INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS

HORIZON EUROPE — is the European Union’s largest framework program for research and innovation. For the humanities, the most relevant areas are those related to society, culture, languages, migration, democracy, social policy, education, digital humanities, and cultural heritage.

 

When it usually opens:

It is not a single annual call, but a large number of calls. Calls for proposals are announced throughout the year. Work programs are published in advance, while specific deadlines depend on the area.

 

Current research areas:

• Culture, creativity and inclusive society;
• Democracy and governance;
• Social and economic transformations;
• Education;
• Cultural heritage;
• Migration;
• Digital humanities.

 

Kazakhstan’s participation:

There is an important nuance here. Kazakhstan is currently not included in the list of countries associated with Horizon Europe. Therefore, a Kazakhstani organization can participate as an international partner, but eligibility for EU funding depends on the specific call. The European Commission explicitly states that organizations from non-associated countries may participate as Associated Partners without funding, or may receive funding in cases specified by the particular call.

 

For a Kazakhstani researcher, the most realistic strategy is to join an already-forming European consortium as a partner.

 

Standard requirements:

• a strong research idea;
• an international consortium;
• European partners;
• academic qualifications of the participants;
• publications and previous research experience;
• a clear methodology;
• impact — the practical impact of the results;
• a project management and dissemination plan.

 

Funding:

Funding depends on the specific call. Projects may range from several hundred thousand to several million euros. Unlike Jean Monnet, there is no fixed funding amount for the program as a whole.

TÜBİTAK — research programs in Türkiye administered by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye. For researchers in the humanities, the most relevant areas include social sciences, education, languages, culture, history, international relations, and interdisciplinary research.

 

When it opens:

This depends on the specific program. TÜBİTAK has several calls for proposals, so there is no single application period.

 

For Kazakhstani researchers, the following opportunities are particularly relevant:

• international research programs;
• joint projects with Turkish universities;
• researcher invitation and mobility programs;
• 2216;
• 2232;
• joint calls with international partners.

 

For the participation of foreign researchers in Turkish TÜBİTAK projects, TÜBİTAK allows specialists from abroad to be involved when their expertise is necessary for the project. Under Program 1001, for example, foreign researchers may participate if they have the relevant academic qualifications; travel expenses may be covered by the project budget.

 

For EAGI, joint research projects with Türkiye are particularly promising in translation studies, Turkic studies, languages, culture, and education.

 

For early-career researchers, there are international research fellowship programs. For example, Program 2216 provides support for international young researchers conducting part of their research in Türkiye.

 

Funding:

Funding varies significantly depending on the program. For example, Program 2232-A provides:

• a monthly coordinator stipend;
• a research grant;
• a grant for establishing a research team;
• travel expenses;
• health insurance;

support for the host institution.

 

Under the 2025 2232-A program, the research grant was up to TRY 4.7 million, while the research project grant was up to TRY 3 million.

COST — European Cooperation in Science and Technology. It is primarily a framework for international scientific networks rather than a traditional research grant.

 

For researchers in the humanities, the program is particularly interesting because COST follows a bottom-up approach: the topic can relate to virtually any field of science, provided that it meets the requirements of the call.

 

When it opens:

A new Open Call is held annually. For example, the 2026 Open Call is open from 31 July to 28 October 2026.

 

Participation of researchers from Kazakhstan:

The key issue is the status of the individual participant and their country within COST. The easiest way for a researcher from Kazakhstan to participate is to join an existing Action, if the conditions of the specific Action allow it. COST also allows researchers to join established networks after they have been launched.

 

Standard participation requirements:

• research qualifications;
• relevance to the Action’s topic;
• participation in an international research network;
• for creating a new Action — an international consortium;
• when establishing an Action, researchers from at least 7 participating COST countries are required, along with additional requirements concerning geographical representation and early-career researchers.

 

Funding:

COST is not a conventional grant intended to fund a researcher’s salary. Funding is primarily allocated to:

• conferences;
• workshops and seminars;
• training schools;
• short-term scientific missions;
• scientific and professional networking;
• international travel.

 

The indicative budget for a single COST Action is approximately €140,000 in the first year and an average of €180,000 in subsequent years.

 

For an early-career researcher, COST is an excellent opportunity for international networking and for building connections that can lead to future Horizon Europe projects.

MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE ACTIONS — one of the key areas of Horizon Europe supporting researcher training and mobility.

 

Current research areas:

• linguistics;
• translation studies;
• literary studies;
• history;
• cultural studies;
• education;
• communication;
• sociology;
• political science;
• interdisciplinary humanities.

