Overseas Fellowships

These schemes offer a period of research abroad.

Leverhulme Trust Study Abroad Fellowship


The Trust, established at the wish of William Hesketh Lever, the first Viscount Leverhulme, makes awards for the support of research and education.

Study Abroad Fellowships enable well-established researchers in the Humanities and Social Sciences to devote themselves to research overseas (between 3 to 12 months) in a stimulating academic environment. These differ from Research Fellowships in that the awards support a range of activities other than straight-forward research - the exchange of ideas or the development of new lines of research and collaboration.

Applicants must be resident in the UK and be aged 30 or over. They should have held an established full-time post in a UK institution of higher education, or in a museum, art gallery or comparable institution for at least five years. The applicants cannot be registered for a degree, doctoral studies, or for professional or vocational qualifications.

Application details: the application form will be available on the website (after Sept 2006); send forms by post only. Total application to be no longer than 9 pages (A4).
2005 success rate: 26%
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JSPS postdoctoral fellowships (Japan)

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme provides opportunities for postdoctoral researchers from the UK to conduct cooperative research with their counterparts in Japanese universities and other institutions for a period of 12 to 24 months.

The Royal Society is currently acting as a nominating authority for this programme. The Society will accept applications in the natural sciences (including physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, engineering science, agricultural and medical research.

Applicants must arrange a research plan in advance with a Japanese host scientist. The host organisation may apply themselves on behalf of the applicant. The application form is to be sent over the post only; a downloadable version is available on the website; research project outline: 2 A4 pages; provide details of 1 referee (to be current or previous supervisor) along with major publications; details asked about language ability.

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Toshiba Fellowship Programme

Toshiba, in association with EPSRC, offers outstanding European scientists the opportunity to join one of its high-technology research teams in Japan for up to two years. The Toshiba Fellowship Programme is open to PhD level researchers of EU nationality currently working in a UK government or academic institution. The research topics vary broadly from year to year in the field of science and engineering.

The Programme offers the successful Fellow a fixed salary and travel to and from Japan.

Eligible applicants will have EU nationality, will hold a recent PhD, or reliably expect to obtain one by 1st March 2007. They must have less than 10 years' post-doctoral research experience and must currently work in a UK academic institution or be temporarily working in an academic institution outside the UK.

To obtain notification of the 2007 Toshiba Fellowship Programme (will open for applications in the autumn of 2006), register interest on www.toshiba-europe.com/eur/fellowship/application.asp


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Canon Foundation in Europe Fellowship

The Canon Foundation in Europe is a philanthropic institution active in the promotion of international cultural and scientific relations between Europe and Japan.

Annually, the foundation grants up to 15 Fellowships to young highly qualified European and Japanese researchers, not more than 40 years of age and holding a doctorate or at least a Master’s degree. The Fellowships are awarded for periods of minimum three months and maximum one year. The Fellowships are awarded regardless of discipline and existing employment positions.

The European Fellowship holders pursue a period of research in Japan whereas the Japanese Fellows do their research at host institutions in Europe. Fellows choose their host institutes. The fellowships may be applied for when an agreement on co-operation and on a research plan has been reached between the guest researcher and the proposed host institution. Download the application form from the website.

Deadline application: 15 September

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Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships (EIF)

These fellowships are open to EU and Associated State researchers of all ages with at least four years' professional/ postgraduate research experience or a doctorate degree and willing to work in a host institution located in another EU or Associated State, different from their own and from that where they have been recently active. They must not have been working in the country of the host institution for more than 12 months out of the previous three years.

Before applying for funding, researchers must find a research team in an EU or Associated State willing to take them on for a one- to two-year stay. The applicant applies jointly with the host institution. The Commission selects the most suitable applicants and signs a contract with the host. The individual researcher then signs a contract with the institution.

Application details: provide details for 3 referees. Applicationd forms will be available on the website at the next call for proposals. Space available for ouline of research project: 25 pages.
2005 success rates: 17%

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Marie Curie Outgoing International Fellowships

Outgoing International Fellowship allow experienced researchers from EU or Associated States to broaden their international research experience by spending time at a research centre outside the EU and Associated States for periods of between one and three years, including a compulsory return phase.

Before applying for this fellowship, potential applicants must find suitable host organisations in a third country, for the so-called 'outgoing phase', and in an EU or Associated State, for the 'return phase'. Applicants submit a proposal to the Commission together with their two host organisations. The Commission selects the most appropriate candidates and signs a contract with the fellow's host return organisation. The fellow then signs a contract with this organisation and is seconded to the host institution in the third country for the duration of the outgoing phase.

Typically two-thirds of the fellowship will be spent in a third country and the remainder in an EU or Associated State.

Application details: provide details for 3 referees. Applicationd forms will be available on the website at the next call for proposals.
success rate: 25%

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EPSRC Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Life Sciences Interface

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council is the UK Government's leading funding agency for research and training in engineering and the physical sciences.

The aim of Postdoctoral Fellowships is to help talented young researchers to establish an independent research career, normally shortly or immediately after completing a PhD.

The Life Sciences Interface Programme offers up to 12 Postdoctoral Fellowships to enable talented researchers with a PhD in chemistry, chemical engineering or a closely related discipline to develop an independent research career working at the interface with the life sciences. These awards are for three years, of which up to half will be spend working at one or more leading laboratories outside the UK.

Apply through Je-S electronic system.
2005 success rate: 38%

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Hodge Fellowships

EPSRC and Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques (IHES) annually offer two one-year fellowships under the name of Sir William Hodge, the eminent British mathematician. The fellowships will enable young mathematicians or theoretical physicists to spend time at the IHES which is located in Bures near Paris.

Eligible applicants will hold a PhD in Mathematics or Theoretical Physics obtained in 2002 or later. One of the two grants will be awarded exclusively to an applicant who has received his/her PhD from a UK University or has spent his/her last academic year in a UK university.

The deadline is November 15th, 2006. A list of publications and 2 to 3 letters of recommendation from referees is requested.

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