OPEC Summer Fellowship Programme 2026 Opens for Applications in Vienna

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has officially announced the Summer Fellowship Programme (SFP) 2026, inviting nominations from OPEC Member Countries. The in-person programme will take place at the OPEC Secretariat in Vienna, Austria, from 6 July to 28 August 2026, offering selected professionals the opportunity to engage directly in OPEC’s research, policy, and analytical work across key global energy themes.

About the OPEC Summer Fellowship Programme 2026

The Summer Fellowship Programme is designed for early- to mid-career professionals from OPEC Member Countries who are already working in energy-related fields. The programme allows fellows to strengthen technical expertise, contribute to ongoing Secretariat research, and gain first-hand exposure to OPEC’s institutional work and international policy environment.

During the eight-week programme, fellows work closely with OPEC departments, contributing to studies that inform global energy discussions while building long-term professional networks across Member Countries.

Who Can Apply

The programme is open only to candidates from OPEC Member Countries. Applicants must be formally nominated and supported by their respective OPEC Governors.

Eligible candidates should:

• Hold at least a first university degree

• Have relevant professional experience related to the selected research topic

• Be able to work fully in English, the Secretariat’s working language

Programme Duration and Location

• Duration: 8 weeks

• Dates: 6 July – 28 August 2026

• Location: OPEC Secretariat, Vienna, Austria

• Mode: Fully in-person

• Working hours: Official Secretariat working hours

Financial Arrangements and Insurance

Participants must already have paid employment and be able to fully support themselves financially during their stay in Vienna. OPEC does not cover accommodation, travel, or living expenses.

Fellows are required to:

• Arrange their own accommodation and travel

• Hold personal health and sickness insurance valid in Austria

OPEC will provide workplace accident insurance for the duration of the fellowship only.

What Fellows Will Gain

Participants will:

• Work directly on high-quality research projects

• Gain strong institutional knowledge of OPEC

• Operate in a multicultural international environment

• Expand professional networks across energy experts and policymakers

• Deliver a research report and a 30-minute presentation to OPEC staff

Successful fellows will receive a Certificate of Completion, and top-performing participants may become eligible for further engagement through OPEC’s Internship Programme or Visiting Research Fellow Programme.

Research Areas for SFP 2026

The 2026 programme offers 15 advanced research topics, covering major global energy issues, including:

• Critical minerals and battery supply risks

• Technology impacts on US shale oil production

• Biofuel policies beyond the US and Brazil

• Investment risks in Africa’s energy sector

• ICE vehicle efficiency and emissions

• Petrochemical demand and future supply

• Wind and solar power outlooks

• Oil demand and refinery activity in the US and China

• Electric vehicle adoption and fuel demand modelling

• Crude-to-chemicals technologies

• Refinery crude intake changes

• Oil market forward curves and stock dynamics

• Accuracy of historical oil demand data

• OECD and non-OECD oil inventory analysis

• IMO Net-Zero Framework impacts on OPEC Members

Each topic has specific academic and professional requirements, ranging from engineering and economics to advanced econometrics and energy policy.

Important Note on Intellectual Property

All research produced under the programme remains the intellectual property of the OPEC Secretariat. Selected participants must sign an intellectual property and confidentiality agreement before final acceptance.

Official Source

This programme is officially announced by OPEC.
More details are available on www.opec.org

This fellowship sits at an unusual crossroads where energy markets, geopolitics, and real-world data collide. For professionals inside OPEC Member Countries, it offers a rare chance to step into the machinery that quietly shapes global energy decisions—and come back sharper than before.

For more opportunities, click here.