# Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship

**Funder:** FWF
**Budget:** Variable basic fellowship (country-dependent) + €300/month career-development allowance; up to €15,000 project costs for return phase
**Duration:** Abroad phase 10-24 months; return phase up to 12 months
**Consortium:** No - individual applicant, hosted by an excellent research institution abroad with option to return to an Austrian research institution
**Application:** Single stage; rolling submission via elane portal
**Frequency:** Continuous
**Eligible countries:** AT
**Official call:** https://www.fwf.ac.at/en/funding/portfolio/careers/erwin-schroedinger
**Last updated:** 27 Sept 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Postdoctoral fellowship for a research stay abroad followed by an optional return phase to an Austrian research institution. Requires completed doctorate, support/invitation from a host institution abroad, and fulfillment of the territoriality principle; decided in five approval meetings per year via rolling submission.

## Summary

The FWF Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship funds postdoctoral researchers of any discipline to undertake a research stay abroad at a leading international institution, followed by a mandatory return phase in Austria. Applicants must be based at or returning to an Austrian research institution and are selected from across all fields. This is a continuous call designed to foster international mobility and knowledge transfer back to Austria.

## Who should apply

- Postdoctoral researchers based at or committing to return to an Austrian research institution
- Early-career researchers across all disciplines seeking international research experience
- Candidates targeting a named research stay at a world-leading foreign institution
- Researchers planning to repatriate knowledge and establish or strengthen a research line in Austria

## Key dates

- Rolling deadline, applications accepted continuously throughout the year
- Single-stage evaluation
- Research stay duration and return phase determined per project

## Tips for applicants

- Name your host supervisor and institution abroad early; FWF panels assess fit and reputation carefully.
- The return phase is mandatory and evaluated equally with the abroad period, articulate a concrete research plan for re-entry into Austrian science.
- Emphasise knowledge and network transfer: what new methods, collaborations, or perspectives will you bring back to Austria?

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship?

It is an FWF postdoctoral fellowship funding a research stay at an international institution followed by a mandatory return phase in Austria, open to all disciplines.

### Who is eligible for the Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship?

Postdoctoral researchers based at or returning to an Austrian research institution, across all fields of research.

### When can I apply for the Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship?

Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year via rolling deadline.

### Do I have to return to Austria after the Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship?

Yes, a return phase in Austria is mandatory and is a core component of the fellowship design.

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

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