Research Fellowship in Rome, Deadline 15 September 2026

ICCROM Fellowships 2027: 3–6 Month Cultural Heritage Research Fellowship in Rome, Deadline 15 September 2026

The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) has opened the next annual window for its 2027 Fellowship Programme. Applications can be submitted from 15 August through 15 September 2026, and awarded fellowships are expected to take place during 2027 unless ICCROM agrees otherwise. The programme is designed for experienced cultural-heritage researchers, teachers and practitioners who need a focused period of study, access to specialist resources and contact with an international conservation organisation.

This is a useful opportunity for a narrow but important audience. It is not a general scholarship, a student exchange or a salaried research appointment. ICCROM says that current budget constraints mean it is not able to provide financial support for fellowships. A successful Fellow must therefore plan for travel, accommodation, personal insurance and ordinary living costs. The value is instead professional and research-based: a Fellow may work at ICCROM headquarters in Rome, or partly online where there is a justified reason, use the organisation’s documentation, library and archives services, work from an ICCROM-provided workstation and engage with staff and other heritage professionals.

Key details

The table separates financial support from in-kind support because that distinction affects whether the opportunity is practical for you. ICCROM supplies an environment for research, but it does not currently supply a stipend or a travel budget for this fellowship call.

What the ICCROM fellowship offers

The programme’s purpose is to bring fresh perspectives into ICCROM, encourage exchange of knowledge and ideas, and stimulate research that can enrich cultural-heritage conservation. A Fellow joins the life of an international organisation for a defined period rather than working in isolation on a private project. That setting can help a senior professional test an argument, consult specialist holdings, compare approaches across countries and develop relationships with colleagues working on related conservation problems.

ICCROM describes access to one of the world’s extensive conservation libraries, with holdings in more than 70 languages, as well as its archives. Fellows also have access to documentation services and to ICCROM staff and other heritage professionals. The practical package includes office space, a computer workstation, unlimited internet access and stationery. These resources can be especially useful when a project depends on materials that are difficult to consult remotely or when the researcher needs sustained contact with an international conservation network.

The expected output is not just private reading. ICCROM asks Fellows to present their research to staff and external guests at the end of the fellowship. Its FAQ also says Fellows should give an introductory presentation, make a short closing presentation and write a brief report evaluating the fellowship and its outcomes. A proposal should therefore be built around work that can produce a clear contribution and be communicated to professional audiences.

Who is likely to fit

ICCROM welcomes people who specialize in a discipline related to cultural heritage and who work as researchers, teachers or practitioners. The published baseline is at least a Master’s degree or higher in an area related to cultural heritage, together with at least ten years of professional activity in the field. The FAQ explains that the programme generally looks for senior professionals with roughly seven to ten years of experience and outstanding contributions to conservation; the current fellowship page states ten years. Applicants should treat the ten-year figure as the safer planning standard and explain any unusual career path directly in the application.

Nationality and institutional connection matter. Applicants must be nationals of ICCROM Member States or work in organisations located in ICCROM Member States. The programme is therefore international, but it is not open without restriction to every country. Check ICCROM’s current Member State position and your own employment or nationality status before investing time in a proposal.

Applicants also need a good knowledge of one of ICCROM’s two official languages, English and French. The FAQ says that all submitted documentation must be written in English or French. Research itself may concern material from any country or language, but the proposal, CV and supporting documents need to be usable by the selection process.

Research themes and project fit

Proposals may address any research topic related to cultural-heritage conservation and ICCROM’s mission. For the 2026–2027 biennium, ICCROM gives preference to work connected with two broad directions. The first concerns better heritage conservation and risk-management approaches, including responses to changing climate patterns, urbanisation, digital transition and complex crises. The organisation also mentions innovative technologies in connection with these problems.

The second concerns integrating heritage into wider policy agendas. Relevant proposals may examine the place of heritage in climate action, sustainable development, education, health and wellbeing, or other national and international frameworks. These are priority directions, not a statement that every other conservation topic is ineligible. A proposal outside the listed areas can still be relevant if it makes a strong case for its relationship to ICCROM’s mission.

