FWO - Special PhD Fellowship

The FWO supports fundamental scientific research, stimulates international cooperation and promotes equal opportunity.

The special PhD fellowship enables persons not employed within scientific research to complete a PhD within one year. Applicants must be in possession of a "temporary leave" certificate issued by their current employer.

• You are of Belgian nationality or belong to one of the member states of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
• You hold a Master's degree.
• You are permanently employed.
• You are not professionally involved in scientific research.
• Your employer is willing to give you temporary leave or unpaid leave for 1 year. You are entitled to return to your job after the leave ends.
• You relinquish any secondary activity and associated remuneration.
• You have not previously received an FWO fellowship (not even in part).
• Clinicians cannot apply for a special PhD fellowship. They can apply for a clinical PhD fellowship.

Period: 1 year, not renewable.

• You contact a supervisor affiliated to a Flemish university.
• The supervisor undertakes to properly coach and guide you as doctorandus.
• The supervisor is invited by the FWO to write a letter of recommendation.
• You complete your application online, deadline: 1st of March.
• Your application is submitted to the FWO Expert Panels.
• The Expertpanels report to the Board of Trustees.
• The Board of Trustees decides on your appointment.
• Start of fellowship: 1 September or 1 October.

Net scholarship amount: identical to the last net salary of the main activity.

• www.fwo.be
• Official & binding documents: regulations in Dutch on the FWO website

Research Department