The Centre for Advanced Study (CAS) invites researchers to pursue excellent, fundamental, curiosity-driven research in Oslo during the 2027/2028 academic year. Assemble your international dream team of prominent researchers and apply for a research stay at CAS.

Each year, we host three research groups engaging in research within and across the following fields:

• Humanities/Theology
• Social sciences/Law
• Natural sciences/Medicine/Mathematics
   

The research groups stay at CAS, situated at the stately premises of The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters in Oslo, for one academic year. Each project receives a grant of roughly NOK 3.2 million.

There are no laboratory facilities at CAS. However, projects involving laboratory work, field work and data collection are welcome to apply to develop the theoretical aspects of their research. Laboratory work, field work and data collection must take place either before the stay at CAS or at another suitable place during the stay as long as the residential requirements for the PIs are met.

Researchers who have ongoing laboratory activities at their home institutions during their stay at CAS, should consider carefully how these can be handled on the day-to-day basis by one or more junior researchers as part of their training. These younger researchers may then in turn be included as part of the research environment established at CAS if this is in accordance with the overall plan for the stay at CAS.

Residential requirements

PIs must be based at CAS for the duration of the academic year, which runs from 15 August to 30 June. If the project has two PIs, they may during shorter periods of the academic year alternate leadership responsibility if their family situation, laboratory work requirements or central elements of the project make this necessary. The absent PI must participate remotely during such periods.

The project participants can stay at the Centre from one to six months. 

A RJ fellow will stay at CAS for a whole semester.

While in residence at CAS all fellows are expected to participate full time in the activities of the project. 

What we offer: a generous service platform and a unique research infrastructure

CAS provides a unique research infrastructure, an extensive service platform and an inspiring, collegial atmosphere. This includes:

• Five office spaces in well-equipped offices for single or double occupancy (in the case of an RJ fellow the group will have six spaces while the RJ fellow is in residence).
• Well-equipped seminar rooms with video conferencing equipment.
• IT and library services.
• Assistance with conference and workshop planning.
• Subsidised lunch in the Centre’s Turret room for all fellows.
• Pleasant accommodations within walking distance of the Centre (for researchers not based in the Oslo area).

What does the funding cover?

The current budget frame for each project is NOK 3,200,000. The funds can cover:

• Teaching replacement costs for scholars not employed by CAS’ partner institutions who cannot take sabbatical leave.
              Note: CAS does not pay overhead, but it is possible to cover an administration fee.
• Conferences, seminars and workshops organised as part of the group’s accomplishments during the stay at CAS.
• Travel and accommodation* expenses for visiting fellows.
              Note: CAS only covers economy class tickets.
• Visits from prominent scholars for internal seminars.
• Other expenses, which may include social expenses, special equipment and supplies.
   

* CAS rents apartments in the vicinity of the Centre for fellows who live more than 40 km from CAS. The current monthly rates are:

1-bedroom apartment = 27.000/mnd (for stays between 30 - 60 days)

2-bedroom apartment = 29.000/mnd (for stays exceeding 60 days)

PIs who have their residence more than 40 km from CAS may apply for accommodation in Oslo provided by the Centre. Please contact CAS for more information. CAS’ operating budget will cover any such costs, and they therefore do not need to be included in the project budget.

How to apply

Applicants for the academic year of 2027/2028 must submit a complete application through the application portal UNIFOR. 

Required templates are available in the application portal.

The deadline for submitting applications is 12 October 2025.

All documents must be written in English and submitted as PDF files.

Successful applicants will:

Submit a proposal that clearly formulates:

• the specific visions and research goals of the project.
   
• the project's potential as a contribution to excellent fundamental research.
   
• the implementation of the research plan that shows how the research at CAS will be led and organised to achieve the objectives of the project.

