Become a YSC Fellow

Are you a master's student, PhD candidate, post-doc or young professional?

Do you have new and innovative ideas on how to reshape the future of European security?

Then, you should apply for the Young Security Conference (YSC) Fellowship 2024!

Discussions on changing the EU’s security architecture are intensifying. Yet, the member states take budgetary and strategic defence action into their own hands despite shifting geopolitical constellations that render a systemic change of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) necessary. The EU is at a crossroads between remaining national sovereignties and achieving “European sovereignty”. In other words, The EU shows its two faces: how can it achieve European sovereignty when its members don't want reforms?

The YSC invites young thinkers to join the YSC 2024 “The Two Faces of the EU: Between Reform and Resistance“ to discuss the future of European security at the Amerikahaus in Munich on the 24th and 25th of May.  The two days will consist of insightful panels with high-ranking officials, experts and young professionals, and a new format: fellow-led panels. The goal is to critically discuss the future of the EU’s CFSP under the new constellations of Europe and the world order. This mainly refers, but not only to, challenging transatlantic relations, Franco-German inertia, EU enlargement, and nuclear security in the EU.

This call for applications is closed. We will anounce selected Fellows shortly.

The YSC is committed to making the conference accessible to all. We have limited grants available to financially support fellows to cover transport and accommodation. Additionally, this year, fellows will be given a chance to present their research, as discribed in their essay submission, during the conference in fellow-organised panels moderated by experts. Please note, that availability is limited and that interest in this opportunity does not affect the selection process.

The essay question for this year’s fellowship application process are:

  • How should the EU treat the issue of nuclear weapons and nuclear deterrence? Will a new European security framework mean the proliferation of nuclear weapons, or are there other avenues?

  • Eastern enlargement 2.0 - Can the EU navigate geopolitical interests and inner political stability through the Eastern enlargement?

  • A spluttering Franco-German engine - Is the disagreement between France and Germany slowing down the integration of the European Union, and what are the effects?

  • The EU on its own? How can the EU change its security architecture in times of less reliable transatlantic military support?

For your application, we kindly ask you to send us an e-mail to contact@youngsecurityconference.com containing the following:

  • Your CV.

  • Essay of 1,500 words (+- 10%) answering the selected question. Please provide sources and a list of bibliography.

  • Declaration of need for financial assistance (Please state in your e-mail if and why you are in need of support).

  • Declaration of interest to present your work on a panel (Yes/No).

  • Your citizenship (Please state this in your CV. This information is necessary for some of our funding partners).

The deadline for application is 07/04/2024. Please note, that late or incomplete applications will not be considered. For more information, please visit our Fellowship page. Please direct any queries or questions to contact@youngsecurityconference.com. 

What to expect from a Fellowship with the YSC?

  • Participate in exclusive fellow workshops at the YSC in Munich at the Amerikahaus and other online and in person events until Spring of the following year.

  • Lead and advance the debate on EU Foreign and Security Policy on a variety of topics from EU enlargement, to nuclear weapons, post-war Ukraine, NATO and Transatlantic alliances.

  • Contribute to a youth led publication series that will be developed throughout the closed workshops at the YSC and with the support of experts in the field.

  • Network with and receive mentorship from leading scholars and experts in the field during the closed fellow sessions and throughout the year long programme.

  • Receive up to €400 to attend the YSC in Munich.