The University of Groningen in the Netherlands provides the Welcoming International Talent (WIT) Ph.D. Fellowship is a comprehensive fellowship scheme. The initiative’s objective is to entice gifted foreign scholars to study science, engineering, and humanities Ph.D. programs at the institution. The fellowship is fully-funded.

The UPNA and UNAV lead innovative research and education in designated fields, aligning with RIS4 specialization in Navarra Region.

The WIT PhD Fellowship supports transnational mobility for excellent researchers within RIS4, fostering intersectoral partnerships regionally and internationally.

The program enhances transferable skills with external training and secondments and provides research-oriented internationalization opportunities.

WIT PhD Fellowship strengthens international networking and cooperation between academic and non-academic sectors.

International students can pursue a fully-funded PhD degree at a top-ranked Dutch university with world-class research resources.

Degree Level:

The Welcoming International Talent (WIT) PhD Fellowship for 2023-24 is now open for applications, offering full funding for doctoral-level programs at Welcoming International Talent.

Scholarship Coverage:

The successful candidates of the Welcoming International Talent (WIT) PhD Fellowship will be provided with the following:

Main Package:

• Full-time contract (up to 36 months) in the university where the doctoral program will be conducted, co-funded by the MSCA COFUND grant.
• Gross salary (living allowance) of 32.400€ per annum, including all benefits such as social security, health insurance, pension deductions, taxes, maternity/paternity leave, etc.
• Relocation expenses (mobility allowance) up to 2.400 € to cover the average distance between the hosting institution and the ESR’s location, paid at the beginning of the fellowship.
• Family allowance of 3.600 € per annum for ESRs with family and/or dependent. Researchers with children and/or elderly dependent requirements will be offered flexible working solutions.
• Maternity and paternity leaves are paid in accordance with Spanish national law, with the corresponding extension of the fellowship to finish research.
• Personal research budget up to 4.800 € per annum for each ESR to cover comestibles, conference attendance, publication costs, workshops, etc.
• Travel allowance up to 2.400 € per annum for each ESR to cover travel and subsistence during secondments or short stays at partner facilities.

Eligible Nationalities:

This scholarship is open to international students.

Eligibility Criteria:

The eligibility criteria for the WIT program:

• Early-Stage Researchers (ESR) of any nationality are eligible if they have no more than four years of Full-Time Equivalent Research Experience and have not been awarded a doctoral degree yet.
• Exceptions will be made for career breaks due to maternity/paternity leave, illness, or compulsory national services.
• Applicants must comply with the MSCA mobility rule, which means they must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Spain for more than 12 months within the past three years.
• Spanish researchers who meet this requirement can also apply, especially those returning from phases of international, intersectoral, and/or non-academic mobility.
• Candidates must have a degree that enables them to embark on a doctorate, either from a university in the European Higher Education Area or a non-EHEA university that grants access to doctoral studies.
• Applicants must have a minimum of B2 level proficiency in English, both written and spoken, which must be certified.

Application Procedure:

STEP 1 – SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS [ 18 JANUARY- 18 MARCH, 2023 ] 

STEP 2 – ELIGIBILITY CHECK [ 18 MARCH- 18 APRIL 2023 ] 

STEP 3 – EVALUATION PHASE 1. PRE-SELECTION OF CANDIDATES [ APPROXIMATELY 18 APRIL – 18 MAY, 2023 ] 

STEP 4 – PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF THE RESEARCH POPOSAL [ APPROXIMATELY 01 – 30 JUNE ] 

STEP 5 – EVALUATION PHASE 2 [ JULY – AUGUST, 2023 ] STEP 6 – ONLINE INTERVIEW AND SELECTION OF THE CANDIDATES [SEPTEMBER, 2023 ]

Scholarship Deadline:

18 March,2023

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