The application must contain:

• A full project description written for specialists in your field (max. 10 A4 pages).
• A CV (for each PI). Each project can have a maximum of two PIs. The PI not submitting the application must sign a letter of intent confirming their participation.
              Note: The following CV template must be used. Download the template here >
              Note: Download letter of intent for co-PI >
• A letter of support from the head of each PI’s department (max. one A4 page).
              Note: At minimum, the letter must confirm that you will keep your salary, and that you will be released from other duties during your period as a PI at CAS. We also advise that the letter include a short description of how the project will strengthen and generate value to the research environment at your home institution, even after the year at CAS has concluded.
• A short CV (max. one A4 page) and a signed letter of intent for up to four core members whom you intend to invite to long-term stays at CAS. If in addition you apply for the RJ-fellowship please note that a RJ fellow must (i) have an academic position in the humanities and/or social sciences at a Swedish higher education and research institution and (ii) belong to the core group of a planned CRG project for a whole semester.
              Note: Please do not submit CVs for any other group members whom you intend to invite to CAS.
              Note: Download letter of intent for fellows >
• A short list of other colleagues involved in the project, describing their background, merits and how they will contribute to the project.
• A preliminary budget.
              Note: The following budget template must be used. Download the template here >
  
   

In the relevant fields in the application form in the portal, you must fill out the following:

• A project abstract (approximately 100 words).
• Primary and secondary objectives of the project (approximately 100 words).
• A description of how a year at CAS will benefit the project (approximately 300 words).
• A detailed plan of activities and cooperations for the year at CAS.
• An ethical self-assessment (approximately 200 words).
              Note: Please read CAS’ guidelines for ethics in research >
• Three suggestions for referees for your project.

Note: Your suggestions for referees must conform to CAS’ gudelines for possible conflicts of interest.

We encourage all applicants to have all documents, attachments and texts finalised and converted to the right format before registering their application in the portal.

Other requirements

If the project requires pre-approval from the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics, or a similar body, this must be secured by 14 November 2025. Documentation of pre-approval must be submitted as part of the project description in the application portal, or sent by email to Rune Flaten, rune.flaten@cas-nor.no.

For information about the requirements for the project while at CAS, download PDF of ‘Framework and Requirements for the Project.’

The selection process

Applications that meet our requirements, standard and format will be subject to international peer review.

The Board of Directors will make the final selection in June 2026. CAS will assist PIs during the planning phase leading up to the groups’ arrival at the Centre in August 2027.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. 🧭 Institutional Affiliation & Research Leave

Group leaders must hold tenured academic positions at one of CAS’s 18 partner institutions (e.g., UiO, NTNU, BI) .

Partner institutions must formally grant paid sabbatical leave for the duration of the fellowship .

2. 🔍 Outstanding, Curiosity-Driven Blue-Sky Research

Proposals are evaluated solely on scientific excellence—fundamental scholarship pushing intellectual boundaries .

CAS supports research groups, not individual projects—emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration with international team members .

3. 🎓 Career Stage and Grant Type

CAS Research Grants are for established scholars, supporting 1-year group stays, with budgets up to ~NOK 3.2–3.5 million .

Young CAS Grants target early-career researchers (≤ 40 years old) for 2-month residential stays and limited funding (~NOK 750 K) to build independent research groups 

4. 🌐 International & Interdisciplinary Teams

Proposals must include internationally renowned researchers and often postdocs/PhD candidates to form a cohesive, multi-national group .

CAS encourages cross-disciplinary dialogue across natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, theology, and law .

5. 📚 Strong Peer Review & Competitive Selection

CAS convenes rigorous peer reviews, selecting only around three large grants per year across all disciplines .

Scientific merit is the sole evaluation criterion, and outcomes are highly competitive .

6. 🏢 Comprehensive Support & Infrastructure

Funding includes office space, administrative support, seminar coordination, covered travel/accommodation, and arrangements for family if necessary .

Living costs are “no loss, no gain”—careful budgeting ensures researchers neither gain nor lose income due to the stay 

✅ Success Blueprint

🔍 Pro Tips

Initiate sabbatical negotiation early with your home institution.

Build your dream team—include international and cross-disciplinary collaborators.

Align your project with your career stage—leverage Young CAS as a foundational springboard.

Emphasize scientific excellence in your proposal narrative.

Plan logistics proactively—housing, children, administrative support.

Use past success stories (e.g., Hilde Bjørnland’s 2025 project) to guide your effort