Researchers working in children’s literature, young adult literature, or illustration have a unique opportunity to conduct focused research in Germany through the International Youth Library Fellowship 2027. The fellowship offers a monthly stipend of €1,300 and provides international researchers with access to one of the world’s most important collections of children’s and youth literature.
Based at the historic Blutenburg Castle in Munich, the International Youth Library (IYL) welcomes researchers from outside Germany for stays lasting between six weeks and three months. The programme is particularly suitable for graduates, doctoral candidates, PhD holders, young academics, and authors whose research or publication projects require access to international children's and young adult literature.
The application deadline is September 30, 2026, for research stays taking place in 2027.Unlike a conventional university scholarship, this is a specialized research fellowship in Germany. Applicants should already have a clearly defined research project and preliminary work completed before applying. Successful fellows are expected to use the International Youth Library’s extensive collections to advance their projects during their stay.
The International Youth Library Fellowship is an international research programme dedicated to the study of children’s and young adult literature and illustration. It has operated for more than 60 years and is considered one of the rare international fellowship programmes specifically focused on this academic field.
Each year, approximately 15 researchers from Europe and other parts of the world visit the International Youth Library to conduct research using its extensive collections. The fellowship encourages academic exchange, international cooperation, and intercultural dialogue while supporting emerging researchers in developing their academic and professional profiles.
Since 2025, the fellowship programme has been funded by the Bavarian Ministry for Science and Arts, further strengthening its role as an important research opportunity in Germany.
For researchers whose projects depend on international children's literature, the fellowship provides something that ordinary funding programmes cannot always offer: direct access to a specialized research environment, expert librarians, and a vast multilingual collection.
The International Youth Library is located at Blutenburg Castle in Munich, creating a distinctive setting for academic research. More importantly, the library houses an exceptionally broad collection of children's, youth, and specialist literature.
Researchers can access approximately 650,000 books in 260 languages. This international collection can be especially valuable for projects involving comparative literature, translation, children's publishing, illustration, cultural studies, literary history, education, and intercultural communication.
The fellowship also gives researchers the opportunity to work directly with librarians and children's literature specialists.
Their expertise can help fellows identify relevant materials and make more effective use of the library's resources.For applicants working with literature from several countries or languages, this access can significantly strengthen a research project.
The International Youth Library Fellowship 2027 provides several benefits designed to support researchers during their stay in Munich.
Selected fellows receive a monthly scholarship instalment of €1,300 to help cover living expenses in Munich during the funded research period.
Because Munich is one of Germany’s major cities, applicants should prepare a realistic personal budget before travelling. The stipend is intended to support living costs, but applicants should also consider expenses that are not covered by the fellowship.
The fellowship supports a research stay of at least six weeks and up to three months. The exact funding period is determined by a jury based on the proposed project and the applicant’s research schedule.
This flexible duration allows researchers to request a period that matches the scope of their work while ensuring that the stay is long enough to make meaningful use of the library's collections.
Fellows receive a workplace in the scientific reading room and access to the International Youth Library's extensive collection.
The collection contains approximately 650,000 books in 260 languages, making it particularly valuable for international and comparative research.
Fellows can benefit from the knowledge and expertise of librarians and children's book specialists. This support can help researchers locate relevant publications, explore the library's holdings, and refine their use of available sources.
The International Youth Library provides support in finding suitable accommodation for the duration of the research stay. Applicants should nevertheless plan their accommodation needs early, particularly because the fellowship takes place in Munich.
Fellows also have the opportunity to participate in a poster session, where they can present the current state of their research.
This provides a useful platform for academic exchange and allows researchers to discuss their work with other scholars and professionals.
The International Youth Library Fellowship is aimed at researchers and other qualified individuals with a specifi
c project connected to children's or young adult literature.Eligible applicants include:
Applicants must have non-German citizenship and demonstrate sufficient fluency in German and/or English.
Importantly, this is not a general scholarship for individuals who simply want to study in Germany. Applicants need a specific research project that would benefit from materials held at the International Youth Library.
The fellowship can be relevant to a wide range of projects involving children's and youth literature and illustration.
Potential areas may include comparative children's literature, literary history, translation, illustration studies, publishing, cultural representation, education, intercultural exchange, and the development of children's literature across different countries.The most important consideration is the connection between the proposed research and the International Youth Library's collections.
Applicants should therefore investigate the library's online catalogue before submitting their application. The research proposal should identify relevant books or materials in the collection and explain how access to those materials will contribute to the project.
Applicants need to prepare several documents demonstrating their academic background, research experience, and the importance of the proposed research stay.
Candidates must complete the official online application form before the deadline.
The cover letter should introduce the applicant and provide a convincing explanation of the proposed research project.
Applicants should clearly explain why spending time at the International Youth Library is important for their research. The cover letter should be approximately one to two pages and may include a photograph if possible.
Applicants must provide a selection of their most relevant academic publications, projects, and activities related to children's literature.
This could include research articles, projects, or other academic work demonstrating their engagement with the field.
Applicants should also provide a selection of relevant conferences and seminars they have attended as speakers or organized.
This section can help demonstrate academic engagement, research communication skills, and involvement in the wider scholarly community.
The research project description is one of the most important parts of the application.
It should explain the research question, objectives, methodology, and relevance of the project. Most importantly, applicants must explain why the International Youth Library's materials are important to their work.
Candidates should give examples of titles available in the IYL collection that they intend to consult during their stay.The project description should not exceed three pages.
Applications are reviewed by a jury consisting of librarians and children's book specialists from the International Youth Library.
The selection process is therefore likely to place considerable importance on the quality and feasibility of the proposed research project. Applicants should not simply describe their academic interests. They should demonstrate that the fellowship is necessary or particularly valuable for completing their research.
A strong application should establish a clear connection between the research question, the materials available at the International Youth Library, and the proposed research schedule.
Applicants can improve their chances by starting preparations well before the September 30, 2026 deadline.
First, identify the exact research question you want to investigate. A focused project is generally easier to explain than a broad topic.Second, explore the International Youth Library's catalogue and identify specific books, authors, editions, illustrations, or other materials relevant to your research.
Third, explain what you expect to accomplish during your stay. Your proposal should show that the six-week-to-three-month research period has a clear purpose.
Finally, carefully review every application requirement before submitting your documents. Make sure the research description is concise, specific, and clearly connected to the IYL collection.
Although the fellowship provides a €1,300 monthly stipend, applicants should remember that some expenses are not covered.
Researchers must arrange their own health insurance. Travel expenses are also not covered by the fellowship.
Applicants should therefore calculate their expected costs for transportation, accommodation, food, insurance, and other personal expenses before accepting a fellowship.
The library's support in finding accommodation can nevertheless be helpful for international researchers preparing for their stay in Munich.
The application deadline for research stays in the following year is September 30. For the 2027 fellowship, prospective applicants must therefore submit their applications by September 30, 2026.
Because the application requires a detailed research proposal and supporting academic information, candidates should avoid waiting until the final days to prepare their documents.