PhD Fellowships

If you are interested in pursuing a PhD with us, please get in touch so we can discuss your profile and identify the best funding route together.

Short Stays & Visiting Grants

EMBO Scientific Exchange Grants

• Description: EMBO Scientific Exchange Grants support research exchanges between laboratories in EMBC Member States, Associated Member States or Cooperation Partners.
• Duration: One week up to three months.
• Eligibility: Active researchers with a minimum of one year of research experience at the PhD student level or equivalent.
• Deadline: None (rolling).

Doctoral Fellowships

Joan Oró Grant

• Description: Grant for public and private universities of the Catalan university system, research centres, and hospital foundations to hire predoctoral research staff.
• Duration: 3 years.
• Eligibility: Joan Oró Grant Eligibility.
• Deadline: Fall.

FPU

• Description: Predoctoral contracts for the completion of doctoral theses in Spanish universities.
• Duration: 4 years.
• Eligibility: See the FPU explanatory videos.
• Deadline: Spring.

Ramon Areces Grant

• Description: The Ramón Areces Foundation finances contracts for the completion of doctoral theses in doctoral programmes at Spanish universities and research centres, with a focus on excellence in science and technology.
• Duration: 3 years.
• Eligibility: Ramon Areces Grant Eligibility.
• Deadline: Fall.

La Caixa INPhINIT Retaining

• Description: “la Caixa” Foundation grants 30 fellowships for researchers of any nationality who wish to pursue a doctorate in any discipline at any university or research centre in Spain or Portugal.
• Duration: 3 years.
• Eligibility: Candidates must be in the first four years of their research career and must not have previously been awarded a PhD. Must have resided in Spain/Portugal for more than twelve months in the three years prior to the call deadline.
• Deadline: Spring.

Country-Specific Fellowships

🇧🇷 Brazil — CAPES Sandwich Doctorate Abroad (PDSE)

• Description: CAPES programme funding short overseas research stays for PhD students enrolled in CAPES-accredited programmes in Brazil. The stay should prioritise research in fields less consolidated in Brazil. Benefits include a monthly stipend, travel and installation allowances, and health insurance.
• Duration: 4 to 9 months.
• Eligibility: Must be enrolled in a CAPES-recognised PhD programme in Brazil; applications are submitted through the home institution; foreign language proficiency required; cannot be combined with another scholarship for the same purpose from a Brazilian funding agency.
• Deadline: Two calls per year (typically August–October and February–March).

🇧🇷 Brazil — CAPES Full Doctorate Abroad (Doutorado Pleno)

• Description: CAPES programme funding a complete doctoral degree at an international institution of excellence, open to all fields of knowledge. Aims to boost international scientific collaboration and the global visibility of Brazilian research. Benefits include a monthly stipend, installation allowance, and health insurance.
• Duration: Up to 48 months (12-month grants, renewable annually upon satisfactory academic performance).
• Eligibility: Brazilian researchers with high academic performance aiming at internationally recognised institutions; cannot be combined with another scholarship for the same purpose from a Brazilian funding agency. Note: the last known open call was in 2017/2018; check the CAPES website for current programme status before applying.
• Deadline: Check the CAPES website (programme has been suspended; verify whether new calls have been announced).