If you are:

you might want to check some of the major funding programmes below for PhD candidates and postdocs.

Many countries also have their own national fellowship programs. Click here to check funding options in your country of origin or your current/previous country of residence, for which we have experience.

These lists are not extensive, so do consult the grants.at database or contact us or in case you cannot find a suitable option, need personal advice or extra detail.

For graduate students – PhD candidates

National schemes

Program

Scope – Duration

Eligibility criteria

Calls & Key Dates

all scientific disciplines
2-3Y projects

  • admitted @ ISTA Graduate School (GS)
  • with MSc ⩽ 2Y before the call’s year or passed the qualifying exam (QE)

1/year
Sept

in medicine, natural & life sciences, and mathematics
6-12M projects

  • female PhD candidates
  • doctorate studies initiated within the last 3 Y
  • AT nationals, or living in AT for the last 3Y

1/year
March

International schemes

Program

Scope – Duration

Eligibility Criteria

Calls & Key Dates

  • first university acceptance
    < 96M before the deadline
  • affiliated or set to affilate with a group @ ISTA
  • PhD project not initiated or initiated < 6M before the deadline

3/year
1 Feb, 1 Jun, 1 Oct

computer science (CS) and engineering
1-2Y funds

  • enrolled in ISTA Graduate Program at the start of the fellowship (following year’s fall)

1/year
Sept

accelerated computing and its applications (esp AI, robotics, autonomous vehicles and related fields)
1 academic year (9M)

  • majored in CS and related fields
  • students with first year of graduate studies completed

1/year
Sept

Nomination-based calls

some funding schemes request institutional submissions and/or impose restrictions as to the number of concurrent fellowships applications from the same institution. In those cases, the Grant Office sets up a preliminary procedure to select those candidates who can apply for the following fellowships:

Program

Scope – Duration

Eligibility Criteria

Calls & Key Dates

computing research
up to 1Y funds

  • students in their 3rd year or beyond at the start of the fellowship

1/year
June

computer science and related fields
up to 2Y funds

  • students with completed graduate coursework at the start of the fellowship (following year’s Fall)

1/year
Sept

  • students in their third year at the start of the fellowship (following year’s Fall)

1/year
Nov

The Grant Office will announce the calls in due course and give you instructions on how to proceed and when.

NOTE: For students not yet enrolled in the ISTA PhD Program, please see the Graduate School Website.

For postdocs

National schemes

Programme

Scope – Duration

Eligibility criteria

Calls & Key dates

all scientific disciplines
3Y funds

  • with PhD deg ⩽ 5Y*
  • @ ISTA for ⩽ 18M
  • min 2 publs in the last 5Y

continuous submission**

all scientific disciplines
1-4Y funds

  • female scientists
  • 2Y postdoctoral experience
  • in AT for ⩾ 3Y in the last 10Y or in AT for the last 2Y
  • min 2 publs in the last 5Y

continuous submission**

all scientific disciplines
10-24M (outgoing phase abroad)
3-12M (return phase in AT)

  • with PhD deg or about to have it
  • in AT for ⩾ 3Y in the last 10Y or in AT for ⩾ last 2Y
  • invited by the foreign host

continuous submission**

all scientific disciplines
1Y + 6M funds

  • with PhD deg ⩽ 3Y before the call’s year

1/year
Nov

medicine, natural & life sciences, and mathematics
6-12M projects

  • female scientists
  • with PhD deg ⩽ 4Y
  • AT nationals, or living in AT for the last 3Y

1/year
March

* justified career breaks can extend the eligibility window. Please consult us to discuss your case!
** personal deadlines apply, please consult us to discuss your case!

International schemes

Programme

Scope – Duration

Eligibility criteria

Calls & Key dates

biosciences,
2Y funds

  • with PhD deg ⩽ 2Y
  • @ ISTA for ⩽ 6M
  • in AT for ⩽ 6M in the last 18 M
  • ⩾1 main author publ or referred pre-print

2 Evaluation cut-offs
2nd week of Feb and Aug

life sciences (LS),
2 + 1Y funds

  • with PhD in the LS ⩽ 3Y
  • @ ISTA since April at the earliest
  • ⩾1 lead author publ

1/year
2-stage deadlines:
May (Letter of Intent)
Oct (Full proposal)

life sciences (LS),
2 + 1Y funds

  • with PhD out of the LS
  • no previous work in the LS
  • @ ISTA since April at the earliest
  • ⩾1 lead author publ

1/year
2-stage deadlines:
May (Letter of Intent)
Oct (Full proposal)

all scientific disciplines,
2Y (+ 6M***) funds

  • with PhD deg ⩽ 8Y**
  • @ ISTA or in AT for ⩽12 M in the last 36M

1/year
Sept

* part of the Horizon Europe programme of the European Commission
** exceptions may apply, e.g. for parental leave: please consult us to discuss your case
*** for proposals requesting non-academic placements

NOTE: For incoming postdocs, see also our competitive postdoctoral programmes under ISTA funds.

Fellowships around the world

Below are some funding opportunities your colleagues have profited from in Europe, Asia and America. Contact us if you do not see a suitable option or for further details.

In Europe

The Netherlands

In Asia

Japan

JSPS Overseas Research Fellowships
Uehara Memorial Foundation Research Fellowships

In America

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