INHA 2026 National and International Research Travel Grants: Funding Opportunities for Doctoral and Postdoctoral Researchers in Europe

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Ownership and Usage Policy

Deadline: 9 January 2026
Funding Amount: €1,000 – €3,000 (reimbursed based on supporting documentation)

Overview

The Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art (INHA) invites doctoral and postdoctoral researchers to apply for the 2026 National and International Research Travel Grant Program.
This initiative is designed to support short-term, targeted research travel within Europe and beyond, enabling early-career scholars to access archives, collections, or field sites that are essential to their research.

By facilitating academic mobility, the program aims to foster international collaboration, methodological innovation, and cross-cultural knowledge exchange across the humanities and social sciences.

Purpose and Scope

The grant provides reimbursements of up to €3,000 for research-related travel conducted during 2026. Funding may cover:

• Travel within the researcher’s country of residence (if located in Europe)

• Research trips to other European countries or French overseas territories

• Fieldwork or study visits outside of Europe

Eligible expenses include transportation, accommodation, and daily meals (three per day). Applicants must present a realistic and detailed budget, even if the total costs exceed the maximum reimbursable amount.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

• Be currently enrolled as a doctoral student at a higher education institution within the European Union, or

• Have obtained a PhD within the last three years (between January 9, 2023, and January 9, 2026) from an EU higher education institution.

Note:

• Stays that form part of a jointly supervised thesis (such as long-term residencies at partner universities) are not eligible.

• The grant cannot fund writing retreats or equipment purchases (e.g., cameras, laptops, printers).

• The funding is meant to support focused research travel, not long-term mobility.

Institutional Contribution

When applicants are affiliated with research laboratories or heritage institutions, the INHA grant must not be the sole source of financial support. These institutions are expected to co-fund the researcher’s mission.
In such cases, the applicant’s cover letter must clearly indicate the extent of institutional or project-based co-financing (e.g., ANR grants, postdoctoral contracts, or other research funds).

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on:

1. Methodological soundness and academic rigor of the proposed research.

2. Relevance of the planned trip to the overall research objectives.

3. Innovative potential and contribution of the project to its field.

4. Clarity of the itinerary and feasibility of the proposed timeline and budget.

Postdoctoral candidates should also specify the intended outcome of their research trip — whether it is the preparation of a publication, the development of a new research project, the design of an exhibition, or another scholarly activity.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a complete application package online by 9 January 2026, including:

1. Cover letter addressed to the Director of Studies and Research at INHA

2. Curriculum vitae (CV)

3. Detailed research and mobility project description, including a precise travel schedule

4. Letter of support from a research director or established academic

5. Provisional budget, specifying all expected expenses and any co-funding sources

Only online submissions will be considered. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed.

Evaluation and Grant Disbursement

Selected candidates will receive reimbursements based on submitted receipts after completion of their travel.
The grant amount — between €1,000 and €3,000 — is meant to partially or fully cover travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs.

This approach ensures transparency and accountability, encouraging researchers to plan carefully while maximizing the scholarly impact of their fieldwork.

Contact Information

For questions or additional details, contact the Studies and Research Department:
📧 Email: der-dir@inha.fr
📞 Telephone: +33 (0)1 47 03 85 81

Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art (INHA)
2 rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris, France
Tel: +33 (0)1 47 03 89 00

Visit the INHA official website for updates, calls for proposals, and access to their digital resources.

Conceptual Elaboration

The National and International Research Travel Grant Program embodies the principle that mobility is a catalyst for knowledge creation. Research today is increasingly interdisciplinary and transnational — requiring access not only to digital resources but also to physical archives, museum collections, and field sites scattered across regions.

By funding travel, INHA recognizes that intellectual progress thrives when scholars are able to observe, compare, and collaborate across borders. The program’s design — emphasizing methodological strength, clear objectives, and institutional partnership — ensures that recipients use mobility as a strategic tool for discovery, not merely as an academic privilege.

This initiative also highlights the evolving role of research institutions in the 21st century: to empower early-career researchers, encourage shared responsibility for funding, and promote open, international scholarship rooted in excellence and equity.