FWO
PhD Fellowship Strategic Basic Research
17:00 CET; Call opens 3 December 2026
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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.
Details
| Funder | FWO |
| Budget | €2,700/month + €3,720/year bench fee |
| Deadline | 1 March 2027 |
| 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 |
| Career stage | Early-career opportunity |
| Eligible countries | BE |
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.
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.
Related on Grantsby
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