FAQs

Here, you will find answers to frequently asked questions regarding SCANCOR at Stanford and Harvard.

Please read this section before submitting questions.

General
What is SCANCOR?

The Scandinavian Consortium for Organizational Research (SCANCOR), is a full-time in-person program which facilitates international research in organizational social science. The program is a partnership between Harvard’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Stanford University, and the Scandinavian Consortium for Organizational Research (SCANCOR) a membership-supported nonprofit sponsored by leading universities and business schools in Scandinavia.

Where are SCANCOR programs located?

SCANCOR has two locations in the United States:

What are SCANCOR purposes?
  • to nurture the development of social scientists and their scholarship over the course of whole careers
  • to advance research and development in the social sciences, particularly in the area of organizational studies
  • to encourage collaboration among organizational social scientists worldwide
  • to operate facilities at Stanford University and Harvard University for visiting scholars from our member institutions
Application Deadlines

SCANCOR application deadlines for both Stanford and Harvard are May 1 and December 1 with an additional September 1 deadline for Stanford for the following year.

The application portal opens two months before the deadline.

Who can I contact for more information?

Stanford University: Please contact SCANCOR Administrative Coordinator, Kirsti Wagner at kewagner@stanford.edu

Harvard University: Please contact SCANCOR Coordinator at the Weatherhead Center, Diana Ocampo Belloso at dianaocampobelloso@wcfia.harvard.edu

Requirements: Stanford
Who is eligible?

Full-time doctoral students, post-doctoral scholars, and faculty from SCANCOR member institutions are eligible to apply at SCANCOR in Stanford.

Visiting Scholars

SCANCOR welcomes visiting scholars to Stanford University. Scholars may stay between one to four quarters of the academic year.

  • Access to on campus libraries
  • Participation in seminars and social events
  • Applicants for all quarters are advised to plan their arrivals in advance of the start of an academic quarter and not at mid-term
Post Doc

The fellowship is open to high-quality researchers who study the social, political, economic, or managerial aspects of organizations and their environments. The postdoctoral fellow allows one to set and pursue a research program according to his or her liking. There are no teaching requirements. This position is a terrific opportunity to deepen one’s research interests and profile.

A two-year fellowship for social science scholars, within three years of their PhD. The Postdoctoral fellows work in close collaboration with Stanford University faculty members and the program offers a pathway for excellence in future careers.

  • Fellow is assigned a mentor from Stanford Faculty
  • Access to Stanford campus such as libraries and recreational spaces
  • Post-doc benefits such as health and dental insurance
  • Two year stay on J1 visa
What do I need to submit?

Please submit the following three documents: a CV, a writing sample in English, and a two-page research proposal outlining how your research relates to the SCANCOR mission.

How do I know my institution is associated with SCANCOR?

Visit this page for a list of eligible institutions in each of our four charter countries, and a list of our associate member schools.

How long can I stay?

Stanford operates on a quarter system (three months). You can choose to stay from 1-3 quarters.

Visa requirement

US federal government regulations require Visiting Scholars and VSRs to obtain J1 visas for the period of residence at SCANCOR. The US federal government also requests proof of funding for the time of the visit and proof of sufficient proficiency in English such as a TOEFL score (or equivalent test) of 89 or higher or signed documentation from an academic institution or English language school.

Requirements: Harvard
About SCANCOR at Harvard

All appointments are residential fellowships; visitors are expected to be in residence at Weatherhead and to be active participants in the intellectual life of the Weatherhead Center. Visiting Scholar appointments do not provide stipends.

Who is eligible?

Currently SCANCOR at the Weatherhead Center only considers applications from tenure-track or tenured, full-time faculty members who are working at SCANCOR member institutions.

Applications from non-SCANCOR-affiliated institutions:

SCANCOR at the Weatherhead Center endeavors to include visitors from institutions in the Global South through a fee waiver program. Applicants should indicate that they seek fee waiver.

Please write to the program coordinator for further information.

How long can I stay?

Harvard operates on a semester system and appointments are for one or two Harvard semesters. Please plan to visit for one or two full semesters (late August to early December in the fall, and late January to early May in the spring).

Applicants are advised to arrive before the start of the Harvard academic semester. Consult the Harvard website for the appropriate academic calendars. https://registrar.fas.harvard.edu/ten-year-calendar

What do I need to submit?

Please submit the following three documents: a CV, a writing sample in English, and a two-page research proposal outlining how your research relates to the SCANCOR at the Weatherhead Center mission.

Note that SCANCOR at the Weatherhead Center will only consider applications from tenure-track or tenured faculty who are working at eligible universities. 

How do I know my institution is associated with SCANCOR?

Visit this page for a list of eligible institutions in each of our four charter countries, and a list of our associate member schools

What is the application process?

For additional information about the application process, please see the following link: scancor.org/apply

Visa requirement

U.S. government regulations require Visiting Scholars to obtain J1 visas for the period of residence at SCANCOR at the Weatherhead Center.  Federal regulations require proof of funding for the time of the visit and proof of English language proficiency, such as a TOEFL score or documentation from an academic institution or English language school.

Do I receive a stipend while in residency at SCANCOR?

Visiting Scholar appointments do not provide stipends.

Evaluation and Notification
Stanford University

Appointments are made by the SCANCOR Directors upon the advice of the SCANCOR Board of Directors. Applications from institutions in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden always receive an in-country review in advance of evaluation by the Director.

Selection is based on a judgment of the likely contribution that a stay at SCANCOR will make to the production of high-quality research. This judgment is based primarily on the quality and relevance of the research abilities of the applicant. We are particularly interested in applications from scholars who have made plans to pursue research topics or collaborations that could not be pursued in their home countries.

PhD students who are later in their PhD program will be given greater consideration than those who have just started their program

Notifications are sent within two months after the application deadline.

Harvard University

Appointments are made by the Weatherhead Executive Committee, in consultation with the SCANCOR Board of Directors. Applications from institutions in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden always receive an in-country review in advance of evaluation by the Weatherhead Executive Committee.

Selection is based on a judgment of the likely contribution that a stay at SCANCOR at the Weatherhead Center will make to the production of high-quality research. This judgment is based primarily on the quality and relevance of the research abilities of the applicant. We are particularly interested in applications from scholars who have made plans to pursue research topics or collaborations that could not be pursued in their home countries.

We strive for parity in regard to nationality and seek a viable mix in terms of academic rank and gender. We also consider whether the proposed research contributes to the Weatherhead project of international research. These factors help us select scholars who will be able to make the best use of Harvard and the Weatherhead community.

Notifications are sent within two months after the application deadline.