Impact AI Fellowship 2027 in Berlin, Germany

Applications are now open for the Impact AI Fellowship 2027, a ten week research fellowship hosted by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) in Berlin, Germany. The fellowship is for people interested in AI, sustainability and the public interest. Fellows learn a new impact assessment method and use it to evaluate one real world AI application. The fellowship runs from 16 August to 22 October 2027, and the application deadline is 15 January 2027. It is a paid fellowship, not a fully funded one.

Each fellow receives a fixed stipend of €5,000, and HIIG may also support travel and accommodation costs for the in person weeks, depending on its capacity. Applications are welcome from academics, journalists, and people from civil society organisations, public institutions and companies. A master’s degree is generally required, but equivalent experience can be considered. The official call does not mention any application fee. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

• Organisation: Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG)
• Programme: Impact AI Fellowship 2027
• Programme Type: Research fellowship
• Host Country: Germany (Berlin)
• Application Deadline: 15 January 2027
• Open to all nationalities: Yes
• Application Fee: None

What This Fellowship Offers:

• You receive a fixed stipend of €5,000 for the ten week period.
• You may get your travel and accommodation costs covered for the in person programme
• You gain comprehensive training in the Impact AI Method, a structured way to assess the social and environmental effects of AI.
• You learn from workshops led by researchers and practitioners.
• You receive individual supervision from the Impact AI research team throughout the fellowship.
• You earn lead authorship of a case report that supports the research team’s work.
• You get the chance to collaborate and publish further based on the research data from your case study.

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Eligibility Criteria:

Applications are welcome from people working in academia, journalism, civil society organisations, public institutions and companies engaged with AI, sustainability or the public interest. HIIG is looking for people from diverse academic, professional and personal backgrounds.

You should meet the following requirements:

• Hold a master’s degree, or have experience equivalent to one. Applicants without a master’s degree are not automatically excluded, but those without relevant experience and training are less likely to be selected.
• Have research experience or professional expertise in AI, sustainability or the public interest, or be part of an organisation that would let you keep using the method after the fellowship.
• Have a deep interest in research and be able to learn and apply a complex research method with rigour.
• Be interested in interdisciplinary research and in working with other fellows and researchers.
• Be able to work independently with a high degree of commitment and reliability.

An academic track record is not mandatory.

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Fellowship Schedule:

• Preparatory session (11 May 2027): A mandatory online session. Interview preparation needs lead time, so the preparatory phase begins three months before the official start.
• Week 1 (16 to 20 August 2027): In person workshops in Berlin on the Impact AI Method and interview preparation.
• Weeks 2 to 6 (23 August to 1 October 2027): Independent research with weekly check ins and online workshops. Remote work is possible.
• Week 7 (4 to 8 October 2027): In person workshops in Berlin to present and discuss your assessment results.
• Weeks 8 to 10 (11 to 22 October 2027): Finalising the assessment and writing the impact assessment report.

Important Dates:

• 16 August to 22 October 2027: Fellowship period
• 10 and 17 November 2026: Online information sessions
• 15 January 2027: Application deadline
• 11 May 2027: Mandatory online preparatory session

Online Information Sessions:

HIIG recommends joining one of these sessions to learn more. No registration is required.

• 10 November 2026 at 10 am (CET)
• 17 November 2026 at 3 pm (CET)

Join the information session here

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How to Apply:

1. Follow these steps to submit your application:
2. Join one of the online information sessions (optional but highly recommended).
3. Prepare your CV (maximum 4 pages).
4. Write your letter of motivation (maximum 2 pages). Include your level of AI expertise, your organisational background and, if applicable, your organisation’s motivation.
5. If you have a project in mind, prepare a description of your proposed AI project (maximum 2 pages).
6. Combine all documents into a single file.
7. Complete the online application form and upload your file before 15 January 2027.

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