Apply now

The Leiden Austria Centre and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research (BMFWF) invite applicants to the 2026-27/2027-28 Annual Leiden Visiting Professorship for Central Europe. 

The visiting professor will be active at the Leiden University Institute for History and will co-operate with the Special Chair for Central European Studies established there by the Leiden Foundation for Austrian Studies (currently Austrian Studies Fund at the Leids Universiteitsfonds, LUF, see link here). 

Candidates with backgrounds in history, art history, literature and music are invited to apply; social scientists who utilise cultural or historical approaches in their study of Central Europe are also eligible. 

Visiting professors will be active in the second semester (early February-early June). They are expected to teach two courses (a BA lecture course and an advanced BA or MA research seminar) on broad and attractive themes connected to their research. Teaching will be in English (although passive knowledge of German can be expected among the students). 

Applicants should indicate their availability for / preference for 2026-27 or 2027-28; in principle the selection for these two subsequent years will be dealt with in one round.

Leiden University provides visiting professors with office space and access to digital services. Housing will be arranged by the Leiden Austrian Studies Fund. Visiting professors will be encouraged to participate in the academic life of the Humanities Faculty and Leiden University. The scheme is intended to benefit the Leiden community as well as the Visiting Professor through the fruitful exchange of knowledge and experiences. 

he Annual Leiden Visiting Professorship for Central Europe is intended to strengthen Austrian-Dutch academic co-operation in the field of Central European History and Culture. In co-operation with the Special Chair, Prof. Dr. Sarah Cramsey, the Visiting Professors contribute to a curriculum that attracts humanities students to key Central European themes. It fits wider activities of the Leiden Austria Centre sponsoring student and PhD-research, such as the Annual Lecture and a Prize for BA and MA theses as well as a Research Stipend provided by the Austrian Studies Fund (see details on the Fund’s website). Through its frequent contacts with the eight other Austria Centres worldwide, the Leiden centre strives to foster an international network of young researchers. Please click here for the list of visiting professors since 1991. 

Note that as of 2024-2025 the OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation funds the Visiting professorship on behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research. 

The Leiden Austria Centre and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research (BMFWF) invite applicants to the 2026-27/2027-28 Annual Leiden Visiting Professorship for Central Europe. 

The visiting professor will be active at the Leiden University Institute for History and will co-operate with the Special Chair for Central European Studies established there by the Leiden Foundation for Austrian Studies (currently Austrian Studies Fund at the Leids Universiteitsfonds, LUF, see link here). 

Apply now