# PhD Fellowship Strategic Basic Research

**Funder:** FWO
**Budget:** €2,700/month + €3,720/year bench fee
**Deadline:** 1 March 2027 (17:00 CET; Call opens 3 December 2026)
**Duration:** 3 or 4 years
**Consortium:** No - individual applicant, prepared with a promotor at a Flemish university
**Application:** Single stage: application with promotor recommendation letter; preselection meeting; interview for invited candidates
**Frequency:** Annual
**Eligible countries:** BE
**Official call:** https://www.fwo.be/en/support-programmes/all-calls/phd/phd-fellowship-strategic-basic-research/
**Last updated:** 18 Oct 2026

## Eligibility & scope

For recently graduated researchers pursuing an independent PhD in strategic basic research. Applicant must be affiliated to a university in the Flemish Community and hold at least a Master's degree from an EEA/Switzerland institution; promotor's recommendation letter is mandatory.

## Summary

The FWO PhD Fellowship Strategic Basic Research funds three or four years of doctoral study for recently graduated researchers pursuing an independent PhD at a Flemish university, paying €2,700/month plus a €3,720/year bench fee. Applicants must hold at least a Master's degree from an EEA or Swiss institution and apply together with a promotor based in Flanders. FWO runs this call annually, with a preselection meeting and interview for invited candidates after the initial application.

## Who should apply

- Recently graduated researchers starting an independent PhD
- Holders of at least a Master's degree from an EEA or Switzerland institution
- Applicants affiliated with or applying to a university in the Flemish Community
- Candidates who have secured a promotor at a Flemish university to co-prepare the application
- Projects framed as strategic basic research

## Key dates

- Application deadline 1 March 2027, 17:00 CET; call opens 3 December 2026
- Single-stage application with promotor recommendation letter, followed by a preselection meeting and interview for invited candidates
- Fellowship runs for 3 or 4 years

## Tips for applicants

- Secure your promotor early, their recommendation letter is mandatory and must accompany the initial application, not follow later.
- Prepare for the preselection meeting as a real evaluation step: only candidates who pass it are invited to interview.
- Frame the project explicitly as strategic basic research, distinguishing it from purely fundamental or applied proposals, since this is the call's defining scope.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does the FWO PhD Fellowship Strategic Basic Research pay?

It pays €2,700 per month plus a €3,720 annual bench fee.

### Who is eligible for the FWO PhD Fellowship Strategic Basic Research?

Recently graduated researchers with at least a Master's degree from an EEA or Switzerland institution, applying with a promotor at a Flemish university.

### How long does the FWO PhD Fellowship last?

The fellowship runs for either 3 or 4 years.

### Is there an interview for the FWO PhD Fellowship?

Yes, after a single-stage application and a preselection meeting, invited candidates are interviewed.

### When is the deadline for the FWO PhD Fellowship Strategic Basic Research?

The deadline is 1 March 2027 at 17:00 CET, with the call opening 3 December 2026.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/fwo-phd-fellowship-strategic-basic-research-2027-03) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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