Strong fit is more specific than choosing a fashionable subject. State the knowledge gap your project addresses, identify the materials or expertise you need, and explain why ICCROM is a suitable place to do the work. If the research needs the library, archives, documentation holdings or conversations with particular staff, name those needs at a useful level without assuming access to resources ICCROM has not promised.

How to apply

The online application form is expected to be available from 15 August 2026. The application must be completed by the 15 September 2026 deadline, and all required documents should be ready before the final submission. ICCROM lists three core digital files: an up-to-date curriculum vitae, confirmation from an employer when applicable that the applicant may undertake research at ICCROM, and three reference letters from people with direct knowledge of the applicant’s work.

The application should also contain the research proposal and any supporting material requested by the current form. ICCROM’s FAQ says the proposal and annexes must arrive by the advertised deadline. In exceptional circumstances, a candidate who cannot use the online form may contact the Fellowship Programme focal point; that is a fallback route, not a reason to delay registration or assume email submission will be accepted automatically.

Prepare the references early. Three letters are a substantial coordination task, especially when the referees are senior conservation professionals or employers. Give each referee a concise project summary, your CV, the deadline, the reason ICCROM fits the work and the points you hope the letter will address. A letter that describes your actual research contribution and professional judgment is more useful than a generic character reference.

Timeline and decision process

The application window opens on 15 August 2026 and closes on 15 September 2026. ICCROM states that all awarded fellowships will be undertaken in 2027 unless otherwise agreed. Candidates are informed of the selection committee’s decision in writing, and the timing of that notification can vary with the number of proposals received.

Before the fellowship begins, plan for the practical requirements of a Rome-based stay. ICCROM can help with documents needed to enter and temporarily reside in Italy and, when possible, can help identify reasonable accommodation. It does not provide housing. If you need a visa, ICCROM’s FAQ says to check with the nearest Italian embassy and notes that an invitation letter may assist with the request. Visa costs remain the applicant’s responsibility.

Fellowships normally last from three to six months. The FAQ says candidates may express a preferred timing, and ICCROM will try to accommodate it, but the organisation’s needs and the availability of staff also matter. A continuous period is generally preferred. Part-time arrangements or a split period can be considered in some circumstances, but they should be agreed before the fellowship starts rather than assumed in the proposal.

What the selection committee looks for

ICCROM lists six evaluation considerations: the overall quality and clarity of the proposal, the research need, the quality of the anticipated results, feasibility within ICCROM’s resources and the proposed timeframe, a plan for sharing findings with the wider conservation community, and relevance to ICCROM’s Strategic Directions. These criteria point to a proposal that is both intellectually serious and operationally realistic.

The research-need test is a request for more than an interesting topic. Identify the missing knowledge, unresolved comparison, weak method or underused evidence that your project will address. Then connect the proposed work to a result that another conservation professional, institution or policymaker could use. Avoid promising a global transformation in three months; define a bounded question and a credible output.

Feasibility should be visible in the work plan. Explain what you will do during the fellowship, what can be completed with ICCROM’s facilities, what must be done elsewhere and how the time will be divided. If the project requires fieldwork, interviews or travel beyond Rome, distinguish those activities from the work you intend to carry out at ICCROM. The committee needs to see that the proposed period is enough for the actual scope.

The dissemination plan should name an audience and a format. ICCROM encourages open-access dissemination, but applicants should not claim that ICCROM will publish or fund a particular product unless the current instructions say so. A research presentation, professional report, article, dataset description or guidance note may be appropriate depending on the project; describe what you can responsibly deliver.

Financial planning and logistics

The most important financial fact is negative: ICCROM says it is not in a position to provide financial support for fellowships because of current budgetary constraints. The amount field for this listing is therefore intentionally empty. Do not interpret the workstation, library access or archive access as a cash award, and do not assume that travel or accommodation will be reimbursed.

The Fellow is responsible for travel, accommodation and personal insurance. Valid major global medical and accident insurance coverage for the full fellowship period is compulsory. ICCROM can provide information that may help with accommodation searches, but it has no residential accommodation and cannot reserve a property on the Fellow’s behalf. These costs should be checked against your own institution’s sabbatical support, research funds, employer leave arrangements or other confirmed resources.