 

Main funding schemes:

• Postdoctoral Fellowships;
• Doctoral Networks;
• Staff Exchanges;
• COFUND — co-financing of regional, national, and international programs for researcher training and mobility;
• MSCA and Citizens — activities aimed at promoting science and strengthening interaction between researchers and society.

 

When it usually opens:

Calls are held annually, but each action has its own schedule.

 

Eligibility requirements depend on the specific program. For example, Postdoctoral Fellowships generally require:

• a PhD;
• relevant research experience;
• international mobility;
• a host university or research organization;
• a research project;
• a strong CV and publication record.

 

For MSCA, it is important to find a European host supervisor in advance. The European Commission explicitly recommends that researchers contact potential host organizations well ahead of the application deadline.

 

Funding:

This is not simply a project grant. MSCA provides funding for the researcher, including living and mobility allowances and, depending on the action, additional allowances and contributions to the host organization.

 

For an early-career researcher from Kazakhstan, one of the most attractive options is usually an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship with a European university as the host organization.

 

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

JEAN MONNET ACTIONS — ERASMUS+ 

A strand of the Erasmus+ program dedicated to the study of the European Union, European integration, EU policies, law, economics, international relations, and other aspects of EU Studies. For a humanities-focused university, it is one of the most relevant programs.

 

For humanities-related fields:

• European studies;
• international relations;
• political science;
• law;
• economics;
• history;
• cultural studies;
• languages and communication.

 

When it usually opens:

As a rule, the call is announced annually, usually in autumn or winter, with the deadline falling at the beginning of the following year. For example, the deadline for the 2026 Jean Monnet Actions in Higher Education call was 3 February 2026.

 

Who can participate from Kazakhstan:

The applicant is a higher education institution. For certain Jean Monnet actions, organizations from third countries, including countries not associated with Erasmus+, are eligible to participate.

 

Standard requirements:

• an officially registered university;
• a lecturer/researcher responsible for implementing the project;
• a clearly defined topic related to EU Studies;
• courses, modules, research activities, or academic events;
• a dissemination plan;
• project sustainability.

 

Funding:

Jean Monnet Module — up to €35,000;

Jean Monnet Chair — up to €60,000;

Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence — up to €100,000.

 

For EAGI, particularly promising areas include European integration, intercultural communication, EU language policy, translation, European education, and international cooperation.

SEAMEO PROGRAMMES

SEAMEO — the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization. The organization focuses on the development of education, science, and regional cooperation in Southeast Asian countries.

 

For researchers in the humanities, the most relevant areas include:

• education;
• teacher training and professional development;
• language education;
• social sciences;
• education policy;
• human rights;
• intercultural studies;
• regional studies.

 

When it opens:

There is no single annual call. Different SEAMEO centers announce their own:

• research grants;
• research fellowships;
• professional training programs;
• scholarship programs;
• research competitions.

 

For example, in 2026, the SHAPE-SEA Research Grants Scheme was aimed at early-career researchers and supported research in areas such as human rights, peace and peacebuilding, democracy, migration, digital rights, environmental justice, and inclusion.

 

Participation of researchers from Kazakhstan:

Eligibility depends on the specific program. Many SEAMEO initiatives are primarily targeted at researchers and organizations from Southeast Asian countries, so Kazakhstan does not automatically qualify for all calls.

 

Funding:

Funding varies significantly depending on the specific SEAMEO Centre and program. Therefore, it is better not to indicate a single “average amount” but to check the funding conditions of each individual call.

 

For EAGI, the most relevant SEAMEO program are those related to:

• language education;
• teacher training;
• international education;
• intercultural communication;
• education research.

DIGITAL EUROPE PROGRAMME — an EU program aimed at developing digital technologies and digital skills.

 

Main research areas:

• artificial intelligence;
• cybersecurity;
• supercomputing technologies;
• advanced digital skills;
• deployment of digital technologies.

 

For researchers in the humanities, the program is particularly relevant in areas such as:

• Digital Humanities;
• AI in education;
• digital language learning;
• digital libraries;
• AI-assisted translation;
• language technologies;
• digital cultural heritage;
• development of digital competencies among educators.

 

When it opens:

Separate calls are launched throughout the year. For example, one of the 2026 calls on advanced digital skills was open from 21 April to 1 October 2026.

 

Participation of Kazakhstan:

This is an important point: eligibility depends on the country’s status under the specific part of the program. At present, Kazakhstan is not among the countries associated with the Digital Europe Program; therefore, a Kazakhstani organization should not automatically assume that it is eligible for EU funding.

