# doc.funds – Doctoral Programs

**Funder:** FWF
**Budget:** About €2.5 million
**Consortium:** Required — minimum 5 researchers from universities and universities of applied sciences
**Application:** Single stage; international peer review followed by hearings; jury meeting November 12–13, 2026
**Frequency:** Annual
**Eligible countries:** AT
**Official call:** https://www.fwf.ac.at/en/funding/portfolio/careers/docfunds
**Last verified:** 28 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Consortium of ≥5 researchers from Austrian universities/universities of applied sciences; doctoral program must have been running ≥2 years; balanced gender distribution required; binding institutional co-funding required; ~5 projects funded per call. Host institutions must be Austrian.

## Summary

doc.funds finances doctoral programs at Austrian universities and universities of applied sciences, with budgets around €2.5 million per program over the funding period. Applicants must form a consortium of at least five researchers with balanced gender distribution and an existing doctoral program running at least two years; the scheme covers salary costs for 5-10 doctoral candidates plus annual training expenses. This is a competitive call open only to Austrian institutions, with approximately five projects funded per annual round.

## Who should apply

- Consortia of ≥5 researchers from Austrian universities or universities of applied sciences
- Programs with an existing doctoral degree running ≥2 years
- Institutions able to provide binding co-funding and ensure gender balance (≥1/3 underrepresented gender)
- Programs planning to support 5-10 doctoral candidates over the funding period

## Key dates

- Next submissions expected to open late November 2026 following FWF Scientific Board approval
- Single-stage evaluation: international peer review followed by hearings, jury meeting 12-13 November 2026
- Annual call cycle

## Tips for applicants

- Consortium composition is gating, spend time building a genuinely collaborative team that spans disciplines; FWF reviews researcher balance and research fit within the group.
- Institutional co-funding is binding, not optional; secure a written commitment from your university administration before submission to avoid late rejections.
- Gender balance is scored and monitored; demonstrate early how your doctoral cohort will meet the ≥1/3 underrepresented-gender threshold, not as an afterthought.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does FWF doc.funds provide per program?

Approximately €2.5 million per program; the budget covers personnel costs for 5-10 doctoral candidates plus up to €5,000 per year in training costs per position.

### Who can apply for FWF doc.funds?

Consortia of at least 5 researchers from Austrian universities or universities of applied sciences, with an existing doctoral program running at least 2 years and institutional co-funding commitments.

### Is FWF doc.funds annual?

Yes, FWF runs it as an annual call with approximately 5 projects funded per round.

### What is the gender requirement for FWF doc.funds?

Applicants must demonstrate balanced gender distribution with at least one-third of the consortium from an underrepresented gender.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/fwf-doc-funds-doctoral-programs-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.