Sabbatical-at-Home Senior Fellowship
Are you a professor at ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich, or the Zurich University of the Arts and want to spend your sabbatical at home? Consider applying for a senior fellowship at the Collegium Helveticum and become part of a vibrant international community that engages in and contributes to cross-disciplinary conversation.
Depending on the length of their sabbatical up to three professors at ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich, or the Zurich University of the Arts, can spend between a minimum of five to a maximum of ten months at the Collegium. During their fellowship, senior fellows contribute to the academic and artistic program by convening an event to engage in exchange around their work and make new connections in Zurich and beyond.
Eligibility
Applicants are faculty on sabbatical at ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich (UZH), or the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), who want to profit from the highly international and interdisciplinary environment of the Collegium.
Professors at ETH Zurich interested in applying for an additional sabbatical at the Collegium Helveticum, contact Mario Wimmer. These additional sabbaticals require approval from the Vice President for Personnel Development and Leadership at ETH Zurich and are based on “Directives concerning Sabbaticals and Unpaid Leave for Professors of ETH Zurich” (section 3).
About the fellowship
Up to three faculty members on sabbatical at ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich (UZH), or the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), who want to stay in Zurich but profit from the highly international and interdisciplinary environment of the Collegium. They are actively involved in the Collegium community and participate in the fellowship program.
Duration and start date
Senior fellows can spend between a minimum of five to a maximum of ten months at the Collegium, depending on the length of their sabbatical at ETH Zurich, UZH, or ZHdK. Senior fellowships usually start either on September 1 or February 1, however exceptions are possible.
Financial support
Since no additional costs incur for these senior fellows, the Collegium only retains CHF 800 per fellowship month for organizing an event.
Infrastructure
Senior fellows can use the Collegium’s pool desks. They are expected to bring their own laptop but will have access to the ETH Zurich IT infrastructure.
Attendance and participation
During their fellowship, senior fellows are welcome at the Collegium at any time but must spend at least Thursdays on site. On Thursdays, they participate in the weekly lunch seminars, workshop discussions, and Jours Fixes with other fellows.
Senior fellows who have successfully applied for an additional sabbatical at ETH are expected to participate full-time and actively contribute to the program (see info box above).
Associate fellow
Applicants are asked to submit their application in coordination with an academic partner. These are typically tenured or tenure-track faculty from a different discipline at ETH Zurich, UZH, or ZHdK, but it can also be another established researcher or artist affiliated with one of the supporting universities. In justified cases, individuals from the cultural sector, business, or civil society may be appointed as associate fellows by the director. The academic partner writes a short letter expressing interest in cross-disciplinary collaboration and their willingness to become an associate fellow at the Collegium.
Event
Senior fellows organize an event on a topic of their choice—ideally in collaboration with their associate fellow or other fellows. A proposal for this event is part of the application, which serves as a basis for more detailed planning with the Collegium’s team. The fellows are supported by the Collegium staff in organizing the event. The Collegium retains up to CHF 800 per fellowship month of financial support for the event.
Application and evaluation
Applications are reviewed on a competitive basis two times per year. They can be submitted all year round, at the earliest one year and at the latest three months before the start of the planned fellowship. Applications for fellowships starting from September 2025 onwards, can be submitted until June 22, 2025. Arrangements for an additional sabbatical at ETH Zurich will likely require more coordination.
Upcoming date for start of review:
Upcoming date for start of review:
a) June 22, 2025
Corresponding earliest starting date of fellowship:
a) September 1, 2025
Please provide required information through the online portal and upload the following documents in PDF format:
- Application form: Please provide personal and project details using this template.
- Letter of interest: Letter by the associate fellow expressing interest in cross-disciplinary collaboration and their willingness to become an associate fellow at the Collegium. Note, that applicants are responsible for uploading the completed letter as part of their application.
- CV
- Passport or ID card: Copy of the first relevant pages of your passport. EU/EFTA citizens can submit a copy of their ID (front and back).
- Confirmation of sabbatical leave.
- Supplementary information: Supplementary files that the applicants deem necessary.
If you encounter any issues downloading the files listed above, please reach out to us at info@collegium.ethz.ch.
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