Registration for the UNESCO – Kingdom Institute Scholarship Program

UNESCO - Kingdom Institute Fellowship Programme

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Within the framework of the strategic cooperation between UNESCO and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) to protect, develop and promote AlUla in UNESCO‘s fields of competence and to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UNESCO and RCU will select and convene 10 fellows in the fields of Heritage Research, Conservation and Management for the second edition of the AlUla Fellowships Programme.

Registration for the UNESCO – Kingdom Institute Scholarship Program

With the aim of improving the scientific knowledge in heritage research and conservation and enhancing World Heritage management capacity, including with regards to emergency preparedness and response, this programme offers learning opportunities to highly skilled heritage experts and professionals from the invited Member States, combining fieldwork in the region of AlUla, with on-the-job training about heritage-related programmes and activities within the contexts of International Organisation and national entities.

The entire Programme will last for 24 months, during which the 10 selected fellows will complete three primary rotations, engaging in full-time assignments under the supervision of designated host entities:

Rotation 1:

Fellows will undertake a six-month research fellowship in the AlUla region of Saudi Arabia, where each fellow will conduct an independent scientific research project related to AlUla.

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);

Please refer to Annex 2 for the Terms of Reference of the Fellowship Rotation 1.

Rotation 2:

Fellows will participate in a 12-month Sponsored Traineeship under the Culture Programme of UNESCO. Each fellow will be placed in a designated receiving team within UNESCO’s Culture Sector at its Paris Headquarters, or a UNESCO Field Office.

Please refer to Annex 3 for a list of available Sponsored Traineeship posts for the Programme, along with the detailed Terms of Reference for each post.

Rotation 3:

Fellows will undertake a six-month work-placement with a partner National Commission for UNESCO. Alternatively, fellows may work with a culture or heritage entity (such as a museum or a heritage site) designated by the partner National Commissions.

Assignment 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.

In addition to the above-mentioned professional rotations, fellows will have opportunities throughout the Programme to participate in exchanges, networking and activities organised by UNESCO and the Royal Commission for AlUla. These engagements will enable them to connect, exchange knowledge and share experience with peers, local and international experts, National Commissions for UNESCO and heritage institutions. Fellows will also contribute to the creation of publications, videos and other materials that showcase their findings and reflections on AlUla’s heritage during their fellowship.

By the end of this Programme, fellows are expected to strengthen their expertise and skills in conducting effective heritage research, conservation and management while expanding their professional networks within the international heritage sector.

II. Programme Timeline

The Programme Timeline is tentatively outlined hereunder:

Month/Year	Procedures
28 July 2025 – 22 September 2025	Application Submission
September 2025 – January 2026	Selection of candidates
February 2026	Award of fellowships
March – September 2026	Rotation 1 in AlUla
October 2026 – October 2027	Rotation 2 at UNESCO
November 2027 – May 2028	Rotation 3 at a national entity

III. General Requirements

The second edition of the Programme will be open to nationals from 103 invited Member States and 8 Associate Members of UNESCO. Please refer to the list of invited Member States and Associate Members in Annex 1.

Candidates should meet the following general requirements:

• Holding 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.

IV. Required Application Documents

A Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages)
Certified photocopies of your highest diploma or degree.
An Application Form (Annex 4) completed in English.
A motivation letter written in English (1 page maximum).
A proposal form (Annex 5) completed in English (maximum 3 pages, in PDF format), including the following mandatory information: ○ Title of the proposal; ○ Selection of the Fellowship profile; ○ Brief presentation of the candidate (maximum 1 page); ○ Brief description of the proposal (1 page); ○ Why the candidate’s proposal is innovative, and will be an added value for AlUla and UNESCO (1/2 page); ○ Date and signature.
A 2-minute video of self-introduction in English¹ (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.

Documents in a language other than English must be attached with a notarized English translation and all submitted documents must be clear, authentic, and valid.

V. Submission of Applications

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.

VI. Selection of Candidates

UNESCO and the Royal Commission for AlUla will jointly select the most qualified candidates for the 10 fellowship positions based on the results of assessment and interview, considering the joint commitment of UNESCO and the Saudi Authority to ensure gender equality and cultural diversity.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by UNESCO and invited for interviews. Both selected and non-selected candidates will be informed by e-mail of the result of the final selection by UNESCO.

VII. Facilities Provided

1) 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 AlUla. • 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 AlUla.

2) 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 regulation and stipend rates for fellows and scholars in the assigned duty station. • Medical Insurance provided by the Royal Commission for AlUla.

3) 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 regulation and stipend rates for fellows and scholars in the assigned duty station. • Medical Insurance provided by the Royal Commission for AlUla.

VIII. VISA

Fellows will need to obtain their visa from the diplomatic mission concerned in their country of origin/residence, before their departure to the place of assignment. UNESCO and the receiving entities concerned provide no allowance to defray passport and visa expenses.

UNESCO – Kingdom Institute Fellowship Programme

Within the framework of the “UNESCO – Kingdom Institute” fellowship programme, UNESCO, in partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla in Saudi Arabia, grants 10 fellowships of 24 months duration in the fields of heritage research, conservation and management.

This initiative aims to strengthen scientific knowledge and professional capacities in world heritage preservation. It offers beneficiaries the opportunity to combine fieldwork in the AlUla region of Saudi Arabia with practical training delivered within international organizations working in the heritage field.

Benefits:

Transportation ticket
Monthly allowances
Health insurance

Eligibility Conditions:

Be aged 25 to 40 years
Hold a Master’s degree or equivalent
Have good command of the English language

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application file, accompanied by all required documents, in accordance with the conditions specified in the application guide in the annex, to the following address: [email protected], copying the address of the National Commission for Education, Science and Culture: [email protected].