Call for internationalisation funding for prominent research environments

Background and purpose

This call is part of the faculty's ambition to increase the internationalisation of research through increased exchange with prominent research environments outside Sweden. In the faculty's budget for 2025, SEK 900,000 is allocated for these exchanges through competitive applications.

These preferential travel grants of SEK 300,000 per doctoral student aim to give doctoral students who have shown good results a financial opportunity to stay for a longer period of time at a foreign university.

The aim of the stay is for the doctoral student to conduct research in a stimulating environment, build up his or her international academic network, make progress with his dissertation work and initiate potential future collaborations.

The call places high demands on the receiving environment to be both qualified in the area in question and have the prerequisites to contribute to a fruitful stay.

Criteria for applying doctoral students

The following criteria must be met and described in the application in order for it to be considered:

• The stay must be at least 3 months in 2025 or spring 2026. It is possible to divide the stay into several shorter periods.
• The doctoral student must have shown particularly good progress in his/her doctoral studies and be at least in line with the regular pace of study, taking into account illness, parental leave and similar circumstances.
• The doctoral student should normally have completed a half-time or licentiate seminar with a passing grade. However, it is possible to apply for the internationalisation funds given that the half-time or licentiate seminar is imminent. In these cases, granted funds are only disbursed after an approved half-time or licentiate seminar.
• The doctoral student should have experience of collaborating with external researchers and preferably have co-published.

Criteria for receiving institution

The following criteria must be met and described in the application in order for it to be considered:

• The department and/or university must be internationally recognised in the field of research.
• The receiving supervisor must be an internationally recognised researcher, for example demonstrated by one or more of the following points:
  • Highly ranked according to subject-relevant measures.
  • Have published crucial works in the subject area.
  • Recipients of external research funding from donors such as the ERC, NSF, etc.
  • Recognized for his research by an external organization with a high reputation.
  • Extensive experience in supervision of doctoral students and postdocs.
• The receiving institution should have a larger number of senior researchers and doctoral students in the intended environment and adjacent research topics. If the environment is smaller, special requirements are set for the receiving supervisor to have high availability.

What should be included in the application?

• CV for applying doctoral student.
• Updated individual study plan.
• Publications that the applicant refers to in order to meet the criteria above.
• A justification (2-3 pages) stating the purpose of the research stay and expected results.
• CV for receiving researchers.
• Certificate from the principal supervisor or subject representative that the doctoral student has distinguished himself or herself through specific progress or achievements. For doctoral students who intend to present a monograph, special emphasis is placed on this certificate.
• Certificate from the receiving department that the doctoral student is accepted and what resources etc. are provided.
• Budget (travel, accommodation, allowance abroad, etc.). The budget may only include expenses that are justified by the student's own doctoral education. The budget must contain clear accounts and calculations of, for example, foreign allowance for the entire stay.
• Co-financing of the department is considered a merit. The department can contribute funds to cover expenses in connection with the stay. Any co-financing must be stated in the budget and certified by the head of department.  

How and when should the application be made?

The application is sent by the head of department and addressed to the Council for Doctoral Education (FUR), which decides on the support.

• The application must be received by FUR no later than 29 May 2025. The application should be sent to Stefan Pettersson.
• The applications are prepared and decided by FUR.
• The selection is made taking into account each applicant's special ambitions. Important assessment points are the applicant's previous study and work qualifications, the goals and plan that the applicant has for the stay abroad, and the overall picture provided by the application and the inclusive certificates.

What happens next?

• Those who receive applications will receive additional information about financial management of running costs.
• The applicant is responsible for any administrative measures in relation to the stay, such as arranging accommodation, visas, residence permits, etc.
• Two months after the end of the stay, a written report and a summary cost statement must be submitted.
• After the stay, the scholarship recipient must hold an open seminar and report on their experiences.