Deadline: September 22, 2025
Applications are open for the UNESCO / Kingdoms Institute: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – AlUla Fellowships Programme 2025. Within the framework of the strategic partnership between UNESCO and the Royal Commission for AIUla (RCU) to protect, develop and promote AIUla in UNESCO’s field of competence and to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UNESCO and RCU, will jointly select and convene 10 fellows in the fields of Heritage Research, Conservation and Management for a 24-month fellowship programme.
This programme aims to enhance scientific knowledge on Heritage Research and Conservation and to strengthen World Heritage management capacity, particularly in emergency preparedness and response. It offers highly skilled heritage experts and professionals the opportunity to combine fieldwork in the AlUla region with on-the-job training focused on heritage-related programmes and activities within the contexts of international organisations and national entities.
Program Details
The programme will last for 24 months, during which the 10 selected fellows will complete 3 primary rotations, engaging in full-time assignments under the supervision of designated host entities.
- Rotation 1: 6-month fellowship in the Kingdoms Institute, in Saudi Arabia. The main research profiles anticipated for this edition include:
- Management of World Heritage Sites: 2 fellowships.
- Immovable Heritage Research (Archaeology/Built Heritage/Intangible Cultural Heritage): 2 fellowships;
- Immovable Heritage Conservation, including with regards to emergency preparedness and response: 2 fellowships;
- Intangible Cultural Heritage (2 fellowships);
- Oases as Cultural Landscapes: risk management and conservation: 2 fellowships.
- Rotation 2: 12-month sponsored traineeship under the Culture Programme in one of the following duty stations of UNESCO: Paris HQs (notably the World Heritage Centre, or the Emergency Operation and Programme Unit of the Culture Sector), UNESCO Field Offices in Abuja, Almaty, Amman, Bangkok, Cairo, Harare, Kingston, Yaoundé.
- Rotation 3: 6-month work-placement with a Partner National Commission for UNESCO, or a culture or heritage entity (such as a museum or a heritage site) designated by the partner National Commissions.
Assignments to specific partner National Commissions or heritage entities will be determined in collaboration with partner National Commissions and heritage/culture entities during the first year of the Programme. The assignment will consider each fellow’s background and expertise while also taking into account the needs and capacities of the hosting institutions to ensure a mutually beneficial placement.
Fellowship
Fellows will be provided with travel tickets; stipends; medical insurance and other facilities and support during their fellowship. Check below for the entitlements for fellows in the 3 rotations.
Rotation 1
- A round-trip international ticket in economy class to enter and exit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- A round-trip ticket in economy class to enter and exit the Region of AIUla.
- Accommodation, local transportation and food (7 days per week).
- Stipends to cover other living expenses in Saudi Arabia, in accordance with UN regulation and stipend rates for fellows and scholars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- Medical Insurance provided by the Royal Commission for AIUla.
Rotation 2
- An international travel ticket in economy class to enter and exit the assigned duty station of UNESCO.
- Stipends to cover meals, accommodation, local transportation, and other living expenses, in accordance with UN regulations and stipend rates for fellows and scholars in the assigned duty station.
- Medical Insurance provided by the Royal Commission for AIUla.
Rotation 3
- An international travel ticket in economy class to enter and exit the assigned partner National Commission or entity.
- Stipends to cover meals, accommodation, local transportation, and other living expenses, in accordance with UN regulations and stipend rates for fellows and scholars in the assigned duty station.
- Medical Insurance provided by the Royal Commission for AIUla.
Eligibility
- Applicant should hold the nationality of one of the invited Member States and Associate Members.
- Be at least twenty-five (25) years old and under the age of forty (40) when applying.
- University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in the field of culture, heritage management, architecture, urban planning/development, archaeology, conservation, museum management, cultural policies, anthropology, art history, arts management, creative industries, international relations, social and human sciences or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
- Language skills: Excellent knowledge of English (oral and written) is essential. Knowledge of another/other UNESCO official language(s) – Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish is preferable.
Application
Required application documents:
- A Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages).
- Certified photocopies of your highest diploma or degree.
- An Application Form completed in English.
- A motivation letter written in English (1 page maximum).
- A proposal form completed in English (maximum 3 pages, in PDF format).
- A 2-minute video of self-introduction in English (in MP4 format, under 50 MB in size), in which candidates should briefly present themselves and address the following questions:
- What motivates you to apply for this Programme, and why do you think you are a strong candidate?
- What skills or added value would you bring to the Programme?
- A copy of Passport with an expiry date later than 31 July 2026.
Applications, with all the required documents should be submitted by email to [email protected] no later than Midnight (Central European Time) by 22 September 2025. Applicants who submit incomplete applications, or submit applications after the deadline, will not be considered.
For more information, visit AlUla Fellowships Programme.