A partly online fellowship may reduce some costs when ICCROM accepts the justification, but it should not be treated as an automatic remote option. The official page says fellowships may be undertaken at headquarters in Rome or partially online if justification is given. Describe the practical reason for a hybrid arrangement and confirm that the proposed research can still use the required resources and meet the presentation and reporting expectations.

A preparation plan for applicants

Start by reducing the project to one clear research question and a short explanation of why it matters to conservation. Then make a resource map: which ICCROM library or archive materials are essential, which conversations or documentation services would help, and which evidence must be gathered elsewhere. This prevents the proposal from becoming a general statement about heritage policy.

Next, make your experience legible. Use selected examples of conservation work, teaching, research, management or policy engagement that demonstrate judgment and contribution. An abridged CV is acceptable according to the FAQ; a long publication list is not automatically persuasive. Highlight the achievements that establish authority for this exact project.

Build the calendar backward from 15 September. Reserve time for the application form, proposal editing, employer confirmation, three references, file-size checks and final upload. Keep all documents in English or French, use the file formats accepted by the online form and do not wait until the closing day to discover that a referee has not submitted a letter.

Finally, plan the ending before you submit. State what you will present, who should be able to use the result and how you will share it. The closing obligations are part of the fellowship, not an administrative afterthought. A proposal that already has a credible communication path will answer one of ICCROM’s published selection criteria directly.

Common mistakes to avoid

The first mistake is treating the programme as funded study abroad. It is not currently a stipend-bearing award, and Rome living costs, travel, insurance, visa expenses and accommodation remain the applicant’s responsibility. Confirm your financial plan before accepting a place.

The second is proposing work that is too broad for three to six months. A global survey of heritage conservation is unlikely to be feasible. A defined comparative study, archive-based investigation, methodological paper or policy analysis is easier to evaluate and complete.

The third is ignoring the host organisation’s resources. ICCROM is not simply a prestigious address. Explain how its library, archives, documentation services, staff knowledge and professional community support the project. At the same time, do not promise access to a named person or restricted collection without confirmation.

The fourth is leaving the references and employer approval until the end. These are explicit parts of the application package. Start the conversations before the form opens, and make sure the people writing for you understand the project rather than only your job title.

The fifth is overlooking language and Member State requirements. A good project can still fail at the eligibility stage if the applicant cannot satisfy the nationality or institutional connection rule, or if the submitted documents are not in English or French.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a paid fellowship?

No. ICCROM’s current fellowship page says that, because of budgetary constraints, it cannot provide financial support for fellowships. The programme does provide workspace, a workstation, internet, stationery and access to library, archive and documentation services.

When is the 2027 application due?

The deadline is 15 September 2026. The application form is expected to be available from 15 August 2026.

Can an early-career researcher apply?

The published expectation is senior-level experience: at least a Master’s degree or higher in a related field and at least ten years of professional activity in cultural heritage. ICCROM’s FAQ describes typical fellows as senior professionals with significant experience and contributions to conservation. Applicants below that profile should not assume eligibility without asking ICCROM directly.

Must the fellowship be in Rome?

Fellowships may be undertaken at ICCROM headquarters in Rome. A partly online arrangement may be considered when there is a justification. The official page does not promise a fully remote fellowship for every applicant.

What documents are required?

ICCROM lists an up-to-date CV, employer agreement when applicable and three reference letters from people who know the applicant’s work. The online form and current instructions control the complete list of proposal and supporting-document requirements.

What happens during and after the fellowship?

Fellows conduct the approved research, participate in the life of ICCROM and use the resources made available to them. They are expected to give an introductory presentation, deliver a closing presentation to staff and external guests and write a brief report about the fellowship and its outcomes.

Official application links and next steps

Use the official ICCROM Fellowship Programme page as the controlling source for the 2027 call, application form and any updated instructions. The ICCROM fellowship FAQ provides additional guidance on eligibility, language, duration, visas, insurance, accommodation, references and submission problems.

Before 15 August, confirm your Member State or institutional connection, check that your academic and professional record matches the senior profile, choose referees, and outline a project that fits ICCROM’s resources. Once the form becomes available, verify every current instruction in the portal. If the financial limitations make a Rome stay impossible, contact your employer or research funder early; ICCROM’s fellowship itself should not be treated as a source of living-cost support.