 

Funding:

Funding depends on the specific call. Projects can include large-scale international initiatives worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of euros.

 

INTERNATIONAL PROGRMAS AND PROJECTS

UNESCO PROGRAMS — is not a single grant program, but rather a broad range of programs and funds administered by UNESCO.

 

For a humanities-focused university, the most relevant areas include:

• culture;
• languages;
• education;
• cultural heritage;
• arts;
• sustainable development;
• human rights;
• intercultural dialogue.

The International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) is particularly relevant.

In 2026, the IFCD call opened on 23 March and closed on 6 May 2026.

 

Who can apply:

• government institutions;
• NGOs;
• international NGOs;
• eligible organizations meeting the applicant requirements.

 

Important: this is generally not an individual scholarship for a researcher. The applicant is an organization.

 

Funding:

In 2026, UNESCO announced more than US$1 million in funding for 11 IFCD projects.

 

For a humanities-focused university, promising areas include:

• preservation of linguistic and cultural heritage;
• digitization of cultural heritage;
• development of cultural and creative industries;
• linguistic diversity;
• culture and education;
• international cultural dialogue.

UNDP PROJECTS – is not a traditional academic grant program. UNDP funds projects aimed at addressing social, economic, environmental, and institutional challenges.

 

For researchers in the humanities, the following areas may be particularly relevant:

• sustainable development;
• youth policy;
• gender equality;
• governance;
• social inclusion;
• digitalization;
• education;
• human rights;
• community development;
• climate education.

 

When it opens:

There is no single annual call. Calls are launched for specific projects and areas. In Kazakhstan, UNDP regularly publishes announcements for calls, grants, and project opportunities.

 

Standard requirements:

• the applicant is usually an organization;
• legal registration;
• alignment with the project’s thematic focus;
• a clearly defined problem and target group;
• measurable outcomes;
• a detailed budget;
• project sustainability;
• reporting requirements.

 

For example, in Kazakhstan, the GEF Small Grants Program accepted applications only from registered Kazakhstani NGOs, while research organizations could not apply independently. In one of the calls, the maximum grant amount was US$50,000, with a project implementation period of up to 12 months.

 

Therefore, for an individual researcher, the most realistic approach is to participate in a UNDP project as an expert, consultant, researcher, or member of the project team.

PROJECTS OF THE WORLD BАNK 

 

The World Bank finances large-scale projects in the following areas:

• education;
• economics;
• governance;
• social policy;
• human capital development;
• digitalization;
•  

 

For humanities and education specialists, the most relevant research areas include:

• education policy;
• higher education;
• teacher education;
• professional skills and competencies;
• lifelong learning;
• social policy;
• economics of education;
• impact assessment (evaluation of project outcomes and effectiveness).

 

Important: The World Bank generally does not operate as a traditional grant-making organization for individual Kazakhstani researchers. For example, REACH Knowledge, Learning and Innovation Grants support research projects focused on education systems, and grants may be as high as US$1 million. However, these grants are intended for research teams and projects rather than individual scholarships.

 

Standard requirements:

• a strong research methodology;
• an evidence base;
• practical relevance;
• measurable outcomes;
• experience of the research team;
• a clear link between the project and education or social policy.

 

For Kazakhstan, the World Bank also implements specific projects through which education, research, and the development of research capacity may be supported.

CREАTIVE EUROPE — is an EU program for culture and the cultural and creative sectors.

 

It is particularly relevant to:

• culture;
• literature;
• translation;
• cultural heritage;
• the arts;
• media;
• cultural and creative industries;
• intercultural communication.

 

For a humanities-focused university, the program may be relevant not only to researchers, but also to lecturers, students, cultural organizations, and libraries.

 

When it opens:

Different calls are launched throughout the year. For example, the European Cooperation Projects 2026 call was open in the first quarter of 2026, with a deadline of 5 May 2026. The total budget of the call was approximately €60 million.

 

Participation of Kazakhstan:

The specific call and Kazakhstan’s status must be checked carefully. Creative Europe is primarily intended for countries participating in the program, so a Kazakhstani organization is not automatically eligible to apply.

 

Standard requirements:

• international partnership;
• a cultural or creative component;
• a transnational impact;
• a clear activity plan;
• a defined target audience and impact;
• dissemination of results.

 

European Cooperation Projects include small-, medium-, and large-scale projects, with different requirements regarding the number of international partners.

 

Funding:

Funding depends on the project category and the specific call. For example, in 2026, the total budget for European Cooperation Projects was approximately €60 million.

 

For EAGI, particularly promising areas include projects related to literature, translation, cultural heritage, languages, and intercultural dialogue.