The HIIG Impact AI Fellowship 2027 is offered by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) in Berlin, Germany, in collaboration with Greenpeace Germany and Economy for the Common Good. The ten-week programme runs from 16 August to 22 October 2027 and provides a €5,000 stipend. Fellows will learn to assess the real-world effects of artificial intelligence on society and the environment. The opportunity is suitable for master’s degree holders working in academia, journalism, civil society, public institutions or companies interested in AI, sustainability and public interest. Applications are open for the 2027 cycle until 15 January 2027.
Scholarship overview
Host country: Germany (Berlin)
Host institution: Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG)
Study level / opportunity type: Fellowship / Research
Funding classification: Partially funded — €5,000 stipend for the ten-week fellowship, with travel and accommodation support available subject to individual circumstances and available capacity.
Application deadline: 15 January 2027
Online information sessions: 10 November 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CET and 17 November 2026 at 3:00 p.m. CET
Fellowship dates: 16 August – 22 October 2027
Current status: Open for applications, according to the official announcement.
Important: This is a research fellowship hosted in Germany, not an Africa-based opportunity. Applicants must hold a master’s degree. The €5,000 stipend does not mean all expenses are fully covered.
Benefits of the HIIG Impact AI Fellowship 2027
According to the official HIIG fellowship announcement, the benefits are as follows.
Tuition fees: Not applicable. This is a research fellowship, not a degree programme.
Stipend / living allowance: €5,000 for the full ten-week fellowship. This amount includes any applicable taxes and social security costs.
Travel or airfare: Financial support for travel required to attend in-person sessions in Berlin, assessed individually and subject to available funding.
Health insurance: Not covered. Fellows are responsible for their own health insurance.
Accommodation: Financial support for accommodation required for the in-person programme, assessed individually and subject to available funding.
Visa costs: Fellows are responsible for visa expenses. Additional assistance may be considered in exceptional cases.
Books and research expenses: No separate allowance is specified on the official page.
Settling-in allowance: No separate allowance is specified on the official page.
Training and supervision: Training in the Impact AI Method, workshops led by researchers and practitioners, and individual guidance from the HIIG research team.
Research and publication opportunities: Lead authorship of a case assessment report, with opportunities for future collaboration and publication.
Funding note: Do not describe this fellowship as fully funded. The €5,000 stipend is fixed, while travel and accommodation support depend on individual circumstances and available capacity. Fellows must cover other expenses, including meals, health insurance and visa costs.
Available Fields or Programmes
The HIIG Impact AI Fellowship 2027 does not list separate degree programmes or academic majors. It focuses on interdisciplinary research into the societal and environmental impacts of artificial intelligence.
Confirmed research areas include:
AI and sustainability: Assessing the environmental and social effects of AI applications.
AI and the public interest: Examining whether AI systems contribute to public benefit.
AI and democracy: Exploring AI applications related to equality, public discourse, access to information and government transparency.
AI impact assessment: Applying the Impact AI Method to evaluate a real-world AI application.
Interdisciplinary AI research: Combining perspectives from academia, journalism, civil society, public institutions and industry.
Applicants may propose a specific AI project for assessment, but this is optional. HIIG can help fellows identify a suitable project.
Required Documents – HIIG Impact AI Fellowship 2027
According to the official HIIG application call, applicants must complete the online application form and combine the following documents into one single file.
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Curriculum Vitae (CV): Maximum 4 pages.
Letter of Motivation: Maximum 2 pages, explaining your level of AI expertise, organisational background and, where applicable, your organisation’s motivation.
Proposed AI Project Description (optional): Maximum 2 pages, if you wish to suggest a specific AI project for assessment.
Important: Academic transcripts, degree certificates, reference letters, English-language test results and passport copies are not listed as required documents in the current official call. Do not present them as mandatory unless HIIG requests them separately.
Submission method: Complete the online application form and upload all applicable documents together in a single file.
Important Dates – HIIG Impact AI Fellowship 2027
According to the official HIIG announcement, the key dates are as follows.
Application opening date: 9 October 2026 (official call announcement published).
Application deadline: 15 January 2027. The official page does not specify a closing time or timezone.
Online information session 1: 10 November 2026 at 10:00 a.m. The timezone is not specified on the official page.
Online information session 2: 17 November 2026 at 3:00 p.m. The timezone is not specified on the official page.
Mandatory preparatory session: 11 May 2027, online. The time is not specified.
Interview period: Not specified in the official call.
Selection results announcement: Not specified in the official call.
Fellowship period: 16 August – 22 October 2027.
Note: The information sessions are optional, while the preparatory session is mandatory for selected fellows. Applicants should check the official website for any updates to the application process.
Official source: HIIG Impact AI Fellowship 2027 – Official Call
The HIIG Impact AI Fellowship 2027 is partially funded, not fully funded or tuition-only. It provides a €5,000 stipend for the ten-week research fellowship. Additional travel and accommodation support may be available, subject to individual circumstances and funding availability. Fellows may need to cover other expenses, including health insurance and visa costs.
The HIIG Impact AI Fellowship 2027 welcomes applicants from all nationalities, with no specific nationality restrictions stated in the official call. Applicants must hold a master’s degree and may come from academia, journalism, civil society, public institutions or companies working in AI, sustainability or the public interest. Relevant professional experience is beneficial but not mandatory.
No. University admission is not required for the HIIG Impact AI Fellowship 2027. It is a research fellowship, not a university degree programme. Applicants must hold a master’s degree and apply directly through the official HIIG application form.
- The application deadline for the HIIG Impact AI Fellowship 2027 is 15 January 2027. The official announcement does not specify an exact submission time or timezone, so applicants should submit their applications before the deadline rather than assume a particular cutoff time.
No application fee is listed for the HIIG Impact AI Fellowship 2027. Applicants can apply through the official online application form without a stated application charge.
